Possible Egg Laying
Greetings all!
Just got back from dinner and was pleased to see all your comments. If the female stays on the nest through the night and there are quick nest exchanges in the morning, then this would be a good sign that they have laid an egg.
We may also be seeing the birds still "practicing," but I believe this is the first time that we have seen the bird on the nest at night this season.
If any of you are in other time zones and can check in through the night, please post comments if the bird is still on the nest.
From what we learned last year, egg laying should be expressed in the female rocking back and forth in the nest.
We will know for sure that they have laid an egg when the nest is occupied 24/7.
I look forward to reading your comments.
Wing Goodale
BioDiversity Research Institute
posted by Bald Eaglecam at 8:37 PM
86 Comments:
3/22, 8:45pm EDT
I just saw Mom, who has been facing the camera all this time, turn her head & tuck it into her feathers. She's getting some well-deserved rest! This is so darned exciting, and such a privilege to witness! Thanks so much, Wing!
Yes I am right she is really rocking. Do hope there is an egg and we can have success this year. I have been watching for over 3 years now. Just love this site!!
3/22 9 p.m. It's very hard to see distinct images at night. But I don't believe the eagles are there.
9.15pm EST She's still on the nest :-) I saw her and jumped off the couch and called my mother.
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa! we have watched the eagles for 2 years now and we think mom is home doing her job. smart woman from last year. lets all hope :)
3/22 9:38 PM Eastern
I see her! Hurray! The way the wind blows that tree top around, I suppose I'd be rocking, too. Well, we will see, won't we?
Pam in Indy
3/22/08 6:45Pm PST
Mom is still in the nest bowl. With the night cam I really can't tell if she is rocking back and forth or not.
I'm feeling a little confident that Diane is giving us an Easter Egg for all of us to enjoy!
My Extreme Thanks goes out to Wing and BMI for allowing us to view such a wonderful and beautiful part of Nature. This is just AWESOME!
Post more later when I check on her again.
Keeping a Watchful Eye!
Karen in WA
Momma eagle looks very settled in for the night... Hoping for easter eggs!!
I checked in at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM CST and both times a contented looking eagle was sitting in the nest.
Watcher in Wisconsin
Sat 3-22-08
Just to give a review timeline:
6:27 pm Dad came to the nest
6:44 pm Mom Came to the nest
7:01 pm Dad left
7:05 pm Mom went up to the "Y"
7:06 pm Mom gave a rich chirp
7:07 pm Mom down, stood on the nest
7:12 pm Mom lying in the nest
10:00 pm Mom still in he nest
This is the longest she has been at the nest in weeks.
3-22-2008 10:06pm EDT
Thanks for zooming in the camera Wing.
I have 3 videos that I offer to those who missed the event. They've been edited but the 2nd one is the FUN video of the male trying to get a twig for his lady fair:
Maine Eagle part 1 of 3 NEW FAMILY?
Maine Eagle Fun with Twigs part 2 of 3
Maine Eagle part 3 of 3 Mom spends the night?
10:08 EST
I don't see the eagles...
Let's keep our fingers crossed.
3/22 10:10pm Hard as it is to see I do believe that there is an eagle on the nest. How exciting this is going to be. An egg.....for easter!
9:24, eagle got up, walked to the side of the nest, scratched her face, then settled back into the nest. You can't see her in this new position too well. Her head is facing 11 o'clock.
10:25 PM in Michigan
There is definately an Eagle on the nest. I just watched her change position - there is no doubt. She's moving around now like she's trying to get comfortable. What a wonderful sight. I'm glad they waited - lets all hope the weather won't be a problem.
She is still there! At 8:22pm ( 10:22pm EST) Mom stood up for just a few seconds and then tucked herself back in. It is now 8:49pm and she is still there...hopefully for the night. I plan on looking in on her all night and let you know what I see.
MzRaspberry on Arizona time...
7pm She is still in the nest.
(I kinda miss Charlotte from the Loons night cam)
7:45pm I can't see her head at all... wind has picked up.
It is now 11:30 p.m and I have enlarged the nest to fill the whole screen....I do not see an eagle in the nest as I did before....please tell me it is my poor eyesight, although I had them checked yesterday and the doc said they are perfect.
Still wishing and keeping the faith.
3/22,11:20pm Eastern time
I've been keeping an eye on Mom and at 10:20pm she got up, walked around the rim of the nest and jumped off over the water.
It's been an hour now, still nothing. Could this have been another practice run?
She was calm about it, I don't think she was provoked. I also think I heard some very faint talking off down to the right.
Maybe tomorrow, I'm still going to keep an eye out for her.
Sue in MD
11:40 EST
She is still on the nest facing the ocean. Hard to see her but for a few glimpses of white. She seems very settled in. Sure do hope this is it! Wouldn't an Easter egg be great!
Sheryl
Easter Day weather forecast for Hancock County.
12:05 EDT
Mom just lifted her head up a couple of times and then settled back in with her head mostly hidden except for a little patch of white.
It's been hard to see at times but we've had an eagle in the nest most of this evening. She (?) is still there but is hard to see if you've just logged on. Her head has been tucked below her body so you're not able to see the white in the dark. She just stretched so I can confirm she's there. I'm so excited! 12:10am Easter Sunday.
3/23, 12:25am Happy Easter!
I haven't seen anything move in the last two hours.
I'm pretty sure Mom flew off at 10:20pm.
If she is still there she's facing the water on the rim of the nest, laying very low. She is not sitting in the bowl.
It's really hard to tell in the dark. I guess we'll see in the morning.
Sue in MD
it's 11:30 pm cst and i am unable to see the eagle on the nest. the wind is really whipping the branches around.
would everyone mention your time zone when recording the times?
thanks soo much.
It is a little after 1 am and, by golly, she is in the nest...didn't see her before, she was farther into the nest than I thought she could get.
Happy Easter everyone....and to our special eagles, also :)
I DID keep the faith although I was a "doubting Thomas" for a while.
Mom still in nest at 11:04pm MST / 1:04am EST, she is wake, still laying in the nest and just looking around.
By the way....if anyone is interested in the Virginia eagle....she also has stayed on the nest for the night. This is the first time since the tragedy of losing her first egg or two three nights ago. It is looking like maybe she has laid the third one. Yesterday morning, dad and mom came back with a vengence and started to move sticks around as if to reinenforce the nest and prove they are fighters and were not going to give up..It will be interesting to see how both sets of eagles do especially as the females are sitting on the egg at the same time. Or at least, I am presuming they are.
April 26 looks like a good time for a little eagle to climb out of the egg, don't you think????
The weather will be a lot warmer than it was last year as long as she can stay on the nest during the next few weeks of storms that we may get. Of course dad takes his turns of incubating, too.
March 22,08 1:02 am edt
Mom just moved around alot. Picked at nest bowl alittle then started preening herself. Wow does she look huge at night.
3/22/08 10:09pm PST
Well Mom is still in the nest. I documented here at home that she has been in & around the nest since 3:25pm PST.
Looks like the real thing to me since this is the first time she has been in the nest all night.
With the night cam I can see her moving but can't distinguish if she is rocking. So with the eagles in EST she has been there all night and in a very few hours it will be getting light. Can't wait to check in the morning.
Happy Easter to All!
I Think we have an Easter Egg! :)
Karen in WA
1:20AM Sunday...Eagle in the nest!
11:21 PM MDST 22 Mar. Eagle on nest. Assume it's female. Can see white head.
march 24
still in the nest bowl
At 1:30am sat up facing cam,did a little fluff of nesting material in front of her,was looking around to the right. Sat or stood way up for maybe a bit of stretch-little preening-scratch of the neck. Turned towards left -wiggled down into the nest, tucked head back in ..sleeping
Hard to see her when she tucks her head back--rather blurry picture with the infrared and wind
2:10 still asleep-can see a tiny bit of white from neck
2:14 AM - still in nest, curled up sleeping with head tucked in.
oops-wrong date in post above should be march 23 not 24. sorry
A Happy Easter to all!
3/23 2:15AM
HAPPY EASTER ALL!!
At 1:30am I checked in and mom was on the nest facing the water and the white of her head was as clear as can be. I watched her for about 15 minutes then left the room for a few minutes and when I came back I can no longer see her. She has either left the nest or tucked her head in under her feathers and I'm just unable to tell if she's there. With the posts of the last two days, I really feel she's still there and I'm just unable to make her out. I think we have our first all nighter on the nest. Keeping fingers crossed. Here's hoping we have eggs!!!
Thanks Judy and gg as always for the great videos. The one of dad trying to get the attached branch was really funny. I couldn't help but notice mom staring at him like she thought he was just a little strange. She finally had enough and turned her back to him, then got on the Y branch and ignored him as though she thought he was just a bit compulsive. He's so enthusiastic and seems to want to be a dad.....he's ready!!
I just checked one more time to see if I could see mom but I can't. I think she's sleeping all nestled down in the nest!! That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Good Night all.
Pam, in Colo.
2:27 am ET 3/23/08 and no Eagle on the nest. I;ve stared at it awhile hoping I am wrong but they're just not there this time.
It looks like mom is still sleeping in the nest 2:03AM MST/ 4:03AM EST. That's over a full six hours I have been keeping an eye on her. I hope this means there is an egg ( or two)!
4:05a.m. eastern
Mom still on the nest. Thanks to all who posted all night long, that Mom stayed there. Thanks to Wing for the latest update. Looks like we may have an egg, just in time for Easter.
It is 4:30, Easter Morn...Mrs. is still on the nest...I hope dad is planning on bringing in a nice Easter brunch for his lady this morning...Then again, she might just prefer to have changing of the guard and have dad take over while she goes out and gets her own. Well done, my eagle friends....well done!
Keep the faith....
Mom calling Dad at 5:12 am....Methinks it has been a long night alone in the nest.
WHAT A LADY!!
HAPPY EASTER
Tuned in at 5am and eagle still on nest. Did some loud calling at 5:10. I guess we have an Easter egg after all!
Tuned in at 5am and eagle still on nest. Did some loud calling at 5:10. I guess we have an Easter egg after all!
3/23/08 2:16am PST
Ok Yes I know it is very late for me or you could say very early! Which ever way you may want to go.
Anyway, Our Mom aka Diane is still in the nest all snuggled down in the nest bowl.
Has been there all night! So I don't think this is practice any longer this is the real thing!
Guess later today we will really know if the nest is never left unattended!
Well I better go to bed so the Easter bunny can do his thing! :)
By the way, No sign of Dad aka Jack he must have found a cozy place for himself for the night. :)
Nite All and Happy Easter Again!
Karen in WA.
3/23/08 2:16am PST
Ok Yes I know it is very late for me or you could say very early! Which ever way you may want to go.
Anyway, Our Mom aka Diane is still in the nest all snuggled down in the nest bowl.
Has been there all night! So I don't think this is practice any longer this is the real thing!
Guess later today we will really know if the nest is never left unattended!
Well I better go to bed so the Easter bunny can do his thing! :)
By the way, No sign of Dad aka Jack he must have found a cozy place for himself for the night. :)
Nite All and Happy Easter Again!
Karen in WA.
Just another observation ---5:25am I have noticed when our eagle puts her head down this morning you can barely tell she's there. Occaisionnally she'll put her head up, though, and you can see her very well.
Just check in at 5:28am (aren't I the early bird!) and there is an eagle on the nest. Don't know if he or she has been there all night, but it isn't light yet so maybe ..... Boy! it looks cold there!
Frances
Good Morning All...
It is 5:30 am and I am betting that quite a number of bloggers didn't get a whole lot of shut eye watching our Mom on the nest for the first time this year.
The wildlife population will wake up this morning under sunny skies, yet another cold one with temps lingering in the 30's. However, we can expect clear skies here in Maine and the outlook is good for another season of eagle watching and hopefully, a successful one.
As the Easter egg hunts go on across America, I am thinking Mom has hidden one where only she and Dad know where to find it. Let's hope so, anyway.
What a glorious morning this is for us eagle watchers. Waiting this long to lay their eggs can only make it better for them as we all know, the Maine weather has not been kind to any of the wildlife this winter.
The winds today should stay slight with a range in the 10-15 mph range. No large gusts that the birds have had to endure lately is expected.
It should be interesting to read the blogs this morning.
Wing....this has to be such good news to you...you have been waiting and wondering along with all the other jobs you do.
Now...what do you all think? Is this a good day to send a donation in to BRI?? Money is tight for everyone with the gas and heating oil so high but do you realize that any gift....even a $5-10 gift would add up fast if everyone would send in that small amount?? I will do my part this morning in assuring that this wonderful education we are all getting, continues to carry on.
If there are those of you out there that read the blogs everyday and would like to participate but are hesitant in doing so, I would urge you to step in and be part of this wonderful site.
Take care, my friends, and have a glorious day and remember......
KEEP THE FAITH!!
It is now 5:32 EST and I have been watching for almost 2 hours. The female is still on the nest, she called out shortly after 4 am and again an hour later after 5 am. I have not heard a response from the male.
She looked comfortable. I think she may have rolled an egg, I can't confirm for sure, but I saw her change position a few times.
Aline
Québec City 5:35 am EST :-)
3/23 5:40 am
Looked like mom that is sitting in the nest. Lets hope that this is a good sign that will continue.
Naugatuck, ct.
Easter Morn' at 5:42 am .... appears to be cuddling her egg!
5:53am other eagle flew in to change places. Was very eager to sit on nest, had to nudge other eagle off.
Good morning and Happy Easter
4:56 Indiana time mom on the nest and dad on the branch wonderful!!!!!
5:53 am EDT
Dad called and Mom replied.
She got up and Dad joins her in the nest.
At 5:55 Mom perches on the branch and Dad sits in the nest, incubating.
He then rolls the egg, and settles down again facing the left side,
Mom still on the branch above him.
It's a beautiful morning, beautiful picture.
Aline
Québec city
6:00 am EDT
3/23/08 2:58am PST
At 2:53am PST Mom calls out to Dad and Dad comes flying into nest. Mom goes to edge of nest and Dad does some tending to nest bowl. Maybe turning egg Don't know. Mom moves out to the y branch.
At 2:56 Dad is now down in nest bowl. Must be his turn now to give Mom a break. Mom is still sitting on Y branch and making some noise.
Ok I really mean it this time. It is now 3:02am PST and I really need to get to bed! :) Wing I hope my posts during the night have helped!
Karen in WA.
What an Easter morning! I had just about given up on this pair and was so happy to see one on the nest and one on the branch at 6:00 AM (I'm in the same time zone). I then got to see them switch places (a great sign!!)....
So...we'll be watching!!
Karen
6:12 am. Two eagles at the nest. One sitting in it and one on y branch.
Frances
a little after 6 am and she took a short fly around, he got on and fixed the bowl, then he moved off and she came in.
wow i bet we will have chicks soon.
i just love this ..
a little after 6 am and she took a short fly around, he got on and fixed the bowl, then he moved off and she came in.
wow i bet we will have chicks soon.
i just love this ..
3/23 The eagle who flew in and took turn at nest didn't last very long. After ten minutes, it got off and went to the branch. Original eagle went back on nest. 6:15am
3/23/08
5:48a.m. eastern
Mom continues to sit in nest bowl. Dad calling close by. Daylight just beginning. Mom standing at 5:52a.m. calling out.
Dad arrives at 5:52a.m. Dad looking down into nest. 5:54a.m. Mom out onto the "y" branch. Dad standing in nest, circling, circling and then settles down in nest. Time 5:56a.m. Mom still out on limb sitting there, ruffles feathers and continues to sit. Dad still sitting in nest, time 5:58a.m. Dad standing at 6:00a.m. pulling on a stick. Dad back into nestbowl almost immediately. Dad stood again at 6:03, flew out on limb, calling. Mom goes back to the nest, circling, circling, calling. Dad flys away to the left at 6:05a.m. Mom calling out repeatedly, standing, looking around. Mom back on the limb, 6:07a.m. 6:08a.m. Dad arrives back on nest, circling and settles down on the nest again. Mom on limb. Dad still sitting in the nestbowl at 6:19a.m. Dad stands at 6:19a.m. they change places, Mom on nestbowl now, Dad on limb. Dad flew away to the right at 6:21a.m
Mom back out onto the limb. Dad flew back to limb almost immediately. Both eagles on limb at 6:22a.m. Dad now rearranging sticks edge of nest. Dad standing in the nestbowl.6:25a.m. Dad appears to see something and flew away. Mom still on the limb watching. Dad returns with another stick, moving it around the nest. Time 6:27a.m. 6:28a.m Mom flew away to the right. Dad still rearranging sticks on nest. Nobody sitting in nestbowl for a few minutes now. Dad flew away toward the camera at 6:29a.m. Both eagles have left the nest.
Mom was quite vocal around dinner time (7ish on the 23rd) last night. Dad flew in, they did some nest fixing, we had dinner. Mom was sitting on the nest up until bedtime. Got up this morning at 6and mom was still there with dad on Y branch. She has taken off a couple of times but came back quick to fix the nest. Almost appeared to be in a frantic mode. Dad just flew off (maybe going to get them breakfast). Mom on nest ... now they are both gone. What's going on?!
6:25 AM Sunday. Both eagles on the nest. One doing a LOT of stick rearranging. Alternately both fly off the nest and back again.
6:33 Both eagles are off the nest and out of sight.
Bill in CT
At 6:20am March 23
Both Mom and Dad home. Absolutely breathtaking sight of the two occupying the nest with the sunlight reflecting them in the background. Truly a sight to behold. Thank you to Wing for your dedication to this project... I waited for your input last night and was rewarded with a quick response and ZOOM to the camera lens. Thank you. Happy day to all.
Lisa in Maine
I guess we don't have an egg yet.
The mother was on the nest when I went to bed last night and on it when I got up at 6 this morning. The male sitting on the y branch. She got up, he flew into the nest and re-arranged some twigs, then she flew off and brought more limbs back to the nest twice and he was back on the Y branch.
Finally they both flew off and have not been back on the nest in the last half hour.
Just a quick up date.
Sunday, March 23rd 7:06 A.M.
3/23 0600
Happy Easter Sunday morning to you all.......I'm happy to report that the eagle was sitting in the nest up until I last checked at midnight. ....
Couldn't wait to check on them this morning......one in the nest bowl, the other on the Y....both silhouetted against the water.....it was beautiful.....
Just read everyone's comments....yes, I wondered if all that honking/barking whatever you call it was a raven, but I'd have never thought you'd find a raven on the coast..
Wing, I was really hoping you might tell us what that bird was!
0615 Lots of activity...but no sitting.....bringing in sticks...whenever one leaves the other gets so agitated...
0626 Both have flown away......
0640 No sign of either.....the sunrise on the water is gorgeous.....
0706 Just returned to check on things and the view of the nest is askew..it looks like the angle of the camera is different and the left side of the screen is quite dark.....definitely no eagles that I can see....
WING.....what is that bird???? Do we have an 'accidental' from some exotic country or is it a raven?????? Can anyone identify it?
3/23 0720
It is a raven! I found a site named eNature:bird audio and there's no doubt in my mind...I just can't believe it's on the coast.....
3/23 7:15am
Dad came in stayed for about 10 min. Had a sunrise mass with mom and they left. The nest has been empty for about a 1/2 hour now . Not a good sign.
Naugatuck
3/23 7/40am EDT
Darn it, she's not there! Looks like a beautiful morning up on coast -- but no Easter egg? Darn!
The eagles have been gone from the nest 1 hour and 15 mins. now. The ravens have been very vocal, and at least twice, they seemed to be right on top of the mike. I can't believe the eagles let them get that close to the nest. I'm sure they'd like eggs for breakfast...oh, well, just something else to worry about! 7:50 am 3/23 Ok. Just as I was about to send this , one of the eagles came back.
March 23 -
At 5:52 a.m.Dad arrives and this video shows their first four minutes together.
Video in WMP
Video at Putfile
Dad arrived at 7:53 EDT this morning.
One sitting on the Y. Ravens making plenty of noise...8:03 AM Easter...still awaiting the first Easter Egg...
7:45 Empty nest.
Twenty minutes later, Mama is on the Y branch. Can clearly hear ravens in the neighborhood. Mama's feathers look ruffled this morning, not her usual smooth profile.
Happy Easter everyone! 8;15am Easter morning and the eagles are still there! Wonderful to see.....can't wait and hope we have eggs that will survive this year! So very interesting and exciting. Such a great site to watch everyday! A western Ny watcher near Buffalo, Ny and still much snow on the ground.
3/23 - 8:30 a.m. I believe the eagles are just practicing. Been watching for about 45 minutes. First there was no one at the nest. Then Mama came and sat on the Y branch for about 30 minutes. Just flew off. No one on the nest. I just hope they are practicing hard now because the real event is coming quickly.
03/22 @ 08:34
08:09 - Found eagle on main Y ... not in bowl.
08:26 - Still on Y. Seems to be watching something to the left.
08:29 - Flew off to the right. Bowl still empty.
JAM in IL
8:46 AM 3/23 ET
Regarding the strange bird calls from yesterday, I'm pretty sure they were Common Ravens. If you go to Whatbird.com and pull up the Common Raven and play the call, it sounds just like what we heard yesterday.
Bill in CT
I love you! I just saw an eagle sitting on the edge of the nest(8-8:30AM) for the first time this year, and it was like seeing an old friend. I got chills all over. I don't know if it was a female or a male. I told my hubbie that I could watch this all day long. He said, "Just don't run off with one!" I teach second grade, and my second graders love to watch the eagles. This year, I'm going to have them observe, take notes and blog. I'm so excited! Welcome back, old friends!
Three more videos from this morning, :-) including repeating the first one I posted earlier.
Video One:
This first one starts at 5:52 a.m. when Dad arrives and shows their first four minutes together, including them exchanging positions in the nest bowl.
Video in WMP
Video at Putfile
Video Two:
This video starts around 6:05 a.m. and has a three minute clip followed by a minute clip.
Video in WMP
Video at Putfile
Video Three:
Unedited 6 minute video clip that starts at 6:17 a.m. and includes Dad leaving and then returning with branch.
Video in WMP
Video at Putfile
Video Four:
Unedited 3.5 minute video clip that starts at 6:25 a.m. and shows Dad bring in a large stick.
Video in WMP
Video at Putfile
Good morning. First, I want to thank everyone watching this pair. I am a teacher in a behavior focused classroom for grade 2-5. My students are currently watching this pair and reading the information provided by all of you great people. We are studying biomes and food chains in the biome. Last year I taught grades 6-12 and we watched the tragedy unvail. I am hoping this year will be better and successful. Again thank you all.
It's 9:40 PM CST. I can see what appears to be the eagle's head on her nest and it's dark. I'll try to check in again before I go to bed and see if she is still there tonight. Because of the time, I'm going to assume she plans on staying overnight in the nest.
5:30 PDT Logged on to see something that looks like an egg in the nest with snow around the nest. No eagles. Does anyone have information on this?
There is an eagle on the nest this a.m. (8:47) having its breakfast. I believe it may be the male since it seems a bit smaller.
WONDERFUL!
Today I saw the male loon and it was so cool.and i saw the bald eagle watching the water, the boats, and the cars and people go by. this website is so cool.
5-2-08
5:13 PM
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