What’s Next?
This has been an interesting 24-hours. The birds have been observed copulating on the nest site at least twice, the bird (female?) held her ground when a fourth year juvenile eagle stopped by, and the birds continue to attend to the nest and sit in the prone incubation position.
What should we make of this? One of the joys and excitement of science, is realizing how little we know and how much there is to learn. This is certainly one of these instances. Yesterday there were many conversations at BioDiversity Research Institute about the bird’s behavior. In addition I spoke with Charlie Todd of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and wildlife. Our conclusion was that we didn’t know exactly what was going on.
We know that the birds are strongly attached to the nest site, copulating, and that generally birds will lay eggs 3-5 days after mating. We also know that renesting is rare, but the behavior we have seen does indicate pre-laying behavior. The next week will be very telling.
A couple things you can help us with.
Have you observed the birds on the nest at night?
Have you observed the birds looking like they are laying an egg? (please watch this video captured by a viewer of what I believe was the second egg being laid: http://media.putfile.com/Maine-Mar-8-07-2nd-egg).
Have you observed the birds bringing in nesting material?
Have you witnessed anything unusual?
Here is a link to a couple of stories about the birds today.
http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=148560&zoneid=500
http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2007/04/10/eagle_hatching_fails_on_internet_camera/
Wing Goodale, BioDiversity Research Institute
What should we make of this? One of the joys and excitement of science, is realizing how little we know and how much there is to learn. This is certainly one of these instances. Yesterday there were many conversations at BioDiversity Research Institute about the bird’s behavior. In addition I spoke with Charlie Todd of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and wildlife. Our conclusion was that we didn’t know exactly what was going on.
We know that the birds are strongly attached to the nest site, copulating, and that generally birds will lay eggs 3-5 days after mating. We also know that renesting is rare, but the behavior we have seen does indicate pre-laying behavior. The next week will be very telling.
A couple things you can help us with.
Have you observed the birds on the nest at night?
Have you observed the birds looking like they are laying an egg? (please watch this video captured by a viewer of what I believe was the second egg being laid: http://media.putfile.com/Maine-Mar-8-07-2nd-egg).
Have you observed the birds bringing in nesting material?
Have you witnessed anything unusual?
Here is a link to a couple of stories about the birds today.
http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=148560&zoneid=500
http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2007/04/10/eagle_hatching_fails_on_internet_camera/
Wing Goodale, BioDiversity Research Institute
posted by Bald Eaglecam at 9:06 AM
77 Comments:
I have never seen the nest empty at night and have regularly looked at some very odd hours.
I believe I observed the eagles copulating last night around 7:30pm. Then, this morning, around 7:30am, I think I observed the nesting eagle assume the postion for egg laying. I am no expert on this subject, but just thought I would pass along my observations.
Wing, after watching a video
of the visit from the juvenile
in the nest on April 10th, 2007,
I believe it was Dad in the nest
at that time. Mom arrived at 2:59 pm.
Unfortunately, I can't see the videos at work, so I can't see what an egg laying looks like.
Last night around 9:30 or so, I saw one of the eagles in the next moving around, raising it's rear and turning. It then put it's head under it's feather's on the back and (I assume) went to sleep.
I'm not sure if it was an egg laying, maybe just readjusting itself. When I first put it on, the eagle had it's beak open and looked like it MIGHT be vocalizing. My speakers were turned off unfortunately.
I hope this helps!
6:35am, AZ..Wed.
I didn't check last night, but the night before there was an eagle on the nest sleeping.
Oh Joy! I watched the video, and now I am certain that Mama layed an egg. She did it! The reason I am so certain is because she waited quite some time -hovering over it to let it harden- before she firmly sat down to brood.
I watch at night because I work nights.They have been there all last weekend and the last two nights. (I also cant sleep!)One of them has been on the nest all curled up at 2-3am.Thanks for the opportunity to make my midnight wakings useful!
Annie Cote
930 am 4/11/07
I saw a bird in the nest last night around 9PM or so.
Incubating yet again again is such hard work. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the birds' health, and the health of the babies to come.
4-11-07 You asked if the birds have been on the nest at night. I checked last night at 9:00 PM EST and there was the white head very visible at that time. I assume that Eagles like other birds(except owls) do not fly at night. There was an eagle on the nest at 6:30 am this morning. I am sure I missed the nest exchange. I hope more is learned from the fly over this morning. Keep us posted. Pat
I've observed the birds on the nest almost every night. I usually check them around 10pm EST.
Yesterday right before the night camera came on, I noticed one of the parents flying back to the nest. It landed, then stepped in very gingerly, lifting and placing one foot and then the other very carefully. Then it squatted, reached it's beak underneath itself and bobbed it's head down (as if it was moving something), shook out it's feathers, and slowly settled, wiggling all the time. It sure looked like it was sitting on something!
I'll keep better watch at night and try to record times. Sometimes it's difficult to see them unless they turn their heads you can see the eye gleam.
4/11/07 7:40 am (CA time) - I see them everynight, with the exception of one night a few nights ago (though someone else said they saw them at a time when I did not) I have seen them ever night for the last several weeks. Whichever one is on the nest at night is usually easy to make out. Certainly was there at least until 2:00 am (CA time) last night.
6:46am, wed. az
A plane flew over rather low...Charlie? Eagle on the nest put head down! A large noisy bird!
I am by no means an expert, but at around 9:42 AM, Wednesday, 4/11/07, it appeared that the female sat up high with wings and tail stretched out, leaned forward and then looked like she did when she would roll the eggs. However, I leave it up to the experts to decide. I hope they haven't failed!
I am speaking for someone else right now. He told me that on Monday he observed one of the eagles moving on the nest in an odd way, as if something was "pushing up" underneath. I did not witness it,but he has mentioned it to me during several conversations. I will be more observant at night if that is of help. Just heard a plane go over. Sounded low. Hope is still alive, I take it?
4/11 9:47am
I am not giving up hope.
The eagle pair hasn't given up yet, that alone should tell us something!
fly over 945am scared the heck out of her.
Joanne from Ma
Just heard a plane go over the nest at 9:44 am EDT. Was that "our" plane? Mama was on the nest but ducked her head down when the plane went over.
Thanks BRI for asking us to watch closely. We all hope to see "an outcome" that will please both viewers and eagles alike...not to mention valuable research findings for BRI. Hoping for the BEST!
I definitely saw an eagle on the nest after dark last night (Tuesday, April 10), though I can't tell you what time that was. I will be more observant of the time when I check on them from now on!
Wednesday, 4/11/07 ... 9:49am
Good Morning Wing and bloggers!
Just heard a plane flyover but with an eagle on the nest, it may be hard to see anything...
As far as your questions go Wing, Here are my observations of the past week or so:
Have you observed the birds on the nest at night?
Yes, the female eagle stays on the nest at night and they typically have an early morning nest exchange after she calls for the male.
Have you observed the birds looking like they are laying an egg?
Not yet...we are all watching though.
Have you observed the birds bringing in nesting material?
No. Just rearranging the nest that they have.
Have you witnessed anything unusual?
This one would fill the whole blog :o)
This whole nesting season has been been filled with strange and unusual things compared to last year. Never a dull moment with this nest.
I for one will not give up on this eagle pair and I still have hope for eaglet(s) this year.
As long as they are there, we will all keep watching them!
I did watch them at night for a bit around 9 p.m. last night...but it just looked like she was sleeping. Right now (10 a.m.) it looks like she's rearranging the nest a bit.
Wow .. and the drama continues!!!! I feel like I'm one of the biologist with the thrill of making observations and predictions just like you guys up there at the lab. Oh it's exciting to think something I see and post might help you figure out the puzzle.
I love this place .. thanks.
TT
4/11/07 at 10:08 EST:
I heard an airplane in the background. Was this the overflight that Wing mentioned could happen today?
There was one bird on the nest at the time.
4/11/07
Tuned in last night just before dark and there was a parent in the nest preening. Then he/she lowered their head and went to sleep.
Wing is right ... the more we learn about wildlife, the less we realize we know! Thanks to BRI and others for all their hard work.
--Liz (W,DC)
Around 10:00 this morning, I witnessed “mom” fly off the nest and then return within a few minutes. She sat backwards to the camera but was moving back and forth as though she was being careful not to squish something..perhaps new eggs?? It also looked as though she was caring to her nest, moving things in and out of the way. Maybe she is preparing for another incubation period. Lets hope so!! I agree with Susan's comments. I have a feeling "mom" is sitting on new eggs!!
Lotte said...
Oh Joy! I watched the video, and now I am certain that Mama layed an egg. She did it! The reason I am so certain is because she waited quite some time -hovering over it to let it harden- before she firmly sat down to brood.
8:38 AM
Just a quick question, in regards
to the post above. Are you
speaking of this morning April 11th?
If so, Dad was in the nest until
10:01 est. That's when Mom arrived
4-11-07 10:27 am. I just watched Mom going through what appears to be the ritual of turning the eggs that I had observed before. During the past 3 days I have not noticed this happening. Maybe an egg? I love this site. Thanks Wing for making it possible for all of us to see what we would never be able to see. Patti
I check faithfully every night & have never seen the nest empty! I am keeping my fingers & toes crossed for this persistent pair.
I am also very curious to know if the juveniles are last years offspring coming home from eagle college on spring break!!!
Melissa 10:30 am EST
April 11 10:46AM
I just caught up on reading the postings from this morning.
I too frequently look at the cam late at night. I don't ever remember seeing the nest vacant.
The Mom was on the nest at 12:05 AM this morning, sleeping. At 12:20 AM, I heard her vocalize. When I checked it out, her head was facing right and she appeared to be checking something out. She went back to sleeping position a few minutes later.
I'm at work today and won't be able to view the cam as often. Thank you fellow eagle cam watchers for your informative postings.
Chris
Grand Island, NY
4/11/07
11:00am ET
Oh my!! Could there possibly already be another egg in the nest.? At 10:55am Mom appeared to be rolling an egg, slightly pecking at bottom of nest. She then settled back down on nest , butt up in the air, alot of rocking back and forth.
I also think that the Plane flew back over at 10:57am... so they just missed it!! :-P
4/11, 11:10am, Burke, VA
I also feel nesting has begun again. Every time I have checked the cam this morning there has been an eagle on the nest. That has not been the case of the past several. Let's hope and pray they are successful this time. The weather should at least get warmer, but I remember last year they had lots of heavy rainstorms. These eagles really have it rough.
Thank you to all at BioDiversity, especially Wing, and also Charlie. Also to all you folks who write your observations and to those who video the significant events so the rest of us can view later.
Maura
If this helps, I have pretty much always seen one of them on the nest at night. I regularly check in on them at all odd hours of the day/night. Fingers crossed for some eggs!!!
Maura in Maine
11:27 am EDT
I just LOVE all the POSITIVE attitudes everyone has for our beautiful eagles. Sometimes, I feel it's the only place where there are so many people that feel the same way about nature that I do. It truly makes me so happy to be sharing this experience with so many of you.
Wing, you are just an amazing person (and the rest of BRI) to enable us to take a break from the hub-bub of everyday life to give us something to smile, laugh, cry and be in awe of every day. We hope a new nest will be successful but if it's not, it surely is not because the parents didn't try and we didn't pray hard enough!!
It is amazing how something like this can bring so many people together and to have such excitement over the littlest thing our eagles do. I JUST LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Thank you all for your positive thoughts!
Go Eagles!!!
GAR - Highland Lakes, NJ
4/11/07
11:25am ET
LOTTE...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the video you said you watched of the egg laying is the one Wing put a link to in his "What's Next?" blog, right?? If so, this was a video from an egg laying back in March. I believe Wing put this link to the video in the blog to "show us" what to look for.. what an egg laying may look like. Hope this helps. :-)
However, I too am wondering if an egg(s) have already been layed since the fly by last Sat. (4/7)due to the behavior I mentioned in my previous entry today and by other bloggers observations.
4/11 11:25 a.m.
From what I have observed between my school bus driving runs, it certainly appears that this pair is determined to try again for a family this year.
I was very happy to see today's blog with similar hopeful thoughts.
Thanks, Wing. And is it possible to get the "blog" time in sync with the EDT time? If not, perhaps we could all date/time our entries.
Question Please And Thank You
In Advance For Your Response.
What type of airplanes are used
to do the fly overs of the nest?
Single engines, twin engines - Cessnas, Pipers???
I watched her last night and she slept peacefully on the nest. The way she is behaving today at 11:15 am I find it hard to believe there is not an egg in that nest.
If any of you want to view some great videos of the biologists at work, here is a site you can check out--GenoTv.com. Click on the DowneastTv logo on the right and that should take you to a selection of several videos. Just search for the ones about the eagle nests. Enjoy. Sharron
4-11-07 11:45AM (EDT)
Retired, and up and strange hours,
so I've peeked at Mom on the nest continually, ever since pseudo incubation. Mom is always there, even during the storms.
Whatever the cause of the loss of the first clutch, the pair seemed to know, and felt the nest could be left for a few hours.
They probably kept guard just to protect their assets - nearby roosting branch. Never too far away, since we didn't witness crows flying in.
This is all a first for many of us, as well as biologists. Hopefully we'll learn more, and new entries will make it to biologists' journals.
I watched the video Judy sent yesteray and it appears the eagle is eating something white from the nest. What could that be?
It looks like she is getting ready to lay an egg!
It looks like they may try to nest again -- I'm trying to be optimistic, but do you think Dad is healthy -- I'm worried about his leg and talon and his voice is getting worse. He just squeaks now. Is he healthy enough to help with the nest -- it takes two on a full time basis as we all observed last year.
Becky
I'm in Arizona now and last night/early this morning(would have been about 2 am EST) I checked in and could see the white of a parents tail feathers. I often check at night after I put my kids down and there hasn't been a night when an eagle wasn't on the nest. Fingers crossed....
Californai kid
I'm new to all this but why would they show evidence of turning an egg and fluffing out their breast feathers when settling on an egg if there wern't one there? I've been watching for months and they have seemed to be ok till that one long period they left the nest. Could the fly over have been wrong? Are we possibly now seeing a new laying? I'm pretty clueless but I love this site and am hooked on it and all of you blogers. Thank you. BTW the times I've checked in at night there has always ben someone on the nest. I can't recall seeing it empty.
It is 9:42 am pacific time and mom just flew off and dad, with his bad talon, just covered the egg being ever so careful. I have to believe they are incubating another egg. :)
A.D.
Correction from Sheryl:
My last post should have read I have NOT seen the nest empty for more than a few seconds.
Sheryl
Witnessed a nest exchange at 12:44. They sure are acting like they are tending eggs.
4/11/07 12:43 EDT:
A nest exchange just occurred. Mom called out to Dad and he showed up a few minutes later and took over.
I've watched Mom on the nest all morning. Every half hour or so, she was getting up, picking at something in the bottom of the nest, waddled from side to side before gently settling herself back down.
I haven't seen the nest empty for more than a few seconds today. If this nest is empty, Mom and Dad didn't get the memo.
I can here a plane is that you BRI?
I too always see them in the nest at night. Checked last night about 11:00 P.M. and he/she was asleep. I'm so anxious to know if they'll be more eggs. What wonderful birds they are!!
Patti in PA
Wed 2:53 pm (EDT)
I have not seen the nest empty for more than 15-20 seconds over the last 24 hours, unlike last week. Last night there was an eagle on the nest at 9, 10, 11pm & midnight, I kept checking before going to bed. When there was an exchange yesterday since late afternoon & today it was usually only a few seconds.
This morning ~11:00 am and just a bit ago at 2:41 pm it looked like egg rolling - eagle stood up, checked underneath her/him, moved around/ adjusted for almost a minute, then settled down again. Also today there has been no pecking & chewing or eating of ?pieces of shells that I saw the prior few days.
I thought I saw egg laying behavior yesterday (Tues, late afternoon), but am not positive, don't know how to save things on video. Since then, it does look like they are tending something! I can't imagine the old eggs are still there, but I too think there is at least 1 new egg.
3:00 pm parent vocalizing, adjusted self & checking out underneath them again. Looks like s/he is looking at something, then egg-rolling behavior again. I still have trouble telling mom & dad apart.
3:02 & 3:05 other parent calling from nearby.
Thanks for all your help Wing & BRI, I have been obsessed about watching. Didn't get my taxes done last weekend! Nice sunny, warm day today. In northern NH we are supposed to get snow again tomorrow, I hope it misses the Maine coast.
4/11/07 3:21 PM Eastern time
Exchange of nest responsibilities. Nest empty of only 45 seconds.
Here we all are watching something so special. Positive, helpful, accurate in our observations.These two birds sure have a wide-spread fan club! It has been proven that positive thoughts and energy help in times of stress and struggle...could this carry over cyber-space too?
EDT 3:45 PM
Ever hopeful,
Ms. W and her 7th graders in RI
4/11
3:55pm Dad on nest calling
3:58pm Mom calling in the distance
4:06pm Mom still calling
4:08 Dad get up and calls
4:09 Dad Leaves
4:09 Mom on nest
appears to move egg(?) in nest bowl then settles in.
Joanne from Ma
I observed the eagle today on 041107 at 409pm land on the nest and it looked as if it had to straddle something, which I would guess to be the egg. It took some time to adjust and get to where it sit down. It did not look as if the nest was empty, but like it had something in it that the eagle sat on.
I am a member of the NWF with a certified backyard wildlife habitat and found out about the Eagle Cam last year through my membership. I watched all last year from the time mom and dad started renewing their nest til "Big" and "Little" learned to leave the nest. It is an experience that is difficult to explain to someone that is not involved. This is my first posting.
I, like many viewers have seen at least one of the birds on the nest every night. My last time to check in on them would be between l:00 and 2:00 am each morning.
Many of you have mentioned you have a hard time telling mom and dad apart. If my memory serves me correctly from what I learned last year,, mom is larger than dad. That is only helpful, however, if they are standing near one another.
One observation that I haven't read from anyone else. The parents seem much calmer and quieter on the nest today than the last several days. Last year I don't remember them being as restless as I saw them on Monday and Tuesday of this week. I marveled at their ability to just lay there hour after hour and seem content!
Thanks to all for the exchange of information and to BRI for allowing us and sharing with us this experience. This site is renewing my faith in humanity and our ability to still enjoy nature and the "simpler" things in life!!
Pam in
Colorado
2:58pm MST
5:06 April 11
Eagle was up and moving things around in nest. Just settled back down.
Do we really know that the eagles are not sitting on eggs that were laid in March? I know the fly-over did not reveal any but with the bad weather, I see them tucking material under their wings many times. This could have made the eggs invisible from the sky. If it takes 5-10 days after mating for an eagle to lay her first egg, and we watched the copulation on Monday, it doesn't seem like she would have had them and be rolling on them as she has done all along. She has not stopped rolling them since she laid them in March. Is it possible the first one that should have cracked on Monday was not viable, hence no food has been brought in for the young and the second and third egg are due any day to be hatched? I guess the next few days will tell the whole story. What an interesting journey for all of us.
Anna
oh my gosh. I am new to this. its 7:11 est and I thought I saw the female laying an egg?? Her behind was up in the air, and her anus (?) became enlarged, much like a womans does during birth ( I am a nurse). Not sure what I saw.. did any one else see this? SB
4/11
4:43 PM Eastern time: Eagle in nest very vocal. ? sound of plane, Eagle looking skyward. 4:44 PM, Eagle changes position, picks up twigs at the side of the nest...housekeeping.
43 degrees and rain in western NY (Buffalo/Niagara Falls), moving to the NE. A low of 38 degrees is predicted here tonight. Hope the snow precip that hit Chicago earlier goes far enough up north to spare our eagles!
Chris
Grand Island, NY
4/11
4:43 PM Eastern time: Eagle in nest very vocal. ? sound of plane, Eagle looking skyward. 4:44 PM, Eagle changes position, picks up twigs at the side of the nest...housekeeping.
43 degrees and rain in western NY (Buffalo/Niagara Falls), moving to the NE. A low of 38 degrees is predicted here tonight. Hope the snow precip that hit Chicago earlier goes far enough up north to spare our eagles!
Chris
Grand Island, NY
My wife and I have been taking tunrs watching the nest this evening since around 5:00pm - its now a little after 8:00 pm - we both have observed a number of times the nesting eagle, get up, act as if she is moving an egg around, then getting on top of the area and moving back and forth sidewise and puffing her feathers as she layed down. This activity has happened about every 40 minutes or so.
Eagles on the nest at 1:00 AM EST both Wed. and Thurs.
Sally, Montana
Wed, 11:30 PM She up doing her exersizes,looking under her and layes back down. About every 15 minutes she rock from side to side like she is shifting something under her.
Thr, 12:30 AM exersize time, then layes back down. Every 15 minutes rocking from side to side again.
Rich
This is the first time i have posted ,although i have been watching with much interestfor weeks now. i am disabled and have a hard time sleeping so i watch alot at night.Itis now 2:43edt and there is an eagle on the nest ,seems to be peeking or pulling at something in the bottom of the bowl. what a wonderful thing to be able to watch this .thank you for the opp,,4/12/07
It appeared that the eagle turned the eggs at 3:34 AM on April 12.
6:15 a.m. Thurs. I watched the nest on and off throughout the night and their is always one eagle snuggled in there sleeping. Other nights I have done this with the same findings. So exciting that there may be more eggs! What an adventure it's been. Thankyou.
Its 8;30 am and unless I am seeing things I swear I saw something moving under the mom just now. Is that possible? Saw it twice when she got up to look at it!
i have been watching the nest for the last couple of days and around 8:25 thursday morning while the older eagle was standing on the side of the nest i belive i saw something else in the nest that lead me to believe it was indeed a hatchling. i will coninue to watch as i have found this to be very interesting.
It's 9:03 on April 12. I'm sure I see movement in the nest, most likely a newly hatched chick.
Looks like a baby eaglets head bobbing around in the nest..Time is 9:03 a.m Eastern time zone.. Adult eagle on branch watching..
Hello.. at 9:03 am , thursday . i was watching the eagle in the nest.. she ?/ got very vocal !! ( seemd very excited !! )and i think i saw a small white item moveing in the nest...then she flew off the nest..I`m hopeing , an eggs hatched ..Lars Houtsma
9:03 am...eagle has landed on the nest and I have seen one eaglet
Previous e-mail about baby eaglet....seen on Thursday the 12th of April.....time 9:03a.m. Eastern..
I believe there is a chick in the nest ... unless i`m seeing things.. WOW !! this is great !! saw a very small white head at 9:07 am thursday , april 13th.. Lars Houtsma
There is definitely an eaglet in there! 8:07 central time -- you must already know because you are close up on it!
I think there may be either a feather blowing in the wind or perhaps a chick. I definately see movement in the nest bowl, and the eagle is watching it! What do you think??
Madison, CT
Yes, Anna,
A birthday donation is in the mail!
Karen in Denmark
"If I zoom the camera out, you would be able to see that this nest is around 15 feet deep."
or
15 inches deep ?
There is a big difference
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