Thursday, March 27, 2008

Mate Switch?

Well I have to say that the birds are showing all the signs of laying very soon. As I have read your observations and viewed the birds’ behavior, I believe that there is a possibility that there has been a mate switch. I would be interested to see any analysis you might able to do comparing images from the female this year compared to last year. In loons where we have banded most of the birds in a population, we have found much to our surprise that the birds switch mates much more often than we had suspected.

A couple of behaviors indicate that there may be a change. They are now three weeks later than the previously two years, and the birds’ pattern of nest attendance is different. The birds appear to be "figuring" out their way through the nesting process, whereas in the prior two years they were extremely efficient. Finally, after a nest failure (last year), nest switches are common.

I will be interested if you are able to do a comparison.

Keep up your amazing observations. What a great group of biologist you all are.

Wing Goodale
BioDiversity Research Institute

351 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

15:15 both eagles are to the side of the nest.

3:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27 3:37PM
Wow, just read your observation about mate switch! Very interesting indeed! Loved your close up of Mom. Let's just hope whoever they are, have a successful brood this year.

cathy h in mass

3:29 PM  
Blogger JK said...

I have just recently started watching, so I have no idea if this is a mate switch. She has been doing a lot of upkeeping on her home however, and is in the nest a lot more lately. I have just noticed that the web cam is closer and she is so beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us.

3:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thurs March 27 at 3:30 I think an egg was laid. Not sure but female did the standing thing for a bit then laid down. Did anyone else notice this. When you say mate switch do you mean a new female or male or new pair.

3:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe ladies and gents we finally have an egg!! does everyone concur, I think I saw the female lay one this afternoon, and she has been on the nest ever since.

3:39 PM  
Blogger Sandy Sandmeyer said...

Did anyone get the laying of the egg video? Would love to see the evidence.

3:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think I now know what the white object is on the right side of the nest. The eagle in the nest picked it up and moved it around (3:30 PM) and I could see a definite, familiar shape and possibly printed words. It seems to be a respirator mask!

3:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27
Just a thought but if this is the original pair, maybe because the weather has been so bad, they delayed laying eggs. They might have learned a lesson from last year. I don't know about anyone else, but I like to think this is our beloved Mom and Dad.

cathy h in mass

3:49 PM  
Blogger JK said...

An egg??!! I didn't see this happening! I have been doing chores and keeping an eye on the nest, but I did notice her standing and then laying down and ahe has been in the nest ever since. This is so exciting to be able to see this live. We have an Eagle Sanctuary on Catalina Island, but they don't have anything like this.

3:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmm, mate switch? Is the side picture on the website (the one in b/w with eagle sitting in nest looking straight ahead) of last year's female? The female this year sure looks a lot like that one. Same ruffled look, esp. around the neck, yet she seems a lot bigger than the male this year. Several have commented on the raspy voice of this year's male as sounding the same as last year's. What does anybody else think?
Cathy in Central Maine

3:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been trying to view the archived images and videos for a few days now, but every time I click on the link I get the message: "404 file not found." It also tells me to contact the webmaster at briloon. I would love to see the archived images and videos out of interest and to try to compare the couple we see now with the one from previous years and see if, indeed, there has been a mate switch. Wing?
Frances

3:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27/08 3:25pm EDT Wing, I've said it once & I didn't want to keep mentioning the fact that the CALLS this year just seem different. They seem very confused this year & MOM seems very bossy & just WAY bigger than MR this year. I do remember the consistancy of nest preporation the past two years & they worked so well together. They always brought food to the nest site for the two of them. This year seems like "Get your own" or "When I'm done" not "Let's Share this meal" I just cannot tell if it's a new MOM or Mr, but my guess since her egg laying is late & our original MOM was same time regardless of the weather, this might be a new MOM. I observed the bird on the nest at 3:30pm EDT just laying in the nest bowl facing the camera. I wish they were tagged with large numbers like CA Eagles so we would know for sure, but whoever they are I hope they have a successful nesting season for us to observe. Wing, maybe this isn't our couple alltogether? (new MOM & DAD)

ANNE, NJ

3:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

4:00 male flew in and disturbed the female and started doing branch moving. Female moved off nest.

4:01 PM  
Blogger Sandy Sandmeyer said...

4:01 PM She's definitely getting all snuggly down in that nest.

4:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 27 - 3:55 EST

Eagle on the nest. Mate just flew on Y branch - I think the one in the nest is Mom - the one on the branch looks smaller. He's just looking out over the water - she's just looking around and seems content. He just flew away. He's back now and arranging sticks. I don't remember so much re-arranging of sticks in previous years - could it be a different male? I doubt if there is an egg yet because of all the stomping around he's doing in the nest bowl. She just flew onto the edge of the nest and he's busy moving sticks all over the place. Now he's settled down in the bowl. She's just watching him from the side of the nest.

4:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wing, I think that you are correct. We were thinking here at work that something has been going on different. The nesting pattern has not been the same as last year and I really think it is a new female, not sure about the male. We are just so very glad to see that they are in the nest. Can't wait for the eggs. You would not believe the number of people that I have told about this site. Everyone loves it. This is a great site for kids to watch.
I think that you are awesome for what you do, it must be so rewarding.

4:03 PM  
Blogger flight of fancy said...

3/27 @ 4:00PM DST
I hate to think a mate switch has taken place...the size of the female is certainly noticeable as bigger from last season,however. This year I can absolutely tell the difference between the two. As asked by an earlier blogger, is it a new male or female, or an entiirely new pair? If a new pair, could the old pair be nesting elsewhere? They have been very busy over the last two days for sure, sticks being moved constantly.In fact dad is back and at it again.
Whoever these two might be we have fallen in love with them, not very scientific I know, but who can help it?
We will keep our eyes open and try not to miss too much. Thanks for the wonderful update!

4:10 PM  
Blogger Maine Native said...

Looks like they're thinking about laying an egg but haven't done so yet. When they're in the bowl they're trampling all over the place, not walking with the usual caution they exhibit when there's an egg in there.

As for the mate switch. Last year I was very unable to tell the pair apart, this year I can tell the difference between the two easily. I don't know if this means anything as appearances can always change, but I do feel they look different this year.

4:10 PM  
Blogger Lynn said...

I do believe she did lay an egg however, I believe it was damaged.

4:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27/08 4:12 PM EST

I have been watching on and off today and there is definitely more activity today than I've seen. I had a darn work meeting and missed the possible egg laying... work is getting in the way :-) I watched intently last year and the male's voice still sounds the same to me, but I thought the male appeared smaller in proportion to the female this year. The female has always been larger than the male, but I just didn't remember such a size difference. However, if the female is the one on the left branch right now, she still has that uncoiffed/unkept look to her head and the prominent inverted V. That's the only help that I can give...

Oh I hope we have an egg!! How exciting. I love eagles now that's for sure and will be sending a donation again this year as I encourage others to do!

Roxy in NC

4:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The whie thing in the nest I am sure is not an egg. When she was in the nest earlier she dragged that over to her. I thought she had layed an egg earlier also and now I am not sure as no one is sitting on the nest.

Regina N in Colorado

4:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is that an egg in the nest?

4:21 PM  
Blogger Joyce said...

anon,
that is what I saw the other day and was brave enough to ask if it was a egg? LOL
Then she moved it and dragged it out with her beak and I saw it to be a rodent of some kind....
You'd think she would be sitting if it was!

4:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27
What a wonderful treat to see mom on the nest at 2:50pm EST when I came on. 5 minutes later dad come on the scene. He was cleaning house like normal. What a neatnik. Mom moved over to the branch near the camera and watched as dad moved branches around. He laid down for a couple of minutes then left. Soon he returned with a new branch to add to the collection. Redecorated again then, once more he was off. It is now 4:25pm and mom is still sitting on the branch...probably wondering if he will return. What a beauty.4:27 and dad just returned with what looks like Moss. Packing it down on the nest. Mom is now helping with the decorating. That should help soften the nest. 4:28pm Dad left the decorating to mom since he moved out the Y branch. 4:30pm once again dad is off in search of who knows what. :) Mom seems to be eathing something. Not sure if it is the moss or something that was brought in earlier. She is certainly enjoying it. 4:33pm Mom is now on the Y branch...4:36pm Mom is now off to other lands. Will come back later to check on this pair. Cal

4:36 PM  
Blogger D&B said...

4:25pm. eastern 3/27/08

Both eagles on the nest doing housekeeping. Moving lots of soft debris with beaks and talons, patting it down into the nestbowl.
Dad leaves limb at 4:29p.m. Mom stays on nest and is pulling on an old carcass. Mom out onto limb at 4:32 p.m. Flew off at 4:35.

4:36 PM  
Blogger niteowl said...

4:33 No egg yet. Could that white thing be the discarded shell of a failed egg? The respirator could be a good guess, it's the right shape. They are very active today, so maybe they'll get it together and do something soon!

4:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update Wing! The new view of the nest is super! I loved the close up of one of the birds earlier today. I don't believe we have an egg. They have been off the nest at the same time today although have been spending a lot more time at "home". I was a bit worried last night when she didn't spend the night. My fingers are crossed that they decided to take a "night on the town" before their big event and they have to stay home for awhile. :O)

4:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There's that darn white thing again - looks like a mushroom growing on the side of the nest! Maybe it's egg shell(she sits in the nest most of the afternoon and then is gone but this thing is back).
I have secretly believed all this season that we have a different mix here but I've felt the male was different...I've yet to see that serious V on his neck BUT I also truly believe that if we lined up 100 eagles and looked at feathers we would decide that neck feathers are not a viable indicator of who's who; it's just all too much the same.

J in S.P.ME

4:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm no pessimist but they seem like the same pair to me as last year. She's much bigger than he is. I didn't see any egg laying. They are away from the nest so frequently that I doubt there's an egg. I was wondering what the white thing is in the nest. Saw mom picking it up a few times while she was relaxing in the nest bowl, so obviously they are not afraid of it.

4:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It was so much fun seeing her up close and personal. I started watching last year and noticed that this year, the male (I am guessing)is a bit larger than the female. Last year they appeared to be the same size (if memory serves me). I am always fascinated when watching and I am very grateful that we can watch.

5:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As of right now, no egg or eggs. They have been cleaning and adding to the nest most of the afternoon. Just saw the male fly in with what looked like a big pile of some kind of moss. He is in the process of adding it to the nest right now as I watch. To me this really does seem like a different female and now I am even thinking it may also be a different male. To me it is really hard to tell, but somehow they just are not acting like the pair from last year. Also like other comments I have read, I really think there is a big difference in the size of thee two.

5:02 PM  
Blogger GG said...

3-27-2008 5:12pm

Still no egg at this posting 5:12pm Thursday. Mom and Dad have both left the nest, maybe tomorrow will be a better day. OH! They still have some daylight hours today!

Watch for Mom to be sitting upright - that's how the birds lay an egg, and then they have to allow it to harden, before they can sit (or incubate)on an egg (or lay on it).

Keep watching folks - nature in the RAW! Look out your window, can you see what's here on the internet and show your children or g-children?

Ok - go ahead, put a dollar in the mail to BRI! You spend that much at the checkout line in a grocery store....make it work for the children of tomorrow. *ok-off my soapbox*

5:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I watched the whole season last year, and this year as well. It appears to me that it is the same male (very distinctive voice/call and look) but a very different female, in both looks (heavier) and in behavior (nesting-tending and while the two are together, as well as the timing of the behaviors).

Today while she was sitting on the nest, another eagle tried to land on the edge of the nest and the nesting eagle chased the intruding eagle away. The intruding eagle was NOT the male. Although the view was very brief, I thought it was our old mom from last year. I could hear her nearby, for a while, even when the male returned to the nest after the chase, and when the new couple were at the nest together. Could she be trying to regain her position? Could it be that the male took a new mate because last year's nesting failed?

I thought at first the white shape to the right of the bowl was a failed egg, but I'm not certain. When she was on the nest alone earlier, she pulled it over and seemed to be trying to tear it apart.

Thank you all for your wonderful observations. Maybe someone caught a video of that brief intrusion?

CapeCod143

5:23 PM  
Blogger Anne said...

I believe the white thing on the right side of the nest is leftovers from breakfast. They have been picking at it throughout the day.

5:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Regarding size difference...remember that the female has to add to her weight for laying (I've read as much as 30%) so she will be definately bigger than the male. The female eagle is bigger than the male anyway laying or not....just how the species is. Also remember that she looks so big cos Wing has the camera much closer than we're used to - I'm still freaked every time I see either of them as they appear so big with this new closer view.

J in S.P.ME

5:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wing and fellow bloggers - I too think there has been a mate switch - the female's beak doesn't seem to be as hooked as last year's - that was one of the ways I could always tell the male from the female when they were hunkered down in the nest - also I believe the mate switch happened early in this season - I know I saw last year's female with the male early on (february or so). Also, seems like the male is having to work very hard to make the nest "comfy" for this female - trying to get it how she likes it so she will lay an egg. Alas, like humans, we don't always know a good thing when we have it!!

Donna, OKC

5:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3rd year watching now.
I think it is the same mom.
I wonder if a combination of the nest failure last summer, dad's injury last summer and the weather might have reset the biological clock and made them more tentative about nesting again.
Mom has always looked significantly bigger to me.
I think the white thing is one of those carpenter/allergy dust masks...I'm pretty sure I could see the metal band that one uses to fit it to your nose/face and it seems to have an elastic band on it. Dad thought he brought in a treasure and mom's still trying to figure out a way to eat it
If we have chicks this year I hope they could be banded. In any case I'm glad we're watching eagles and not ravens about to nest! :)

5:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mar 27th @ 5:30 pm

An interesting view from Wing this afternoon. There certainly could have been a mate switch but I think we have a new pair and a much younger pair. These appear to be very healthy young birds. Our pair last year certainly had trials and tribulations....their life was certainly tested almost every day in late winter and early spring. The male suffered a leg injury but seemed to overcome the injury. The female stayed in the nest to protect her baby for about three days when the wind howled , snow blew, it was way under the freezing point but still prevailed to the end of the storm only to lose the baby in the end. If these are not the original pair, then I prefer to think that they are at a different nest site where they may feel safer after what they endured last year. We certainly would not begrudge them that, right?

This beautiful pair that we observe every day now, will bring us much joy, I am sure.

It will be interesting to read what the bloggers have to say.....there are so many that have kept up with the filming of them and watching them much closer than I have been able to.

We are so lucky to be able to observe the eagles and other wildlife. Will there be loon observation or osprey observations this spring???

Keep the faith and remember....If His eye is on the sparrow, it certainly is on the great eagle.

Wishing you all a great evening.

5:33 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

From Texas:
I don't have any scientific information about the switching of the mates, but from all the blogs I have read about the previous years' pair, I do wonder if this is the same couple. The loving and g

lowing descriptions concerning the previous pair do not appear to represent this couple. Unless they have gotten crochity in their old age, these two seem more like newlyweds trying to figure each other out, and appear to be very independent minded. I can't wait to hear what Wing's final verdict is concerning this pair. Is there any way we will know for sure?
And was that squirrel Take-out yesterday? I had a difficult time eating my Chick-Fil-A sandwich while Mom was ripping apart that poor beast..whew! What an appetite she has. Incredibly fascinating watching a magnificent raptor eating lunch up close and personal....why we were actully eating at the same table..amazing. Thanks for the camera view, Wing.

6:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

03/27 @ 17:49

Thank you for the post, Wing. I have become concerned about two things.

First, I have been wondering if it is possible that a fertility problem caused by age or contaminants has disrupted the egg laying? More than once the pair has seemed "ready" only to pull away, regroup, reorganize and seemingly start anew.

Secondly, in the past few days it has become increasingly more difficult for me to recognize either eagle. Gone is the perfect inverted V of Mr. Mom but his behavior seemed consistent. However, the more recent haphazard collection of larger twigs in the nest is not consistent with his more precise nest building of the past.

Ms. Mom always seemed to have a "bad hair day" and more of an inverted W than a V. The female now simply has a very jagged edge. Yes, the female was always larger ... but many commented this year about an increased difference in size. Yes, Ms. Mom was always boss ... but I don't recall ever seeing a tussle for food like the one recently recorded. While she was bossy, she either helped Mr. arrange the sticks to her liking or moved the nest materials when he was finished. Either way, the nest construction was neat and solid looking for the most part.

More importantly for me is the fact that one look at Ms. Mom head on left no doubt which bird was being observed. Ms. Mom is one awesome eagle. The set of her eyes was so very different from Mr. Mom, as was the shape of her broader head as opposed to his narrower head and seemingly longer beak. Indeed, looking into her eyes was an awesome experience. Recently I find that I am looking head on and still unsure of an id. Perhaps my eyesight, cam clarity, etc? Furthermore, I do remember that even after a soaking or fight, I still could tell which was which. For one thing, Mr. Mom was always as perfectly groomed as his nest regardless of the ordeal he had faced.

The physical appearance combined with a great difference in nesting behavior (as in all night practicing and the possibility of Mr. practicing longer than Ms. sometimes, food fights, and even Mr.'s seemingly frantic stick gathering/arranging with Ms. indifference) as you have also mentioned raises questions.

Sorry this is so long, but these are the observations that make me question which eagles we are watching.

That said, I do not think that we have an egg as yet. And, whoever is trying to make this nest a happy home has well wishers across the globe cheering them on.

Perhaps, one day when everything is settled and running smoothly for them, the eagles will look into the camera and we will instantly know that our very special pair has once again triumphed.

JAM in IL

6:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it's quite clever to use the feathers from their earlier meal for insulation in the nest.


Pam

6:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ihave been watching daily while at work. Granddaughters are amazed at the sights they've seen, including the eating of the rodent or rabbit yesterday. The shop cat runs when the eagle calling gets too loud. The male seems to be quite a fuss budget about the nest.
I was watching when the camera was adjusted this afternoon and am amazed at the sights I am able to watch. Those who are "in the know", keep us newbies up to date. I hope they snuggle in before tomorrow's storm.

6:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

6:39 p.m. 3/26 Both eagles on the nest "rearranging" the insulation. It's almost like there is an egg under there. Remember last year Wing? We were all surprised when a chick was hatched as it wasn't certain there was even an egg? Or am I making up stories? :)

Pam

6:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One last observation from me. If there's been a "switch", I'm going for it's a different male. This one looks younger and brighter (in color). But then again...

Pam

6:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 27 - 6:40 PM. in Michigan

Both are on the nest fussing with material in the bowl. They are arranging moss - maybe this is the final step before laying an egg. Mom looks huge next to Dad-I agree that one of them is different from last year though I don't know which one. Mom is majestic while Dad seems immature next to her because of his size. She has settled down in the bowl and he's on the edge of the looking out over the water. Now he's on the Y branch. I wonder if they'll both stay at the nest tonight?

6:46 PM  
Blogger Karen in Central Maine said...

Thursday, March 27th 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time
So many of us are wondering about that darned white thing on the right side of the nest. I've heard people say it looks like a respirator and others wondering if it's a failed egg. I too am very curious as to what it is and why our eagles are keeping it close by. It seems reasonable that if it is a failed egg, they might keep it, but a respirator? It's not edible and it's a foreign object to them. Why would they not toss it? This site is so awesome and as others have said, we are very luck to be a part of this!!

6:46 PM  
Blogger Diane said...

I am so inspired by wildlife, but birds/eagles are thrilling. Last year's tragedy was felt so deeply, that I find myself in fear this year ..until I was inspired to write this poem.
"Don't Fear for Me"
Don't fear for me,
out in the weather.
My spirit born in down
and feather,
Atop a pine that sways
to tilt.
That's where my mighty
nest was built.
Never a more loyal
effort go
to protect a chick
from gales that blow.
My life on wings see
glorious sights,
As I lifted love to
grander hights.
Not a lone eagle,
but a soul pair,
Joined with my mate.
We soar through the air.
Don't fear for me against
Earthly pull.
My wings will spill, but
my life was full.
Please know when winds
turn nefarious
My fate was free, but
so precarious.
Diane B.

6:49 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

It's 6:47 PM EDT and they are both there. One on nest, one on branch. This is kind of a mystery (as is all life) so we'll be happily watching what transpires!

Karen from eastern MA

6:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There's a lot of activity in the nest and the pair have brought in what looks to be some soft nesting material.

But is that an egg on the side of the nest? The pair seems to be ignoring it.

6:52 PM  
Blogger Mickey said...

I observed both eagles, one in the nest, one on a branch. The one in the nest kept taking part of the nest and stuffing it around itself. I am not familiar with all of these, but I love watching. I have watched them a lot today.

7:03 PM  
Blogger Sandy Sandmeyer said...

There are many inedible objects that birds use for nesting materials. Some use shiny things, some just use things that look like nesting material to them. Using a respirator mask, maybe someone used for painting/at a hospital isn't that unusual compared to other things used.

7:04 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

This is getting really exciting. I have some eagles here at home but only rarely get to see them. My heart ached last year so I have my fingers crossed. I believe dad is in the nest right now pickin up a bit.

7:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dad just flew in to make what i think is last minute renesteration.he's having trouble finding a place for that one large stick.i cant wait till mom comes in.


written by JC

7:11 PM  
Blogger Karen in Central Maine said...

Wow, Diane - your poem is just, well, really, really good!! I'm almost at a loss of words and believe me that's unusual!! Great job!
Karen in Central Maine

7:11 PM  
Blogger flight of fancy said...

3/27 7:08 PM DST
Diane, that was beautiful Thank you!
I think the briloon gang is working overtime tonight. Camera just zoomed in on dad's handsome face...he just high tailed it out into the dusk and brought back yet another stick...this one is causing him to lose his balance as he tries to place it just right...good grief, dad, how many more do you need? Now wait a minute, here's one that needs some attention...Mr. Fussy pants...wait till mom gets back, she'll certainly move it somewhere else, so take a break! He's looking around, maybe he got away with a little decorating after all, no mom in sight!

7:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Loved seeing the eagle moving the soft mossy stuff around close to itself as if to be all tucked in...wonder if it was a slight raising of the bowl so a future egg will have extra shelter against the storm.
Thanks for the little eagle story Wing ;)

J in S.P.ME

7:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27 1838 EST

Both eagles just arrived...one incubating, one on the Y...

My question is this....Are we considering a 'mate switch' or a 'nest switch'?

I've never been able to tell the eagles apart...my screen is small and has a sort of blur to it......
However, the behaviours are a different story.....I've mentioned before that the prenesting .....practice incubations and nestorations are greatly dissimilar..... not to mention the time line. I had recently reread the last two years Feb - Apr archives, and this year was way off.
I had felt strongly earlier that, secondary to last years nest failure that our original couple may have found an alternate nesting site. We heard so much off camera eagle chatter and carrying on, with so few visits to the nest, that I had to wonder.

They do have a certain inexperienced demeanor that I sense...

I know this, tho, I have done some serious laughing at these two and their stick arranging...They have bonked eachother 'upside the head' so many times in the last two days while 'nestorating' - it's a riot......

SO interesting to read everyone's thoughts on this.....

0704. Wing, when you zoom that camera in, I get vertigo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is getting more fascinating by the hour....Night, all!
1918 Empty nest.....
Keep the faith....

7:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27 1922 EST

Just had to write back and tell you, Diane, that the poem you wrote is so ......I don't know the word......I just really loved it and reread it several times......wonderful......
Thank you,
Mimi

7:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If they did switch partners I can't say I blame the female for wanting to get out of that relationship. I'm sure she had enough of that weird "falling of the nest" mating ritual. Now the male eagle has to break in a new partner with his peculiar fetishes.

7:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think that the earlier blogger was correct, the white item appears to be a dust mask that carpenters use.

Not sure they are newlyweds...the female is down-right mean to him!...although he is doing all he can to please her.

7:28 PM  
Blogger Maine Native said...

After dad brought in that last stick and flew off camera there were some eagle calls very similar to what we hear when they are mating. Maybe an early evening quickie before the settle in for the night. This happened right after bri zoomed the camera in for a close up of dad's face. Sometimes I swear they're looking straight at us and just know we're watching them:) I'll post before going to bed out here in Arizona to let everyone know if they're on the nest that late.

7:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just started watching. From reading some of your comments I can tell that alot of you having been watching these amazing creatures for a long time. I can't tell which is the male and which is the female. How can I tell?

Pinetree

7:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27 7:35pm Eastern time

3:00 to 4:00 Mom was sitting in the nest messing with the mystery object. When she pulled it close to her, it really could've been a decoy to trick predators. It made her look like two.

4:00 to 4:30 Dad has gone out twice for more nesting material, sticks and insulation! Mom jumped right in to help arrange that. Then they left.

6:30 to 6:40 Both are back and doing more rearranging. She decided she had to try the bowl out and shoved him aside. Dad was still fixing the nest and flew off at 7:10.

Sue in MD

7:40 PM  
Blogger armkar1 said...

3/27/08 4:08pm PDST

As to this pair being the same as last year, I really can't say. I watched last year a little but not like this year. I would be happy to make comparisons if the archive images and videos did not come up with Error 404. Wing maybe you can tell myself and others why we get that error message!
I watched today earlier from 9:38am - 11:25am and dad more than mom was in the nest most of that time. I did witness the confrontation with an intruder and the big upset that mom and dad were having because of something coming way too close.

I logged back on at 3:36pm PDST to find Dad on Y
3:38 Mom flies in Both arrange what looks to be moss in the nest.
3:43 Mom chest down in bowl and Dad standing on the left side of nest.
3:44 Dad to Y, Mom still chest down in nest bowl.
3:57 Dad flies off to right, Mom up and moving things, sits and then gets down in nest bowl then wiggles.
3:58pm Dad is back with more moss and arranging sticks, Mom out of bowl,Dad fixing bowl,Mom out on edge by Y then mom to Y branch while Dad fiddles with bowl.
4:01 Mom flies off Dad is still fixing sticks
4;02 Dad just sitting in bowl
4:05 Dad up to Y Camera is zoomed way in. Dad flies off to right
4:06 Dad is back arranging sticks in nest. WOW! Thanks for that EXTREME CLOSEUP! :)
4:11 Dad flies off to right again,maybe he'll be back. Night Cam is on.
4:34pm PDST at 4:13 I heard them both off camera close but then nothing.
4:36pm PDST Very quite empty nest. I'll check in later to see if they come back or someone decides to stay the night tonight.
Later,
Karen in WA

7:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Was so interested to read your comments, Wing, and I agree, something is different this year.

Sorry nothing at all scientific to add.....but some thoughts and questions I've had during my observation of this pair....

He looks so sleek and cared-for while she looks really unkempt. I have found my self actually wondering if she is "feeling well," for lack of a better way to put it.

Has anyone actually seen her bring in any branches? Not that knowledgeable about the pre-nesting activities, having missed them last year. Do the females normally participate in that? I don't watch as often as some of you, but I've never seen her bring any in, it's always been the male when I've been watching. She seems to me very blasé about the whole thing, sort of Ho Hum while he is very Gung Ho. So have we got a younger male here full of vigor? Do we have an aging female? Or perhaps a younger one who's either not done this before or is relatively new at it? What about that fall from the branch while mating? Is he young and inexperienced, was she not strong enough to hold on?....or is that a common occurrence?

She does seem especially greedy compared to the female of last year....again conflicting thoughts. Is it because she's the same female, he's new, and she doesn't fully trust him yet or because she's a new female with last year's male and doesn't fully trust him yet - or because it's a whole new pair?

cj in Maine

7:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just new to this site. How do you tell from the male and female? Bethel Birder

7:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mar. 27, 5:51 p.m. Central: Both eagles on the nest. Mom in the bowl. He flies away but comes back right away with another stick, and moves sticks around busily. Eventually Mom gets up and out of the bowl; he gets in. She to the Y branch. Then she flies away. He settles in but not for long. Then he too flies off. Obviously there is no egg. Here's my opinion for whatever it's worth: It never occurred to me it was a different pair. Both look the same to me. As for behavior, though, I didn't see them at this stage last year.

7:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't have a good picture of 2008 Mom, but this is a pic I caught on April 12, 2007 of 2007 Mom. Perhaps someone has a closeup from this year to compare.

http://tinyurl.com/2x4hjl

Looks like they're in the final pre-laying nestorations mode. Time will tell...talons crossed!

Ei

P.S. Hi to SirLance & Peggy...I "met" you over at Pete's Pond.

7:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Howdy Once Again, All! Man, another amazing afternoon at the nest site. I tuned in at around 2:10 to find one Eagle on the Y-branch. At around 2:13, the camera zoomed in and the bird took off IMMEDIATELY. I had to wonder - is the camera positioned closely enough that if when zooming, it makes a noise, this spooked the bird and made it fly off? At 2:15, the bird was back in the nest and busily arranged sticks for a few minutes, then paused and stared out to sea for a moment of contemplation, and then stuck its head deep into the bowl with its tail facing the camera and then settled into a roosting position, but only for a few seconds before getting up, turning around and staring at the camera for a moment. It then stared around in various directions and flew off. At this point, I got so frustrated at not hearing what was going on that I defied the boss and plugged in the speakers and cranked up the sound (...tee hee - while the cat's away, this mouse WILL play!). At 2:32, the bird flew off. I could now hear crows, then a raven right around 3:00. While away from the 'pute for a mo, first one bird flew in, then the other. The first one was on the rim, the 2nd was on the Y. The first one worked at stick duty alone for a mo, but then the 2nd bird joined in. At 3:02, Mom started picking at a big clump near rim to left of view. I hadn't even noticed this catch until then, but it became apparent very quickly that it was food - seemed like something along the lines of...like, a quail or something? plump (maybe the size of a grapefruit?) with a slightly elongated beak and maybe legs in the two to three inch length? Not at all sure...The male took off and was calling from near by. She continued dining. Just before 3:11 the male came back and worked at the sticks until 3:15 at which point, he stopped and did a little preening, then looked over at the female like he was wishing he could get in on the food but she just ignored him. He perched on the rim with his back to her, looked at the camera and flew off. He flew right back and went at the sticks again, then again put his back to her and flew off a second time at 3:18. He was then calling out to her again, and I wondered if he was trying to lure her away from the nest, but no soap, she just kept eating and looking off away from the direction he'd flown in and was calling from. He was back at the nest by 3:19. She kept eating. He hopped off the nest and perched on the branch nearest the camera and then took off again at 3:21. At 3:23 she picked up the remnants of her meal and moved it a little toward the center of the rim, then she arranged sticks for a moment. At 3:27 there was an intense zoom. - WOW!!!! What a view!Away from 'pute again for a short spell and at 3:33 She was settled in the bowl, quietly poking at mystery white thing to right of view. 3:39, settled nicely, looked like she was calmly digesting her meal. Away from 'pute again til 4:27 - Returned to find both arranging nest and it appeared as though perhaps a large clump/wad of moss or soft stuff had been brought in during my absent - nice egg cushioning flotsam, me thinks to meself! 4:28 - Owl calls! Male is on Y, Female is maneuvering moss/soft stuff in bowl! 4:29 Crows calling. 4:31 Male gone, Female back at her snack! 4:33 Female on Y, Male calling from nearby. 4:36 Nobody home.....
Walp, that's it for my afternoon report - here's hoping for evening occupation!
Over and Out. Night, all!

8:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 27 - 8:00 PM in Michigan

Nobody is on the nest at this time.

8:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27 8:00pm Eastern time

As for maybe a mate change, I'm sure it's possible but I kind of don't think so.

It was hard but I went back to last years blogs and videos. 'You Tube' still has them also, if you try 'Maine Eagles' or 'Maine Bald Eagles'. Some exact dates I watched;

2/10/07-nest building
3/05/07-laying egg
3/27/07-Mom trying to lay down
Dad didn't want to get
up.
3/28/07, and alot more around this time.

They had it so hard last year. I'm sure we have the same Dad, injury and all. Mom I don't know yet, it's more of a behavior thing, not so much physical appearance. I have still shots from 2006, all the way back to when we had three babies! I love to look at them!

Mom's timing is different this year but couldn't it be from last years experience? Or do we have a girl from down South!

I'm going to wait a little while longer to watch them a little closer.

Thank You Wing and all at BRI for everything you do!

Sue in MD

8:27 PM  
Blogger Sir Lance said...

I must say that I think this is our original pair..
A video made of 2006 BRI pictures

9:00 PM  
Blogger flight of fancy said...

Well it's 9:15 PM DST on 3/27...all quiet, no one home...sigh...I miss them even if it is only for the night...

9:13 PM  
Blogger stormyskye said...

Wing and all this is so wonderful.I am a teacher at the Touchstone School in Grafton ,MA. I and my 15 9 and 10 yea old kids have our computer hooked up to a projector in the classroom. We watch 6 hours a day! What an experience for us Thanks!

9:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe this is definately our male from last year. His raspy voice and obsessive nest cleaning reminds me of last season. This female's behavior seems a little different. She almost seems new to all this nesting. I still have my fingers crossed.
Chapin

9:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27 9:45pm Eastern time

sir lance, The video you made had me in tears! It's fantastic! Those are the same pictures I saved from 2006. You all have to see it!

Diane, your poem is beautiful!

gg and judy, as always, thank you for the videos!

What a great bunch!

Sue in MD

9:51 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

10.24 p.m. EST March 27. Nobody on the nest.
OW in CT

10:25 PM  
Blogger Yearly Watcher said...

I find it hard to believe that we have had a switch in mates. This pair has not failed to produce young since they nested. The upgrade of the cams and servers which has allowed so many more people to join in with this thrilling watch.Whom ever is nesting we are hoping for eggs then chicks SOON!!

10:29 PM  
Blogger Shrewsky said...

Hi,
For those of you wondering what the white thing is in the nest, it is a white dust mask that Dad dragged in. LOL!

10:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/27 2252 EST

Nobody's home........empty nest...

10:54 PM  
Blogger Maine Native said...

11:00pm ET no eagles nesting tonight:( Maybe soon though.

10:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sir Lance, Thank you so much for the video. One of God's gifts to this world. The Eagles are so beautiful and a treasure.

11:22 PM  
Blogger Chris said...

11:24 PM ET Thursday 3/27
Hello Fellow Armchair Biologists!

I haven't taken the time to post lately but I always read your posts! What a loyal group of observers. Wing is absolutely right .... a lot of great biologists here!

Well ... it is a bit frustrating at this point ... Mom has been on the nest all night for a few nights ... Dad has been feverishly bringing in and arranging sticks and then boom they make themselves somewhat scarce again. As you can tell, although their behavior is different from last year, I still feel that this is our original Mom and Dad .... the same pair as last year ... maybe thrown off by losing the chicks last year ... maybe off sync because of the prolonged cold, snowy weather ... but the same Mom and Dad nonetheless.

You all know I am technically challenged but a friend of mine, Tonya is technically talented. She took some really great captures of Mom on the nest during the night on 3/22/08. Here are the links:

http://tinyurl.com/38uxz4
http://tinyurl.com/yt8mt6
http://tinyurl.com/yqpkpu
http://tinyurl.com/25r6xn
http://tinyurl.com/29j68j

... and Tonya took these captures during the night on 3/24 ... two of these captures have both Mom and Dad in them!

http://tinyurl.com/3cwgr5
http://tinyurl.com/3yng3h
http://tinyurl.com/3cuml7

Hope you all enjoy Tonya's pictures of Mom and Dad!

I'll be looking forward to your posts!

Chris
Grand Island, NY

11:28 PM  
Blogger niteowl said...

11:30pm I can't quite tell, but it looks like nobody's home. Thanks Sir Lance for sharing the 2006 video. That was really great. One thing I noticed about the female this year is that she has a discoloration on the right side of her beak that the one in 2006 doesn't have. I guess it could be an age thing, I don't know. Just an observation. I'll keep checking overnight for any action.

11:34 PM  
Blogger SoCal CBCat said...

03.27.08 8:41pm PDT

Sir Lance - thanks for the memories! Enjoyed it immensely. Big and Little were so cute. After watching it I came to this conclusion:

Yes, I think we have a new pair. I've felt this for a while, but reading others comments solidified my belief. Neither one is quite the same. It's all the little things: very aggressive very large Mom, really small Dad, awkwardness in nest restoration, and mostly in their behavior toward each other. Original pair worked so well together that you could see they had been together a long time.

We loved, laughed, cheered, and cried for the original pair. Now we will do the same (hopefully not cry) with the new pair. How can we not?

11:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sir Lance, you are truly a Knight in Shining Armor! Thank you so much for posting that video. I enjoyed it so much. I believe that this is our original pair and I am hoping and praying for a successful egg laying and chick rearing by them in the not too distant future.
Frances

11:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is almost midnight and nothing at the nest site. Surely a sign of no eggs yet.

Without banding, I don't see how we can know for sure if this is the original pair or not. My guess it because the habits are so different than previous years, it is a different couple. The original couple would have been rearranging the nest last Fall and certainly would have been doing the same, plus adding to it, early this year. Surely, they have come back, checked it out BUT, there have been some incidents where eagles were chased off early this year.....possibly our original pair. Whatever or whoever, they will get our support and love and daily attention.

Perhaps we will just have to be content to believe the pair is whoever we want them to be. :-)

Hoping the weather will be kind to the eagles this weekend....

Keep the faith....

12:00 AM  
Blogger Sir Lance said...

A little humorous Maine Eagle entertainment Click 4 Peggy's 30sec. video of Dad's nestorations today March 27
Ya jst gotta smile... ;-)
Chris and Peggy New Gloucester, Maine.

12:43 AM  
Blogger niteowl said...

No action! It appears to have started snowing at the nest. It's been a rainy mix here on the south coast for awhile, now changing to snow. We're looking at some accumulation, I guess. It has to stop soon!!!

4:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

8.36am Uk time..

No eagle on the nest, it's snowing by the looks of it in Maine.
I have to say, I thought I saw her lay an egg yesterday too along with some others that posted this.
yesterday was amazing seeing a close up of both eagles in the nest.
I've been watching for the last two years when we had Big & Little, but I cant work out if there a different pair of not.

Lts hope something happens soon, I have a feeling it will.

Thanks for the update Wing.

4:40 AM  
Blogger flight of fancy said...

5:54AM EST on 3/28
Snowflakes, darkness, the sound of waves against the shore below, gulls in the distance, no eagles. I thought I heard a faint call a moment ago.
Sir Lance, the photo album of 2006 brought tears to my eyes, thank you! There's the call again! Honestly, How I wish I could just sit here and watch this magical experience without having to move...
My students have to be "held" back from the web site...I constantly have it on my laptop, much to their dismay!
Enjoy the day...

6:04 AM  
Blogger D&B said...

3/28/08 5:00a.m. eastern

No eagle on nest
5:46a.m. Dad calling but out of camera view. Snowing.

6:07 AM  
Blogger Mary on Norfolk Island said...

Cannot believe I am watching this from the other side of the world here on Norfolk Island (between Australia and New Zealand.) Am fascinated by the snow - what a time of year to lay an egg!! It is so hot and humid here just now, but much warmer for baby birds!
Mary Christian-Bailey

6:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Snowing alot today on the nest. No eagles are around....none at night before..now 6:28 am and I guess nothing has happen so far......Do hope there will be eggs soon.....

6:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 6:45am
No one home and the nest is snow covered. If there was an egg they would certainly be sitting on it. They spent a lot of time yesterday rearranging sticks. Maybe after this latest round of snow they will lay an egg or two!!

6:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mom is on the Y and snow is covering the nest and tree. I feel sorry for her.

7:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

8 am. Snowy, windy morning. Eagle on the Y branch. Lots of off-camera vocalizing. Nest is covered in snow. No wonder there is no egg yet; it couldn't survive such cold.
Frances

8:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 28 - 8 :00 AM EST

Mom's sitting on the Y branch looking out over the water - light snow is falling and the nest looks covered again. It's a beautiful sight. I'm glad there is no egg to worry about - maybe after this all melts something will happen. The nest must be ready by now.

8:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Morning All...

Yet another snowy morning at the home of "our" eagles. Maine weather has proven so unpredictable in the past. This year, we can depent on snow and plenty of it...

It is March 28th, 8:15 am. There has been an eagle on the Y branch. Most of the snow is falling inland with less on the immediate coastline. I am sure for those of you that do not live in this beautiful state, it looks like too much at the coast! The eagles are use to this although it is time to say "Enough Already"!!!

Snow advisory is in effect until 5 pm today. Temp will steady in the 30's with winds 5-10 mph. The snow will lessen with the evening and it will become partly cloudy with temps in the mid 20 range. Tomorrow will bring partly sunny skies with the temp back in the 30's. Sunday has promised us SUNNY skies with temps in the 40's. Sounds like a good day to leave all the bad weather behind us and move into a warm season filled with new growth and sunlight.

Keep the faith....

8:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My gosh.... How beautiful! That tree so covered in snow and the eagle sitting so clearly on the y branch. Not what you'd want to see with possible nesting birds, but beautiful all the same. I love this webcam
It will be 76 here today but I'd take an old fashioned Maine winter anytime, just like I remember..

8:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 0730 EST

My first impression this am was , WOW, what a lovely Christmas card this would make....
The tree and nest are lovely and snow covered and ...empty...

0800 Checked in to find an eagle high on the Y....looking all about.....very quiet....Camera zooms out again....
0814 Winds pick up a little.....

Once again, with the nest being empty overnight...I think the behaviours are quite different than previous years. But there could be lots of reasons for this.... circumstances are happening off camera that we'll never know about. My instinct is that it's a different couple....

0820 Faint eagle chatter in the distance, eagle on Y perks up and answers immediately.....calling for its mate to come home!

0822 No mate arrives......all is quiet....

What an incredibly beautiful scene.....but hard to see only one eagle in this picture....

0835 Lone eagle flies away..

Can't even imagine what today will bring....

Hello, Chris!
Great to have your input again....

Keep the faith.....

8:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

MzRaspberry in Arizona

3:15am pst Friday

Was up early and thought I would check in to see what was going on with our eagles... watched a lone eagle for about 5 minutes in a snow storm setting on the Y branch.

Living here in the desert I can tell you I got chilled looking at the snow... when will winter give up?

Read the blog... how interesting that a new mate might be in this saga. I thought they only changed mates if one died?? We need more input here. Actually that "fall" from the Y branch could have been our first clue that someone was a "newbie".

Right now I think Maine and the wildlife can use a touch of global warming... geez that sure looks cold up there!

8:51 AM  
Blogger D&B said...

8:45a.m. eastern.

Mom on nest, Dad arrives. Appears that Mom is eating something, Dad delivered. Dad working on nestbowl and then Dad settles down in nestbowl. Mom continues to eat. Dad stands up at 8:50, pulls on large stick,moving stick around, then proceeds to break the stick in pieces on the edge of nest. Mom out onto Y limb 8:53.
Dad still working on that stick. Mom flew off 8:54 and Dad followed calling out with raspy voice.

8:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I checked in just after 8am today and it is snowing and there was an eagle on the Y branch facing the camera. It was a beautiful shot...did anyone technically advanced get a picture of that?

As far as the original pair goes, I am so confused. I really want to believe that it is the original pair, but I can't help noticing some differences from last year. First, I had a really hard time telling them apart last year (I could only tell them apart if they were there together so I could compare them side by side). It is easier this year because of the size difference. They also seem to be facing the camera more when sitting on the Y branch, and last year (and I think previous) the nest bowl was much deeper. I haven't heard dad's raspy voice lately, but I do think I heard it earlier this nesting season (somewhat recently). I also have to bring up the video someone got when dad wouldn't share his meal. When I watched that, my first reaction was, "That's not like him". I thought that was really out of character. It's all these things together that make me wonder...

Maybe after last year the original pair blamed it on the nesting site and moved on to a site they think is safer and just plain better. If this is a new pair I would think that the original pair would have really fought for that nest. That made me think maybe they didn't want it. So much to think about. Whoever it is, I hope they have a successful year and we'll love watching them no matter who they are!

I know I'm slightly warmer in southern New England, but it's supposed to be sunny and chilly this weekend...and next week shows temps reaching the 60's.

Also, I know some people were confused by the mask in the nest. We have an osprey cam at our high school and you should have seen what they brought in that nest last year (everything from football mouthguards to clothing) so nothing surprises me now. When I first saw the mask I thought it was an egg. Maybe that was their intention...they were trying to fake us out!

Amy...Cape Cod, MA
3/28/08 8:58am eagle time

8:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Both eagles on edge of nest, heavily snowing. I hope that white object is not the dust mask some have speculated, as the elastic straps on those things could be dangerous to both adults and chicks. I am obsessed with watching this camera, the best thing on the 'net!

8:59 AM  
Blogger keyboardqueen said...

9:18 a.m. 3/28 Michigan time.

We had snow here too last night, but it looks like Maine got a whole lot more. There were no eagles in the nest when I checked about 5-10 minutes ago. It looked like there had been nobody there all night.

To the blogger that made a comment about the male tailfeathers being nore straight across, i finally caught that with both the eagles in the nest at the same time.

I hope the cold and storm doesn't through a monkeywrench into the family plan. Would the eagles be in the nest even with all the snow on it? It looks like it is still snowing out there.

And I like the new camera angle. I was watching while it was being adjusted and thought my computer had gone haywire. LOL.

Wing, keep up the good work.

9:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 28
Combined video clips of 8:45 a.m. landing by both eagles and then Dad moving stick with his usual comedy :-) and the departure by both.

Video in WMP
Video at Putfile

9:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 9:00 am
Wing, I've noticed several differences in the female this year. She seems to get agitated more easily. The previous two years the female was quite laid back..easy going. Eating is different. I never saw the female eat greedily like she seems to now and I didn't see her take the food away from the male. They just seemed to work it out together. Also, there wasn't this big a size difference. The female was bigger but not as noticeable as this year. When I first saw the size difference this year, I thought maybe dad wasn't healthy and was smaller! The call seems different to me also...more screechy.
I'm on my way to a funeral but later today I will review video and see if I notice anything else. The observations I've made are just from memory!
Thanks again Wing for keeping us posted.
We love this site. And, eggs or no eggs this year. a donation is forthcoming.
Pam, Colo.

10:03 AM  
Blogger MichiganBird said...

WOW.......lots of snow just like here in Detroit/Metro suburbs. I don't see any Eagles on that nest right now. Hope they come back.

10:35 AM  
Blogger Diana B. said...

Fairfield, Conn., 11:30 AM EDT
Thanks, Judy, for those awesome videos! I love it how Pop carefully trims the little twigs off the big stick while Mom chows down in the background (frozen lunch?. But then he seemed to just ditch it there when he flew off after Mom. Glad to see them there at all today. The snow seems to have abated somewhat, but where are they?

Diana B. in Fairfield, Conn.

11:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Judy,
Thanks for the funny video of Dad moving that stick around. I was disappointed today when I pulled up the Live Feed and saw all that snow on the nest. I love snow, but not when the eagles are trying to nest!! So that cheered me up to see they were still working on the nest even in the snow. Mr Dad reminded me of my husband trying to put Christmas lights on our tree... made me chuckle. PS, it's 80 degrees and sunny today in NC... shame we can't share that with the eagles.

Roxy in NC

11:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 0830 EST

They're here.........with either nesting materials or breakfast....or both...
The size difference is so apparent... Female is getting shaggier every day.......They are both eating without conflict....
0854 Female flies off and male is close behind....chattering off camera...

1134 Strangely quiet....very odd, there is just something that feels 'off'......occasional, deep raven croaking, ever present seagulls - windy, camera at 'different' angle... I've checked in throughout am, not seen a sign of them since 0900.
Visibility poor.....all remains steel gray/blue behind the nest tree....
The sun will shine tomorrow and throughout the weekend and things will look different!
Keep the faith...

11:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28, 12:10pm, EDT

WOW!!! I was just watching the eagle eating lunch, and the camera ZOOMED IN on it!!! On such a dark & dismal day, that yellow beak really stands out!

12:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 11:11 CST
Thanks for the new camera angle Wing. Can't wait to see mom & pop in there with no snow and sunny skies, bakin' some eggs.

Also gotta weigh in...I watched youtube videos last night numbering about 20 some, to compare this year's pair to last year's. I even watched some from '06. I have to say that it seems to me that they are the same pair. I think mom's a bit more grumpy because he knocked her off the Y branch mating and they tumbled to the ground. She (and her feathers)were definitely "ruffled" after that incident. Maybe they have had issues about the loss last year throughout those previous months, and she's never forgotten it. If you see videos of dad last year, he did that same huge stick arranging and rearranging to the point of humor. And the voice...it's unmistakable. I looked at things like the way mom's feathers cover her tail and how her wings lie on her back when tucked, and her neck where white meets dark. Maybe dad's looking smaller or more svelte, because he was injured or ill. Maybe mom's packed on a few ounces in her old age. Just seems like they're the same pair to me, but not having them tagged means we'll never know for sure.

Can't you watch them when mom is bossing him around and just put words in her mouth? Like: "You messed everything up last year and I'm not going to let you ruin it this year. Now go get me food and IN A HURRY! And don't ever try to do the wild thing on a branch again! ...nest bowl ok, branch, forget it! Go on, get busy on your housework. I've got a lot of work having your babies and raising them coming up and you need to make sure you don't screw things up this year. Got it??!! And DON'T rush me! I know when the weather is right. My biological clock is still ticking like a Timex."

I'm just anxious to get the eggs rolling!!

Diane...Amazing Poem!! You should send it to the proper venue to have it published. Send it to some magazines...it was beautiful!

12:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Question -- does anybody know if the eagle's "meal" is alive by the time it makes it to the nest? Or do the eagle's talons kill it during flight?

12:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice camera work!

Thank you so much!!!

Steve and Sharon

12:18 PM  
Blogger SHARON ANN said...

It is 12:14 pm. Beautiful picture of the eagle watching the snow come down. The camera has really zoomed in to make it a more beautiful.It has been a long winter for those two as it has for every one in the northeast. Hopefully this will be the last of the snow so they can get down to business. We all enjoy watching the eagles. It is one of the best past times.

12:19 PM  
Blogger keyboardqueen said...

12:15 Michigan time - 3/28. I see one eagle on the nest. I think it is the female because the head looks pretty shaggy and that is what she looked like yesterday too. And also the tail feathers are more pointed. She was eating "frozen" leftovers for a bit. I haven't heard any other eagle screeching for awhile either. Does that mean that male is hunkered down somewhere warm and cozy??

The camera angle has changed and now we have a wonderful close up. That is so great.

12:19 PM  
Blogger armkar1 said...

3/28/08 9:03am PDST

Hi all when I checked in I found Dad on the Y and a whole lot of SNOW! Still snowing. Dad now down on nest and seems to be eating something. no sign of Mom right now.

WOW EXTREME CLOSE-UP AGAIN! Smile Pretty for BRI and the Camera and all the rest of us out here watching DAD! :) Some of those shots will make really awesome still photos!

Well I'm going back to watching Dad while he is still here. Post more later maybe!

Karen in WA

12:23 PM  
Blogger Anne said...

3/28/08 Wing & BRI, Thank you for all you are doing & have done! I am watching now at 12:25pm EDT at the Beautiful lone Eagle on the snowy nest eating lunch with your occasional zoom view of the Headshot! Still snowing.

12:29 PM  
Blogger D&B said...

3/28/08 12:15p.m. eastern

Nice close up view of the eagle Wing, could see the markings on each feather. Assuming someone there at briloon zoomed the camera in for a close up view of the eagle. Could you tell if its our female?

12:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mar. 28, 11:02 a.m. Central: Snowing at the nest. Eagle arrives (probably female). Eats some old food left there. Keeps looking around. One raspy call from nearby, to which she responds with a call. She keeps looking around. Finally moves a stick from the far side of the nest to camera side. More sitting and looking all around. Finally leaves at 11:31 a.m.

Contrary to my previous opinion, this one does not look exactly like old Mom, but I'm sure it's not Dad.

12:37 PM  
Blogger Reagan s Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast said...

3/28 12:25 EST

What looks like dad, is back to rearrange sticks again. It looks like the wad of moss/dried grass that he just picked up with his talons and moved to the upper left rim of the bowl. It could be food, but he wasn't "eating" and I doubt he'd leave it like that without calling to let mom know he brought lunch. Though feathers are puffed up to protect from the cold and snow and he looks nearly as big as mom, I think it's dad. As his legs seem longer and lower breast feathers are not shaggy looking, but tight to his body.

Gone again @ 12:30...

12:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I watched some old video of the eagle pair in 06 and 07. The male in both those had that very straight across white tail edge. This year's male has that same look. However, since the old pair had been at this sight for 13 years last year and successfully fledged 20 young, is it possible that this pair could be new (not the old mom and dad) but be one of their now mature offspring and his mate (do the young stay in the same general vicinity of birth after maturing? I know they roam around quite a bit at first). Genetics could have given this male the same sound and look as his dad? And given that Wing said it is common for them to have a nest switch after a failure, could the older couple have moved to a different nest and one of their now-grown children have taken over the old homestead, so to speak? I am trying to resolve some of the similarities to the old dad with the "just not quite the same" feel I get. I definitely think the female is not the old Mom. Maybe a new daughter-in-law, to put it in human terms?
Cathy in Central Maine

12:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 12:25 EST

WOW...thanks for the closeup!

What looks like dad, is back to rearrange sticks again. It looks like the wad of moss/dried grass that he just picked up with his talons and moved to the upper left rim of the bowl. It could be food, but he wasn't "eating" and I doubt he'd leave it like that without calling to let mom know he brought lunch. Though feathers are puffed up to protect from the cold and snow and he looks nearly as big as mom, I think it's dad, as his legs seem longer and lower breast feathers are not shaggy looking. They are tight to his body when he's not doing the "feather-puffer keep-me-warmer" routine.

Gone again @ 12:30...

12:44 PM  
Blogger armkar1 said...

3/28/08 9:31am PDST

Dad goes up to Y and then is there for a short time looking around. Then flies off to the left of the Y. Quite, No chatter or calling going on.
Whatever the meal was, it sure looks large. I can't really make out what it is, that was on the Menu for this morning and I guess for them afternoon. Anyway, it is left there in plane site. Well I just lost my appetite for my breakfast! Did that to myself. :)
Check back later this afternoon to see what is happening.
Keeping the Faith! Sun Please!
Karen in WA.

12:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mar. 28, 11:02 a.m. Central: Snowing at the nest. Eagle arrives (probably female). Eats some old food left there. Keeps looking around. One raspy call from nearby, to which she responds with a call. She keeps looking around. Finally moves a stick from the far side of the nest to camera side. More sitting and looking all around. Finally leaves at 11:31 a.m.

Contrary to my previous opinion, this one does not look exactly like old Mom, but I'm sure it's not Dad.

12:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1:10pm Eastern
3/28

Well I don't know about a mate switch but it would seem it's a good possibility. I am thinking that we might not have any eggs this year, especially since it is now so late and now there is snow AGAIN filling up the nest. They just can't seem to catch a break. I still have my fingers crossed for an egg soon, though. I check in on the nest often, but find it empty more than I catch one of them there. Still hoping!!

EagleEye
Highland Lakes, NJ

1:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi everyone. I also agree that it is the same female we have been watching for three years. I am going home and go thru my journals for the past years and see if I can see a difference, I thought maybe with all the variables this year that things would be different than in the last years. Weather has put her off from laying and I believe that that is why she is different at the nest although I don't see it. Thanks, Bev

1:15 PM  
Blogger mainefem said...

Weather forecast over the weekend in that general vicinity.

Not terribly windy, which is good.

Smart move, re: bringing in some moss (insulation/warmth factor).

No rush on the egg(s), folks--greater chance of survival.

1:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

10:34 am PST Friday
Wind blowing, snow being blown off branches, can see ocean.
I wish to thank the people in the house who maintain and shelter any equipment used in the streaming broadcast of these wonderful pictures. My favorite part of day to be able to watch these photos.
Thank you! Much appreciated.

1:42 PM  
Blogger armkar1 said...

3/28/08 10:45am PDST

Just checking back real quick no one home. It's snowing here at my house too! Where the heck is spring this is like winter! Enough now! :)

Later Today,
Karen in WA

1:47 PM  
Blogger watergal nh said...

Hello all you wonderful biologists.
I am new to the blog.
I had to let you know how facinated I am with this site. I find myself spending much too much time glued to my computer. I appreciated the closeups Wing gave us about an houe ago.
I must thank Sir Lance for the 2006 replay last night.
Goosebumps!!!
I hope we can see something like that this year.
I am getting nervous as is a lot of us watchers.
I missed a lot of last years escapades but watched closely in 2006.
I appreciate all your blogs and comments and will offer mine in time.
Keep up the good work Wing.
watergal nh

2:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cathy, I'm glad you brought that up about an offspring. I had wondered the same thing and forgot to mention it my previous comment (which was long winded enough).

Thanks,
~Amy, Cape Cod, MA

2:22pm eagle time 3/28/08

2:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3:00, 3/28

Hmmmm, if this pair stole the nest from our previous pair, don't ya think we should name these two Bonnie & Clyde???

3:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

About 2:53 pm Eastern Daylight time, one eagle (mom?) brought a large branch into the nest and spent some time trying to fit it in. The other eagle is in the area calling, and she was listening. Then she took off. She's probably disgusted trying to do housekeeping in a nest full of snow! Thank you, Oh Great Keepers of the Webcam! This is terrific!
Newcomer here, Karen in OH (southwestern)

3:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 1500 EST

I've been watching.....all day off and on.....one eagle has been coming and going, fetching building materials.

Did the male spend this much time building the nest the last 2 yrs.?
More time that the female?If not, then this is even more pertinent.
It seems telling that only one eagle is so attentive....

Another question.....is the 15 second camera picture clearer than the live stream cam on all of you folks as well as mine?

Once again, there seem to be more questions than answers!

Keeping the faith.......

3:17 PM  
Blogger Taylor said...

i love this eagle cam!

3:20 PM  
Blogger GG said...

3-28-2008 3:42pm

These are the videos from yesterday 3-27-2008 - in order - just in case somebody missed the eagles:

Maine Eagles - 149pm-207pm


Maine Eagles - 3:25pm-3:33pm Zoom on Mom

Maine Eagles - 3:57pm-4:08pm Mom and Dad


Maine Eagles - 4:25pm-5:02pm Mom and Dad

Maine Eagles - 6:33pm-7:07pm Mom and Dad leaves last

3:42 PM  
Blogger watergal nh said...

Hi it's watergal again.
My first blog was at 2:16 today. There is a trash can [delete] option at the end.
Does anyone know what this means???
No one else has one.
As you can tell I'm new at this blog thing.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks
Watergal nh

3:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For armkar1: It IS spring in Maine!! I just saw about 150 cedar waxwings, a smattering of big ole fat robins, of course a few grackles, and a confused female cardinal all in a few trees outside my home here in southern Me. just a few minutes ago....when I see cedar waxwing, I feel like spring is here! I don't care if we did get 3" of snow today!

I thought it was a good sign to see the birds in & around the nest today despite the snow.

J in S.P.ME

4:37 PM  
Blogger GG said...

3-28-2008 5pm

Watergal nh - the "Trash can" is for YOU ALONE.

If you posted something you want removed, click on the trash-can.

I intend to put all my BILLS on here and then click on that trashcan!!!~Chuckle~

4:58 PM  
Blogger Maine Native said...

WATERGAL NH...The trash can shows up on your posts only because, as the author of the post, they allow you the option to delete it if you wish. If you click on the trash can it will show on the blog that the entry was deleted by the author. Hope this helps:^)

5:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 5:10pm Eastern time

I've checked in and saw Dad a couple times today, trying to fix the nest as best he could.

Nobody is here right now. The snow has got to GO!

Sir lance and Peggy, I loved the fast motion video you posted, made me smile!

The more I watch these two I think they are the original duo. She's just as fustrated with the weather as we are.

Sue in MD

5:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

5:23 EDT
Mom and Dad have arrived with dinner. Mom is chowing down. It certainly does look windy and cold. I LOVE THESE BIRDS!
- Judy in Atlanta

5:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow.....I have never had Cedar Waxwings except in the fall when they are around to eat the berries from all my honeysuckle bushes. What are they finding to eat this early in the season? Do you usually get them this early? Most of its habits are traced to its dependence on fruit. What a difference a few miles make...I live farther north in Maine...

5:28 PM  
Blogger Karen in Central Maine said...

5:30 p.m ET March 28. Both eagles are in the nest. Mom is chowing down on supper and dad is moving sticks (again!). I think he's just trying to get close to mom's supper!! I hope the sun comes out tomorrow and melts that snow out of their condo!!

5:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28
Love the close ups! Keep them coming. I don't care what anyone else says, these are our original Mom and Dad. (so I like to think)

cathy h in mass

5:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Friday 3/28 5:15 pm

Earlier this afternoon when I checked in there was a small bird that looked to be nesting... dead and still but I looked closely to see because it seemed there was a very daring visitor...!!

Dad, raspy voice, stopped in to do some housework around 2:45 and moved the dead critter but didn't eat.

At 5:15 this evening both mom and dad came home. Mom immediately began to eat the meal that had been left for her. Dad continued to decorate for her. When he left the nest, she called to him and as though to respond, he returned but didn't interfere with her meal. This continued several times and at 5:35, they were still busy.

I am still unsure of the identity of the female but I have no doubt that this is our resident male from (at least)the two previous years. As to the female, she was/is scruffy... shrill, bossy... Mr. can't buy a break!

To Sir Lance, thank you for the photo montage. Made my day. Can anyone put pics side by side of the female from the previous years next to this year's lady? Thank you to all the techies who do such good work and Wing, as always.
Be well,
Lisa in Maine

5:36 PM  
Blogger Kay said...

5:30 p.m. - Dad almost whacked Mom with a long stick. It looked like she gave him a dirty look! Loved the close-ups earlier today during the snowstorm.

5:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 28 - 5:21 PM in Michigan

I just checked in to see Mr. and Mrs. enjoying Dinner together. It's cloudy and windy but it looks like some of the snow is off the nest. Dad just flew on the Y branch. He flew off to the left. He just flew back the other way and now has landed in the nest again. She's eating and he's re-arranging sticks again. Mom has stopped eating and is fussing with the moss - Dad just flew off and she went back to eating. Dad just came back and now he is arranging the moss. Dad is on the edge of the nest looking off to the left. He flew off again. She's calling - here comes Dad again - back to the sticks. I wonder why he keeps leaving and coming right back. There he goes again. She's still eating but looks up in the direction he went after every bite. She's calling - he's back -this time he has a long stick. Now she's on the Y branch and he's fussing with the nest. He just flew up to sit beside her - they're looking out over the water.

5:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

5:30 pm est
Both eagles at nest and mom seemed to be eating the brown mass on the left of the nest that had been brought earlier. Dad housekeeping and paying a lot of attention to the bowl of the nest. Everytime dad went away, mom seemed to call him back.

I thought i heard another eagle off camera but am not sure. One went to y branch and the other to the left almost off camera.

Lot of periodic calling. Is mom haveing labor pains?

5:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

03/28 @ 17:52

17:18 - Both eagles landed in the bowl. He is at work while she is eating.

17:23/17:35 - She continues eating and he is in and out and back again about every minute or two. Usually is he busy with twigs, once again attacked an attached branch, sometimes moves to camera branch.

17:38 - missed the change but she is now on the main Y and he has again returned and is standing in the bowl looking around.

17:40 - He moves to left Y and continues to move further left until mostly tail showing. They stay this way until 17:57 when she turns and faces bowl and leaves with him right behind her.

The rear view of both for an extended period offered a good chance to see the difference in tails. His wings meet and form a V in the center of the white feathers ending well above the end of his tail... this is typically the way he looks. Her wing tips frame the outside of her tail and extend almost to the end before coming together ... again, typical for her. Obviously, wing position can alter the appearance, but usually his tail is more readily seen than hers. Even in this segment, the appearance changes for each of them with a posture change with his wing tips separating somewhat and her wing tips almost completely covering her white tail feathers.

JAM in IL

6:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 6:00pm Eastern time

5:20pm They both fly in together. She is eatting and Dad is tending to the nest. He sat on the Y and then took off at 5:25.

He came right back with a stick and finds a spot to put it. Mom is still eating. Dad tried to get that branch off the front limb again but no go.

5:32 Dad goes again and brings back another stick.

5:35 Dad goes again and comes back with a big stick. Finds a place for it and Mom moved to the Y. Dad is fluffing the insulation!

5:40 Dad joins Mom on the Y and they sit there pretty quietly till 5:56. They both leave and I can hear themm talking down to the left.

At 5:51 something flew by it was pretty big but I don't know what it was.

6:10 I just heard them both again while I was writing this.

Sue in MD

6:13 PM  
Blogger armkar1 said...

3/28/08 3:01pm PDST

To J in S.P. ME. Wow that must be wonderful to be able to see so many birds by your home. I know here in WA it is supposed to be spring per the calendar, but Mother Nature has her own idea of Spring and it looks like Winter outside my house. The Weather has all the birds around here at my house really confused! Poor Things.

I logged on at 2:42 and found Dad and Mom both at the nest area. Mom in center of Y and Dad up further on branch over to Moms' left. Both looking out towards the water. Mom talking every once in a while. They just seem to be hanging out right now.
At 2:56pm PDST Mom flies off to the left first than Dad follows her. I can hear some ruckus going on off camera. Also there is a crow close by to the camera.
As I was getting ready to close this out at 3:09pm PDST I heard the eagles calling again, but still no one in the nest.
Check back later this evening to see if they come back for the night. The nest tonight would surely be a little bit cold with all that snow. I'm just really happy that they have been at the nest today even with the snow seems encouraging to me anyway.
Have a nice Evening,
Karen in WA

6:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

5:20 pair arrive from the right simultaneously, awesome I have never seen that.
Female starts ripping apart moss, male of course starts moving sticks.
5:25 Male leaves, returns 5 seconds later, and rearanges nest,while female still works on the moss.
5;29 male tries to pull branch from tree, with no luck, leaves tree returns 10 sec. later,
5;32 males leaves
female still working on moss
5;33 male returns, moving sticks to outer rim of nest. Trying to in large they're square footage?
5:35 male leaves, female still working on moss,
5:37 male returns with long stick, female moves to the Y branch, male places stick where he wants it and starts spearding the moss the female has managed to shred.
5:39 male taking break from house work female still on Y branch, male joins her @ 5:40
5:44 Both relaxing on Y branch enjoying the ocean view, every once in awhile one makes a comment.
5:56 female leaves, male follows.
5:57 did I hear a goose? sounded like a goose.

Note on mate switch: the female seems much larger this year, white tail feathers are narrower than last year, Male looks the same, the white collar looks the same where it meets the brown feathers His beak and face look like the male from last year, I hope he did'nt become a widower over the summer.

BRI and wing thanks so very much for the pleasure of watching live the lives of the eagle pair.

6:18 PM  
Blogger Karen in Central Maine said...

6:20 p.m. ET March 28
Hahaha, Kay I saw that too when dad almost whacked mom with that long stick. The look on her face was too much!! Didn't take dad long to get out of the way - what a riot!! This is so entertaining!
Karen in Central Maine

6:22 PM  
Blogger Sir Lance said...

Thank You I’m glad you enjoy our videos.. Here are a couple more all made by Peggy..


Maine bald eagles to music you needed me 03 27 08

Maine Bald Eagles in March snow to music 03/28/08

Dad comes in to do some nestorations . 03/28/08.. Maine Bald Eagles

6:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For anonymous re: cedarwaxwings: they eat the berries from my massive hollybush and the crabapples that I allow to stay on the trees all winter - I know they'll be by in the spring to chow down - there are no apples on the tree right now after their busy late afternoon and maybe a few berries that are still covered by snow on the holly bush...the robins will get those later. And they're off....maybe to your house! It's the most wonderful time of the year......

J in S.P.ME

7:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

While we are all waiting for our eagle pair to start their family, the loons on our lake are gathering to head up north for nesting. I will miss their sounds this summer. Hopefully we will see them on the loon cam.
Chapin

7:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

MAcrh 28th, 8:05PM EST

Evening, Fellow Bloggers and Armchair Biologists! ~ I must say, when I opened my eyes in Durham, ME this ayem to see that TOTally unexpected THICK, white coat of snow all over everything in sight, I definitely did about a triple-take....Jeezum - I still can't quite believe it!
But, happily, our birds certainly seemed to take it all in stride. I noticed immediately that the goldfinches were hardly affected at all, spunky as ever, flitting about in spicey little duos, flaunting their splotchy yellow sun-dresses and having a merry old time around the yard. I tuned right in to check on the eagles at around 8AM to find one lone bird perched nobly on the Y, looking out to sea as the snow fell gently around him/her. Checked back right around 9AM see them both there, but just a short time later, they were both gone but calling from nearby. Next check-ins were at 10:40 and 11:01AM with no one home. At 12:11PM, I checked in to a deeLIGHTful X-treme zooOOOM with one Eagle on the nest. At this point, I got to thinking about the moss that was introduced again. Yesterday, I immediately concluded that it was meant to cushion the nest in prep of egg-laying, but today, I couldn't help but wonder - did the birds perhaps know that the snow was coming, and was the moss perhaps also brought in to play with the idea of keeping the heart of the nest bowl dry? I mean, pretty neat if after the snow flies and the whole nest had gotten a bit soggy and damp, they could just pull that moss aside and have a nice dry bed to nestle down in to...just a random thought that came to mind...Anyhoo, next check-ins were at 1:42 and 2:04PM with no one home. At around 2:33, I tuned in to see what I am pretty sure was Mom come in for a landing. BUT: interestingly enough, I could swear that I was hearing NOT ONLY Dad, but ALSO ANOTHER FEMALE eagle nearby (that is, if the majority of females do indeed sound more like our Mom regularly does, and the majority of males have that deeper, throatier sound...). Anyway, the bird that landed perched to the right side of the nest rim, near the base of the Y (kinda hard to tell where what is with the thick snow coating everything).At first she was just staring off quietly, but then she perked up a bit and looked at something off to the left, quietly squawking a bit, then I could hear just Dad responding. Then, interestingly, the female continued calling, but it was just this most delicate, soft almost peeping/cheeping types of sounds she was making and then Dad was actually also just gently chortling from very nearby. I swear, this was the sweetest audio exchange I've ever heard since tuning in to this site last year - it was very loving and tender in character. At 2:39, it was quiet again but she was still perched in the same spot, but then at 2:40, she hopped up and fooled with the sticks for a bit, the an 2:44 I looked in to see here staring out to sea in a moment of contemplation. At 2:59, she was gone but I could hear more of that soft cheeping from nearby. 3:03 crows calling. 3:06 female eagle calling. 3:17 and 3:47, no body home. That was the last time I checked in until just before starting this blog entry when I also discovered no one home. I wonder if when the nest is snowy or wet, and there are no eggs, they might switch to a temporary alternate roosting site for the overnight? Can't wait to see them again tomorrow!
Night, All ~
Syreeta in Durham

8:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/28 8:45pm Eastern time

I do believe it's snowing again. Please stop!

The nest is empty.

I don't want to see a repeat of last year when they lost their little one in April's nasty weather.

Sue in MD

8:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have felt for a few weeks that this was a different pair from last year's. I wish I could say why, but it was just a feeling. I think maybe the fact that they had been so regular in laying that first egg earlier than this made me think that "something" was different. And it almost seems like they are trying to get to know each other this year, instead of the "familiarity" they seemed to have had in the past. Wasn't there a new male that was trying to move in on the pair last year? I was thinking that perhaps he "won" the battle and is now the new male. Was the male's tail as flat and straight last year as this one's is?

9:55 PM  
Blogger BethelBirdman said...

Just a little spring dusting, Sue in MD

12:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/29 2:20am Eastern time

Since I was still up I thought I'd take a peek and I don't see the snow coming down anymore!

No Eagles in the nest either.

Sir Lance and Peggy, you've done it again! Your videos are awesome. "You Needed Me" is another tearjerker! (in a good way)
Thank you.

Sue in MD

2:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A few facts.....

Eagles do mate for life.... Have there ever been an exception to this rule? I am sure there has been but the norm is that they mate for life and only seek another should something happen to a mate, then they quickly find another one. It has been written that failed breeding attempts may prompt a pair to split up and look for a new mate. Individuals may not breed every year.

Eagles do not migrate just to find warmer weather. When they do migrate, it is to find a better food supply.

JFK wrote to the Audubon Society..."The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes The strength and freedom of America. But as latter-day citizens, we shall fail our trust if we permit the eagle to disappear".

I have seen lately, even more interest in the great eagle by the number of bloggers taking a part in recording these great birds...bless you all. You are all important.

Keep the faith.

3:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

An Early Good Morning to you Eagle Lovers.....

It is Mar.29th....just a tad over 4 am..

Looks like a decent day on the horizon. Partly sunny skies later in the day but the wind will gust up to 30 mph. That is better than getting snow, I think. Highs will be in the 30's.

Tomorrow will bring a nice sunny day with temps in the 40's once again. We still can expect the wind gusts in the morning....No precipitation is expected until Monday night then rain is likely with showers on Tuesday. If we can keep the temp up, then even with rain, the snow will go fast. It is time....April is almost upon us.

Have a great weekend with lots of sightings. Even in Maine with all the snow, we are getting the spring birds starting to fly in. My feeders are full and waiting for them. Raisins and bits of fruit can be a welcome sight for some of them.

Take care and Keep the Faith....

4:10 AM  
Blogger BethelBirdman said...

What another great morning in ME! Just finished feeding the crows. Should be good watching today. Enjoy!

6:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/29 6:55 AM.

Tuned in about 15 minutes ago. All is quiet. No eagles on the nest and no calling from off nest.
No wind. No sound but the water lapping onto the shore.

Bill in CT

6:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've just recently starting watching the eagles so I can't comment on a mate switch. I so enjoy watching them! They are just so awesome!! Thank you so much for the closeup of Momma yesterday. Me and the girls I work with were amazed and enjoyed that so much!!! We are rooting for eggs any day now!!!

7:10 AM  
Blogger niteowl said...

What's up with these two, anyway? Nobody's home this 3/29, been watching since 6:00! We've all been giving them the benefit of the doubt because of the weather, but THIS IS MAINE!! We have snow into April!! These birds live here all year 'round. AAARGH! It's not that cold and ugly. I wish they would stop being namby pamby and get on with the show!!!It's as though they are totally disregarding the fact that they are there for our entertainment alone, and they are not performing up to the standards set in previous years!!!LOL I am looking forward to another day of watching and waiting just the same. Maybe today.....

7:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There used to be a saying "A watched pot never boils." Maybe watched eagles .... Could be the eagles sense they're being watched and they're saying to each other: "lets tease em a bit.";-)

9:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/29 0915 EST

Good sunshiny morning to all! (SOME of us were up awfully early this am!!!:):):))

Alas, not much to see.......I hear occasional far off eagle noises, other than that, it's as peaceful a nest site as I've seen. Branches are gently swaying, ocean is that light aquamarine blue that we know and love. The snow on the nest looks trampled upon, no doubt from yesterday. I don't believe there have been any sitings since early last evening.
Wonder what transpired that detoured our couple from nesting...they seemed to be showing consistent signs of egg laying, then ...pouf!...changed course. Could it be the presence of the noisy ravens? Was it the copulation calamity?
Perhaps this is a year of transition...and/or change......
Perplexing....well....once again, we are here for the duration, as they say.......loyal nest watchers and contributors are we!
Whatever happens, it's an amazing opportunity....and we are incredibly fortunate to watch these gorgeous, quirky birds!
Have a wonderful day and Keep the Faith!

10:52 AM  
Blogger Diana B. said...

I am unable to get the live feed on my (Vista) computer all of a sudden! Java is up to date, WMP is up to date, Quicktime is up to date. It does work on another computer (XP), however. Any ideas out there?

Diana B. in Fairfield, Conn.

11:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 29 - 8:30 AM in Michigan

It looks like a cloudy day and there's nobody on the nest.

11:18 - It's snowing and the nest is empty.

11:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Morning Everyone!

For what it's worth, I thought I would put in my two cents on the mate switch possibility. Although in my heart, I would love to think this is our original Eagle pair, I guess if I had to make a guess, I would say it's our original Mom as she's the same size and still has that "scruffy" look around the neckline. She seems to have the same "mannerisms" too and from what I remember she was never "as into" nest building as the male was. Yes she would help, but it always seemed the male was more serious about it.

As for the male, I think he could be "the switch". Although he appears "smooth" like our past male, to me his head seems smaller/narrower and his legs are more prominent. Also, I think his tail is wider and "shows" more. Lastly, this guy just doesn't seem as ummmmm.... adept at mating. :-)

The nest itself is another issue. In the past, the nest has been relatively "neat". This nest is quite dishevelled looking, which the male has been doing most of the work on.

That said, I'm just hoping that "this pair" is successful because last year was so difficult/harsh for ALL the eagles in Maine.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

11:32 AM  
Blogger Ward said...

11:29 Finally, our pair has decided to return home for lunch. Leftovers, again. Snow doesn't seem to deter them any.

Mixed feelings as to whether this is the original couple. They don't seem to be as experienced as last year's pair.

Ward
03-29-08

11:35 AM  
Blogger Karen in Central Maine said...

11:35 a.m. ET March 29th
Both eagles are on the nest and I THINK I just caught mom SHARING lunch with dad!!
Karen in Central Maine

11:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

11:30 est

Tuned in to find both eagles on the nest with mom feeding on a brown fuzzy thing. Is it the same one as yesterday? She once picked it up and moved it to the left side of the nest. Looks like day ocasionally getsa bite. Snowing some.

11:42 AM  
Blogger armkar1 said...

3/29/08 8:26am PDST

Well, I can hear them just not seeing them. I can tell they are in the tree both of them, have heard each one. Only problem is that so is the testy
Crow there also, They are giving it a piece or two of their mind! They are not happy.
8:29 Mom & Dad into nest, Dad of course franticly doing housework.
Wow too much going on right now. I have to watch, I will post the rest when things quite down.
Be Back Soon!
Karen in WA.

11:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

8:48 am PST Saturday
Snowing like heck. Little wind.
Mom and Dad on nest. Mom eating something furry just to left of Y branch. Dad takes off to left. Mom calls, continues eating, profile view of her eating. Snowing, snowing, snowing.

11:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

11:50 am EDT March 29

I think it's female at the nest feeding, snow squall.....

cj in Maine

11:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 29 - 11:55 AM in Michigan

It looks like Mom on the nest eating. It's snowing large flakes and it's a beautiful shot up close and personal,

12:01 PM  
Blogger Karen in Central Maine said...

3/29 High Noon ET
NICE zoom-in on mom eating some furry thing. Crows calling in the background. Not sure where dad is. It's lightly snowing at the nest. Dad's back with a TREE! lol Trying to find a place for that tree and has again disturbed mom's eating! He's a brave bird!! Camera has zoomed out now.
Karen in Central Maine

12:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know what the cry means when he's coming into the nest...."Incoming - watch your head."

12:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is noon time and both eagles are on the nest enjoying their lunch as we have ours. Snow flurries are blowing around different parts of Maine but do not be concerned..They are big and fluffy....it gets more serious when you see a downfall of snow that is thick and fine. Partly cloudy for the rest of the afternoon but you wil see sun peeking out all around.

Better weather tomorrow. This weather does not bother the eagles....remember under the outside feathers is a nice layer of down which insulates them very well against the cold. We have seen plenty of this during the colder months. Before we know it, they will be hot.....eagles do not sweat, they pant, therefore, they look for shade and cool water as we do.

J.in SP...I can tell in your wording you are a wildlife lover....Your birds are very lucky to have you and yes, I will take care of many when they migrate a bit father north.

Hang in and keep the faith...

12:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

03/29 @ 12:10

Oh, my goodness!

11:28 - eagles arrived together again. She immediately started working on "the blob" and he works on the sticks, moves to main Y, takes off and comes back, etc.

11:53 - She is alone with the blob, he is off camera. WOW, what a fantastic zoom. Unfortunately, I still cannot figure out what she is working on??? Thought possibly a large piece of carcass hide ... sometimes seems sinewy, sometimes looks as though she is actually eating some. All I know for sure is that it is large and she is determined.

12:00 - Holy Cow!!! He just flew in with a big branch and looks like he clobbered her. All caught with the super zoom ... fantastic! She is ok and back at the blob; he working with sticks.

Soon will refer to them as Mr. Stick and Ms. Blob or Mr. & Mrs. Determined! They both are so very focused on their own thing. Unfortunately, nobody is practice incubating.

Thanks, again, for the great zoom camera action.

JAM in IL

12:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Logged on around 12:10 PM EDT and both eagles in nest. Think it's dad who is moving a big twig around while mom eats. And it is snowing but not wildly windy. Wish the weather would cooperate! They switched -- dad is eating and mom wants to move the big twig around. Now she's moved out to the "Y" branch while he eats.
Karen in OH

12:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Our eagles are certainly putting their mark on the nest and making sure all know it is there's...Whether they lay eggs or not remain to be seen but I am betting they will keep a watchful eye on it and have a beautiful well kept nest for next spring as long as both can stay healthy. Also, I have not given up for this year....their habits are habits we should have seen earlier but the Maine storms have not been the norm for our birds which, I am sure, has delayed everything. The latest the Virginia eagles have layed is the beginning of April....Our good weather certainly is behind theres in time....so..we still have time. Our eagles know what is best and as eagle lovers, we want the best for them....they sure are doing a lot of talking at 12:17 pm...wish we could understand them, but you know at times, I think we do know what they are feeling.

Keep the faith..

12:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/29 @ 12:12

Sorry, was so caught up in zoom action that I forgot to note an observation. Had a good look at the female neck. Almost looks as though white feathers are missing and dark areas showing on throat and back of head. Looks both rugged and ragged. This does not seem like the usual "bad hair day" I have observed with Ms. Mom. Would certainly alter appearance. Either this is the natural growth pattern for this female or, perhaps, feathers have been "plucked" and not yet grown back??

12:18 - Both eagles still there, spent some time on the Y and chattered and looks like female is back in the nest poking around. The other just flew off.

JAM in IL

12:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/29
12:00pm Looks like mom is enjoying her lunch.. Nice Zoom..12:02 dad comes crashing in with a HUGE branch and mom looked like she was in shock. He almost knocked her out with the landing.lol. Mom continues to feed as dad works around the nest once more. I can't believe it is snowing again. On second thought.. I believe it. Having problems with the video feed. It amazes me as to how the weather does not seem to faze these birds. 12:10pm dad seems to be observing his surroundings as he sits in the bowl. Mom continues her feed. 12:12pm Mom is now moving the branch around. I think she is trying to figure out where to put the darn thing and gives up. Onto the Y branch she goes. Dad is now munching on 1her leftovers. 12:16pm Both birds are observing the area and mom is fairly vocal about the snow I think. Dad moved to the Y brandh with mom and now they are both screeching....lovers spat?? Mom came down into the nest and seems to be moving around in the bowl. 12:19pm dad is off to far lands below. Mom remains in the nest looking out over the world. Love these 2
Cal

12:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3/29 1128 EST

Ohhhhhh goody....was watching when the pair arrived! Squawking disgustedly at the nest as if saying! What a mess! Began a little tug of war with that old carcass, no guess who won....Dad (Mr. Fussy Pants) is fussing with nest...now he's out of sight...
Pretty snow... SNOW? .....
Zoom Zoom.....we've got a closeup of Mom ripping into the rest of the carcass......Dad calls from nearby...Mom answers...Raucous Raven is nearby, honking away...

Husband waiting for me so we can go socialize for the day! Darn! Why would I want to do a thing like that, when I could be staying right here, watching my eagles?!?!?!?!?!

12:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

March 21 - Noon in Michigan

Both are on the nest now - Dad is arranging sticks and Mom is eating. Now Mom is moving sticks - she just flew on the Y - looks like Dad is eating. It's still snowing. Mom is occasionally calling. Dad has stopped eating and is back to fussing with the sticks. He's on the Y with Mom and she's yelling at him. He's responding. Sounds like they were having an argument. She's back on the nest bowl now and all's quiet once more except for crows in the distance. Dad just flew off to the left - Mom is looking in that direction. She's tearing apart something that looks like what's left of lunch. Dad just returned and is with the sticks again. Now he's on the edge looking right into the camera. Mom has her back to the camera and is still tearing apart lunch. Dad flew off to the right this time. She's looking in that direction. Dad's back again with another stick.

12:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

12:17 p.m. I've been watching for a while. I'm now wondering if both eagles are new to the nest. The female ate what looked like a rat or muskrat. When she'd had her fill, the male took over eating. They seemed to disagree on where a stick should go in the nest. A threat I couldn't see got them both agitated. The male flew off, but for once, the female stayed and "rearranged" the nest. The male did return. This all took place in what appeared to be a heavy snow shower.
12:25 - Male left and quickly returned almost knocking the female out of the nest. He took the stick they'd been disagreeing about and put it where he wanted it.

Female pecked at male for no apparent reason. These two eagles definitely do not share the carmardie and unique relationship of the pair from the previous two years.

12:30 PM  
Blogger Sandy Sandmeyer said...

Man, I can not believe that it's snowing again today! At this rate, we might never have an egg!

12:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was so excited to log in and see both Mom and Dad working feverishly on their nest. Dad would fly off and come back with large branches (almost wiped Mom out with it on one return) and lay them in the nest. So, so cute. I hope they are successful parents.

12:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

12:15 est

This has been a long visit to the nest. Dad doing lots of housekeeping while mom watches on. Dad jumped to the branch and lots of vocalizing between the two as if he is daying, does this suit you now?
Dad left and Mom went to the bowl but didn't snuggle in. Moved a small branch and then resumed eating on the brown furry thing. After a minute or so, Dad came back. either ate or did housekeeping and jumped to the branch facing the camera.

Dad came back with a large stick and seems to want to put it where mom is eating. She's not about to move!

12:34 PM  
Blogger niteowl said...

Ouch! Dad just bit Mom on the butt! He was working on the nest bowl under her tail. She wouldn't move and he turned and nipped her! Too funny. She still didn't move tho' it was he who did the moving! She does seem a bit obstinate.

12:36 PM  
Blogger keyboardqueen said...

3/29 at 12:35 p.m. Michigan time. Saw both eagles on the nest earlier, about 11:30 or so. Mom is stil chewing on that ratty piece of leftover fur. Not too frozen though, as I can see strings of it as she is chowing down. Then about noon, dad brings up this big old branch and knocks her over the head. Too funny.

It is a beautiful day here in michigan today...cool but sunny. Wish I could send some of our weather to the eagles.

12:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Help I am getting confused! Which one is the female and which one is the male? Do explain how to tell. Which is bigger?

12:43 PM  

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