Monday, June 30, 2008

Day 174, Monday, 6/30/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles












Hello Eagle Friends,

Weather-wise, this was a perfect day to end June 2008. The sun was shining across the mostly blue skies, and the humidity was at a comfortable level to work in.

I found no activity on nest 7, other than the large branch that had been hanging in front of the nest took it's plunge to the river below.

It was a nice hike out to nest 1. The twins cries could be heard from the roadside, should anyone stop and listen. I had barely finished my opening notes and recordings when the twins let out a sudden pitch and within seconds, Dancer was there delivering a evening meal to his hungry eaglets.

I had my wide angle lens on my camera when Dancer came in so I have so great scenic shots of dad delivering dinner. I guess if I blow the shot up to a 60x100 foot print I could probably see D'ODEE and Dancer in the shot.

He landed on the nest and dropped the fish into D'ODEE's control and then peaked over the nest to look at me. He left and flew over to the Look Out Tree and watched the twins from there.

I did get some good shots of Dancer flying off the nest.

To my surprise, D'ODEE only rolled the fish around and seemed to be waiting for Daniels to come take it from him. Daniels ignored the food and watched D'ODEE from his north limb perch.

After awhile Dancer flew off, and D'ODEE moved up to the west perch. I didn't get many shots after his move.

Daniels never left his post, but he practiced throwing his head back a few times, which is something all eagles learn to do as a
signal to one another.

I hiked out when the sun began setting on the bluff line.

As I drove to nest 2 I saw Steve, one of the DNR workers out for a walk. We only waved and said hello, both in a hurry to finish our work or walk before the sunset.

There was no sign of Terry Gail in the nest area and it's hard to look up at the empty nest, and know that this time it really is empty.

At nest 6 the eaglets were stirring about.

When I got to nest 5 I paused for a moment before focusing in on the nest. I wanted to prepare myself just in case they had fledged. I looked and found the nest empty. Then I scanned the tree, hoping I'd find them up there somewhere. That's when one of them moved, and when I found one eaglet I knew I'd find both.

There buddied up, sharing the same short perch were two eaglets that are almost inseparable I should call them Dan and Little Ann, for they are the eagles as bonded as the coon dogs of Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows.

I still remember Wilson Rawls coming to our elementary school sharing his tale and his book and he left an ever-lasting impression on me as well as countless others who have read his two books, Where the Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkey's which were both made into movies.

I moved on to nest 3 and shot the nest using infrared, which is fun to see what you can in the hills and the trees, including an eaglet who was otherwise invisible to my eye.

I found nothing new at nest 4.

On my drive back I came up a male rose-breasted grosbeak pulling seeds out of the grasses, feasting on a huge buffet of them as the sunset sliced a ray of golden light through the trees and onto him.

I found the lilies of the field in full bloom, bad lighting, but still a beauty to admire who stood tangled and growing through grasses, and not toiling at all.

Further ahead a young doe challenged me. She stomped her foot, and jumped back a few feet, then walked towards me before realizing I was human.

I'm looking forward to day 175!

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Day 173, Sunday, 6/29/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles










Hello Eagle Friends,

Today was a short journey to the valley. The temperatures were perfectly fine with me falling somewhere in the mid 70s. The humidity was a bit much but that's just how it is during a Minnesota summer.

I thought I'd found some activity going on at nest 7, but it turned out to be a huge branch had fallen down and was draped in front of the nest. Not the activity I had hoped for.

I hiked to nest 1. The doe Em named "Cindy" followed me where ever I went. She comes in only a few feet away and snorts at me and then once she finds out where I move to she walks in behind me again and stomps and snorts. I haven't heard her fawn, lately, but maybe it was killed by a coyote and she is still looking for it. Maybe that is what that horrible dead smell has been the last couple weeks where I hike in.

Daniels Charlie was centered on the north limb and D'ODEE was on the west side of the nest when I arrived but he moved to
the west branch by the time I left.

D'ODEE is 11 weeks today and I question if they will leave this week, or wait a couple more. I just watched the story KTTC did on my eagle project (www.KTTC.com) Life in the Nest, and I can't hardly believe these are the same two little eaglets we watched pecking at each other in the latter part of the story. They were only about 4 weeks old when they shot that footage and they were covered in their grey down. Now here they are fully grown and feathered and ready to take on the skies.

The sun was just going behind the bluffs as I hiked out. "Good Night Cindy," I called out to the doe who was still trailing me.

Nest 2 was empty. I am sure that Terry Gail will be back before too long.

At nest 6 I couldn't see either eaglet, that's the way it is sometimes you see them, some days you don't. I have spent many days at nest 1, sitting the entire day and not seeing the eaglets so I think I've done pretty well on these extra nests this year considering the limited time I can give to their coverage.

I was anxious to get to nest 5. The twins are ready but won't go. I wanted to know if one had left yet. On my way I smiled as I passed a lady photographer shooting a snapping turtle off to the side of the road, I could tell from both her distance and the hesitation in her movements towards the turtle that she did not have much experience shooting these algae covered giants of our wetlands, and lately winding gravel roads.

The pelicans, egrets and herons have all flown off to another wetland. I didn't find any raccoon, unless I count the mom that was hit and her three babies. But I did arrive at nest 5 and find two eaglets who seem to have come to the agreement that if one is on the little perch above, the other has to wait his turn.

One eaglet was waiting in the nest staring up at his sibling who simply looked to the north ignoring any requests to move.

At nest 3 Victory Bell was practicing his flight jumps but my timing was so off all I could get was the down stroke of his wings just as they disappeared behind the trunk.

I didn't see any activity on nest 4.

I'm looking forward to day 174.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Day 172, Saturday, 6/28/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles










Hello Eagle Friends,

Today started out with thunderstorms but by evening the winds had parted the clouds and tamed the blue enough to stay for the night.

At nest 1 Daniels Charlie was sitting centered on the north limb while Daedee flew overhead checking her eaglets. D'ODEE stayed on the west side. The winds didn't budge either eaglet from their places during my short visit today.

While looking ahead I noticed a caterpillar staring back at me from a long grass blade. I think he was a red admiral caterpillar so I moved him over to a nettles plant, which aren't hard to find out in the field so he could eat. I wondered if I didn't knock him off a plant when I put my gear down and that was why I found him on the grass blade. Seeing him reminded me of the hundreds of red admiral butterflies that would sit on me last year where ever I went.

I have only seen a handful of red admiral butterflies this year but instead see hundreds of wood nymph butterflies. I think that's what they are called.

At nest 2 I found Terry Gail up on the south side of her nest. A giant black shadow flew overhead and Terry Gail called to her
mom or dad. I thought maybe she would fly off the nest and follow them, but she didn't. She sat crying out and followed the shadow with her eyes.

At nest 6 I could only see one of the twins clearly perched on the northwest side of the nest.

When I arrived at nest 5 I could see the those two eaglets still trying to share that limited-seating perch. One swipe of the left wing from the perched eaglet and the other would fall backwards and fly down to the nest. This went on for several minutes and I shot numerous shots of the two eaglets who appear to share a close bond, a bond like I watched with Damian and Dorothy, the 2007 nest 1 twins all last year.

As I walked back to my truck I wanted to call John Weiss, and let him know his eagles' eaglets were going to go sometime this next week to meet the wind on their back. Then I decided that I should name that pair of eagles after him and his wife. So I did. John and Debbie.

I'm going to have to get back over to the National Eagle Center to see what if any names guests have come up with for the names of their twins, and the nest 4 eaglet(s).

I found Victory Bell up on his nest at nest 3. I found no visible activity on nest 4. I had the time tonight, and I was thinking I should take that hike back to nest 4, and then a flock of white pelicans flew overhead. I have never seen that many white pelicans flying together. There must have been at least 400 of them as they stretched a mile wide and were flying triple layered.

I thought they were heading to the last marsh, so I drove that way thinking I was going to be closer to nest 4 when I got there.
I had such a strong inkling that I should go there I just couldn't ignore it.

When I got there I didn't spot even the last tail feather of a white pelican. However, I couldn't help but notice the cranky call of the dozen sandhill cranes that were just a hundred yards out, all stepping into the shallows from the protective cover of the tall cattails.

There was a brief stirring as one male chased off another and then a second and when they flew off the waters stood still and I could once again see two images of every bird in every rippled head.

I was just turning to leave when a couple pulled up with their fishing poles in hand. We talked awhile and she told me how terrified of snakes she was. I told her, "You're fishing in a bad spot for someone who is afraid of snakes last week I had four of them go right over my hand out there."

She said, "I stopped to pick up this pretty rock and one came out from underneath it."
"Was there a half buried block by your rock?"
"Yes."
"Yes, that's where the snakes went over my hand."

They told me about another slough I had not found so I'm going to go check that one out when the eagle project is not at peak season for fledging. They said there is a huge nest back there, but then weren't sure if that was the one I know of off by the highway.

Always trust your instincts to follow your story.

I got home and Em was brimming with a huge smile. "I made you a pumpkin pie."
"A pumpkin pie, no, really?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to serve it to you, but I ate all the whip cream."
I'm telling you I have tasted a lot of pumpkin pie, but none as sweet and made with love this one.

I'm looking forward to a second slice tomorrow and day 173.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

I

Day 171, Friday, 6/27/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles






Hello Eagle Friends,

Today we had a mixture of isolated thunderstorms, and brief periods of sunshine. It was high 70s when I arrived in the valley.

I found no activity on nest 7.


I hiked out to nest 1 and found Daniels Charlie on the north branch and D'ODEE in the nest watching him. I was there over 4 hours hoping to get some shots of one of the parents coming in with food. That didn't happen while I was there.

I did watch as Daniels courage increased throughout that span of time; enough so that he walked to the thin limb, and possibly, for the first time had the experience of cinching his talons around a branch. Moving to a limb offers an entirely new experience of learning to balance where before he would just stand on a flat surface of the thick north limb, or his nest.

Several times today as the winds picked up he turned and faced them and flapped his wings into them, and once, only once he actually lifted himself up off the limb and came back down.

That was the reason I wanted one of the parents to come in. I really thought after seeing him lift and face the open skies, that should they pass by with food, he would have followed.

I broke part of my trail back to the river. I'm going to need that trail once these eaglets fly. The closer to the river I went, the thicker and taller the stinging nettles grew.

Then I sat back at my north post, and watched the orioles, the red winged blackbirds, vireo's, robins, and of course, the eagles. There was a little baby vireo that spent that entire time with me flying around me, just inches away in the tall grasses. I should bring him a bread and honey sandwich tomorrow the birds love my snacks.

The storm brought three rain showers while I was there. I was glad to see Daniels return to the thick north limb and move closer to the nest as I left tonight. I barely had reached the White Wolf post when the winds broke through the valley sending
gusts strong enough to blow an unwary eaglet skyward.

It looked like the sun was going to come out during this last shower, so I stayed a little while in the downpour, hoping to get another chance at shooting a rainbow over the nest. I waited until the clouds simply rolled past the open sky and covered the sun.

At nest 2 I found an empty nest. I didn't hear or see Terry Gail.

I stopped at my old marsh project on my way to nest 6. I found a young buck with his antlers covered in velvet.
Then I noticed this killdeer throwing her wing in the air and I realized I must have been close to her nest as she was deliberately leading me away.

At nest 6 I only saw one of the twins. The other one must have been sitting behind the tree trunk on the other side of the nest.

At nest 5 the twins were batting each other, both trying to sit on the same spot on the limb ten feet up in their nest tree. It seemed like every time they both settled, one or the other would push the other causing them to fly back into the nest.

At nest 3 I could see Victory Bell up on the north side, and I could see one eaglet up on the south side of nest 4.

There were about 150 white pelicans all gathered in that marsh that had dried to only a few big puddles. I was barely past them when I started noticing hundreds of toads and frogs covering the gravel road. I drove slow and dodged them, I even stopped a few times to get the big bull frogs out of the road.

It was a beautiful day. When I got home Em came out as I was unloading, "Mom, did you see the rainbow?"
I smiled and thought, "Only in your eyes" but instead said, "No, mine didn't come tonight."
"We got to see one all across the Rochesterfest parade.

"I would have loved to have seen that, Em."
"Well mom, they might have taped it."

I'm looking forward to day 172.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Day 170, Thursday, 6/26/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles








Hello Eagle Friends,

It was extremely hot and humid today as temperatures hung in the high 80s. The sun peaked out behind the haze late this afternoon.

We went to the kid's carnival at Rochesterfest today and Em had a good time playing the games.


Then we all went down to do my eagle project. There was no activity on nest 7.

We all hiked out to nest 1 and could hear the twins, but I could only spot D'ODEE. Daniels is 11 weeks old today and I couldn't find him until I hiked to the north side of the nest. On my way I found a beautiful emerald green damselfly resting on the curve of grass blade.

When I broke a new path through the 8 foot nettles, I found Daniels staring back at me. There he was way up on the north limb.

Seeing him there up above his nest where his younger, less experienced sibling could only watch seemed to give him an exuberance of glowing confidence. It wasn't until Daedee flew in about an hour later that he lost it. There is nothing a hungry eaglet wants more than to eat.

He didn't budge from his perch he stayed centered and I think he must have actually considered the consequences of trying to fly back in and getting bumped out of the nest either by Daedee, or D'ODEE. Daedee sat there for about five minutes holding the food while D'ODEE pecked at her talons.

The mom seemed to sense her eaglets struggle on the limb for she spent that five minutes just staring at him, in some sort of encouragement spoken through her eyes to come home into the nest to eat.

She flew off and D'ODEE took the food. That was enough. Daniels stood up, stretched, turned and walked further north on the curved branch. I don't know if he thought following the upper curve of the branch would lead him to the nest, or what he was thinking, but as the branch narrowed his steps became quick as he turned and literally ran back to where he was sitting.

It took another ten minutes before he got his courage up to try again, but he did try. He walked about ten feet from the nest and leaned forward, rocking back and forth and then leapt up into the air flying into the nest with a perfect landing.

Then he turned and flew back to the perch. I think he'll fledge this next few days. I didn't expect him to be ready this soon.

We left and moved on to nest 2 where Terry Gail was eating on her nest.

At nest 6 the twins were both up on the nest and taking turns flying across the nest.

We stopped at nest 5 and found the twins both sitting up on their north limb. They are almost 12 weeks old, and will be fledging any second of any day. Even from my far distance I can tell one is waiting for the other to leave first. You can see it in the way one won't move for the other on the perch, forcing the other to fly around him while the first leans back making it difficult.

There was an old dead tree up ahead, actually two of them with a half dozen great snowy egrets in one and four in the other. The lightening was golden for that moment and cast one long ray of early evening yellow across their faces just as one of them flew off.

Then Em and me went looking for monarch caterpillars. She found a half dozen of them chewing on the freshly bloomed milkweed blooms. Then we went searching for bullfrogs. We found two males peaking up under the duckweed.

Then she wanted to see who could throw rocks the furthest across the pond. I guess I need more practice. Enough said.

Victory Bell was up on his nest at nest 3. It did appear that there were two eagle shaped silhouettes sitting on the edge of nest 4, but I can't confirm that.

When we got home I made up some homemade tacos. You just can't get the homemade taste from a fast-food meal, and my kitchen is open late every night. I gave Dave and Em their dinner and sat down to eat mine after we said our prayer and I was just about to take the first bite when Em said, "Let's make a toast. She held up her glass of water against mine and as we tapped them together she said, "To a very fun day!"

I'm looking forward to day 171.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Day 169, Wednesday, 6/25/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles








Hello Eagle Friends,

It was a scorcher in the valley today with temperatures reaching 91 degrees while I was there, late in the day. It was sunny and humid and it seems our weather has gone from soaked fields and flooded rivers, marshes and streams to almost drought-like conditions.

I found no activity on nest 7.

I decided to cover all my other nests before going to nest 1. I'm glad I did too.
At nest 2 I found 80 day old Terry Gail with her wings fanned out, and panting from the direct sun on her. I get the distinct feeling she's going to stay camped where the food is, at least for a few more days.

I found more turtles sunning themselves in the road than on logs on the marshes, but then when a hundred white pelican arrive overnight, soaking up the last puddles of one pool, I think if I were a turtle I'd move to a new pond too.

I found at least 30 great snowy egrets feeding together in the ever-diminishing marshes. When one would snatch a fish, another egret would fly in next to it, perhaps hoping for his chance at easy meal.

The twins were up on the nest at nest 6. That was just after I passed some teenagers on the winding gravel road driving with one gal plastered across the windshield like a
dragonfly that was all eyes; holding on to the wiper blades so she didn't fall off.

It must have been some sort of initiation, or challenge for up the road I found several more kids involved.

At nest 5 the twins were both together on the northeast perch and I think are nearly ready to fly off, with the rights winds they probably will.

At nest 3, Victory Bell was on the northwest side of his nest looking out. I didn't see anything to document at nest 4.

The milkweed beetles were still together from yesterday, if it was even the same pair, or else it was a different pair on the same plant. I walked down to the edge of the marsh, still trying to figure out where I lost that little lens, but all I got was a soggy shoe from stepping onto a boggy spot.

I headed back to go to my main nest, nest 1 and pulled over to look for the Marsh 1a and 1b gosling's, but didn't find them. I found a medium-sized bull frog, but I only managed to get a shot before he jumped into the tall grasses and back towards the marsh.

A vehicle slowed and backed up.

It was Greg Munson and Jim Peterson from Rochester. They asked about the eaglets so I gave them an update and invited them to join me as I was heading to nest 1 now. I told them about the eagles bringing in the turtles this last week and I think they found that interesting.

Greg had a gotten into some poison ivy hiking so he was headed to town to wash it off. I would not have expected poison ivy but then neither did he.


I hiked out and I found D'ODEE on the north west side of the nest, and Daniels perched up on the west limb. I obviously had missed their feeding as neither bird cried out at every passing black bird in the sky, and both actually seemed to be more concerned with staying cool, than eating.

I was thinking how much I missed having Em out there with me, and how much fun we had at the book sale today at the library, and then our time in the park playing.


Both eaglets had their wings dropped and hanging to their sides and sat with their beaks open staring down at me.

I think it was the robin that came in that gave me a reason to worry. I had been hearing a rustling in the tall grasses, and I tried to convince myself that it was that darn doe, but she will usually snorted or huff. This animal made not one sound.

Usually if I stand up and hit the grasses, I'll flush it back further, or I'll get a huff out of the animal, but today it only came closer.

Then that robin came in and chattered like they do when they are threatened, and I started wondering if whatever it was behind the green grass curtain, if that was, perhaps, the animal that ate the robin babies a few weeks ago.

There are few times where I really feel my safety is threatened, but tonight as the sunset and darkness fell around me, I did have some concerns.

I moved back over to my main post, and wouldn't you know that animal followed me.
It sits about 20 feet back, and must have vision that can see right through those grasses, or it wouldn't stay back that far.

I had decided to call it a night. I'd gotten some great shots of the twins, and them practicing their flight, and I was suddenly doubting that my mace was going to hold off any critter.

I stood up just as the animal jumped into my clearing, and it jumped back out so fast I didn't even see what it was. All I know is it was under three feet tall because that is how high the grasses folded over.

I guess I'll have to bring Dale, my German shepherd back out for a field day with me.

It was a wonderful day.

I'm looking forward to day 170.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Day 168, Tuesday, 6/24/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles












Hello Eagle Friends,

It was another perfect Minnesota weather day. The temperatures were mid 80s and it was mostly sunny during the time we were out.

Dave and Em came with, and even with all three of us looking, I couldn't find my small lens that must have fallen out of my bag yesterday. Maybe it will still turn up--they have before, sometime frozen in the water, but at least I found them.

We found no activity on nest 7 which probably doesn't surprise you.

The ticket to the real show was nest 1 today.

After tripping and slashing a gash almost deep enough for stitches, both on my palm and my wrist I thought my night was going to be a total disaster, but instead, things changed shortly after my fall.

We were just starting our opening shots when I heard the eaglets pitch.

Daedee flew in with a turtle. "Em, look--another turtle."
He landed and was pushed out of the nest by the eaglets rolling over each other trying to sink their beak into the hard, algae-covered, spiny shell of a snapping turtle. This one was about 10-12 inches long, and it wasn't moving like the one the other day.


Daedee's beak was bloody and there was no doubt that he'd been feeding on the turtle first. D'ODEE managed to capture it from the clutches of his mother and Daniels went and sat up on the west perch watching and waiting for his turn.

D'ODEE tossed it around in the large nest, and carried it, dangling it from his beak while flapping his wings.

Then he ripped into it and at it down to the shell. Daniels came down and took the turtle when D'ODEE had put it to the side of the nest to practice his flight on a new gust of wind.

He let Daniels take a bite or two, then he walked over swiped it out his beak and swallowed the leg in one gulp while Daniels watched. These two eaglets do that to each other often.

Em was working on her story book and in between the eagles moving around feeding on the turtle and waiting for Dancer to come in, I read her a comic book.

We hiked out and moved on to nest 2 where we found 79 day old Terry Gail back on her nest facing the south, and nodding off to sleep.

At nest 6 the twins, Freedom and Soar were sitting off to the edge so I couldn't see them very well.

At nest 5 the twins were both sitting by each other on a low branch off the north side of the nest. One almost fledged trying to move around the other sibling but luckily, as it flew he or she managed to get back into the nest. The eaglet flapped it's wings up and down, and I would guess that it is probably a female eagle. The wing span is almost the entire width of their nest.

Further on the journey there was a raccoon posing for my invisible camera that I had just stuck in the trunk on my way to nest 3 and 4, figuring I wouldn't see anything.
Luckily, it waited for me to circle, turn around, park out of view, kill my engine, open my trunk, clank my camera while taking it off the tripod, and it even let me focus before it ran off just I clicked my shutter on the lovely canary grass that remained.

I hiked out and found about 30 snowy egrets, a few sandhill cranes, and a dozen great blue herons all fishing the drained pool. There were some squabbles amongst each species--a fishing order it seemed as they all were in a long 500 foot straight line as they fished the narrow stream left in front of them where the tadpoles, frogs and fish must have been plentiful.

I stopped to photograph a young barn swallow which reminded me of one we took in years ago that had been injured. I wrote a small inspirational story about him and my new family. That's what I saw in the twinkling of that birds' eyes tonight--Harmony, our little barn swallow.

It was close to dark when I arrived at nest 3 and 4. I shot using infrared, just for effect, but I shot regular shots too. Victory Bell was up on his nest, and I didn't see any birds flying around or perched from my view on nest 4.

I was hoping this is where I lost my lens yesterday, and I searched heavily but didn't find it.

We left the valley just as the owls called out, "Mom, did you hear that owl? Whoo-Whoo," my girl replied back.

"He'll probably answer you, he might even come in so be ready."

It was a great day in the valley.

I'm looking forward to day 169.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Monday, June 23, 2008

Day 167, Monday, 6/23/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles













Hello Eagle Friends,

What a perfect day for watching the eagles! The skies were mostly sunny and the temperature was low high 70s through the evening. Em accompanied me today so I had a lot of giggles and questions, but mostly I enjoyed her wonderful company.

We found no activity on nest 7. Maybe the winds have ruffled up the sticks in the center of the nest, maybe a squirrel or raccoon has been digging inside it, but there is a little rise in the middle and it's not a bird.

The nest 2 eaglet, Terry Gail was back on her nest and was rooting through it for food.

I was surprised to find the Marsh 1a and 1b families. Marsh 1a has 3 goslings that are miniature versions of the adult, only their heights separate them, and the 1b family still has one gosling whose adult plumage is coming in quickly. He stayed right under his parents watch, maybe he saw what happened to his siblings.

At nest 6 we arrived while I saw Linda crossing the marsh with a fish in her talons. I pulled over to watch her bring the fish which looked like a long pike, or a gar, and dropped it off for her 8 week old twins, Freedom and Soar.

We found another painted turtle crossing the road, but this one was making good time, so he didn't need our help moving him to the side.

Unfortunately we were too late for a snake, another unknown, this one looked more like a northern water snake but I just can't be certain when these snakes are juveniles they look nothing like the ones in my field guides. I moved him off the road so whatever animal or bird finds him (which was right where Dick likes to sit, the nest 6 male eagle), won't have to risk being hit from a passing vehicle too.

At nest 5, we found both of the 11 week old twins still perched on the nest, and no appearing to be in any hurry to leave.


At nest 3, Victory Bell was perched on the south side of his nest. I couldn't see much going on at nest 4, other than the egrets and great blue herons perched in the trees.

Em and I found 5 bull frogs, 3 males circling the 2 females in the ten to twelve foot circle, in the three foot deep ditch water.
Em wants a bull frog, but they are tricky frogs to catch, better to raise them up from tadpoles. That will be one of the critters we add to our new pond-in-progress at home.

Em found a huge spider web, with no spider. Sadly, little beetles, crane flies, flies had all been caught in its sticky silk. Em begged me to get them out. I told her, "Well, I wouldn't do this if there was a spider on there--that's his food."

I have to admit there was a small reward in setting free the captives of that web. You never know how many lives will be created from those few, but the look in their little eyes--all thousands of them--said thank you in a way words can't express.

On my second stop at nest 2, Terry Gail had left the nest again. This is nothing new. They do that. They come and go off their nest for months if allowed by the parents.

At least through the fall. I would highly suspect the parents are bringing food back to the nest for her. I just wish I saw more of a relationship with her.

Daedee and Dancer seem to spend more time with their eaglets than any other eagles of the study. Maybe that is how they were raised.

We finished our day at nest 1, staying until the coyotes and owls began their night calls. The eaglets are doing really well. D'ODEE Brian Michael made it to the west perch today. Just as I have seen these past couple years with the twins, they start with only one of them on the west perch, taking turns, but by the end of this week they will have figured out how both can sit together on it.

By this time next week they will have tried the north limb. I'd bet a turtle on it.

Daedee or Dancer kept flying by and causing the eaglets to cry out, and D'ODEE jumped back into the nest. This is also the time where the parents start flying past them with food, but don't come in. They are training them--while still on the nest to keep watch of them and where they lead them which will be crucial to their survival when they leave the nest.

Before they leave the nest they must learn to follow with their eyes, and know when to follow.

It was a great day in the valley.

I'm looking forward to day 168.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Day 166, Sunday, 6/22/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles










Hello Eagle Friends,

Today was an exceptional eagle day in the valley. The temperatures were high 80s, with thunderstorm clouds moving in, but they
didn't produce only a passing sprinkle. The sunset was something to admire and take note of.

Dave and Em came with me for a family day. We found no activity on nest 7.

Daniels Charlie surprised us when he flew up from the nest and landed on the west perch. This a sign that he is ready to start exploring the other tree branches that
are closest to his nest.

Once he masters his flight on and off the west post, he'll likely go for the north limb as have all his predecessors.

D'ODEE watched his brother and he seems to be more of a thinker and makes his moves carefully, without much risk.

This next week will go fast with the twins exhibiting more pre-fledging activity.

As we were watching the dark clouds roll in, wondering if we were going to get soaked by a sudden storm, Daedee flew in.

The twins jumped up and almost knocked her off the nest trying to take the food she offered, a 8-10 inch turtle. I watched as Daniels Charlie stole the prize from her grip, hardly knowing himself, how could he?, that this was "The Turtle".

Four years in a row now, I have watched Daedee bring in "The Turtle" that has launched
the eaglets into their first flights when they lost balance standing on one legs trying to eat the turtle with the other foot.

Oddly, this turtle appeared to still be moving. Some of the shots I have the turtles feet are clearly pressing on Daniels beak, and in the other shots only one foot appears to be pressing off the beak.

He tried to swallow it hole, but it didn't go down. D'ODEE watched him but never tried to take it away from Daniels.

Daedee watched the twins from her Look Out Tree perch and watched us as we left for the night.

At nest 2, we found the nest empty again. I said to Dave and Em, "I'm not falling for that again." Just then, we watched Terry Gail being chased right past her nest by a red-tailed hawk.

I tried to find where she landed in the south grove, but I didn't find her. It's my honor to write, Terry Gail, the 77 day old eaglet of The Mayor and Judy, officially has fledged this June the 22, 2008, which makes her the first eaglet of 2008, the newest eagle of the valley.


At nest 6, Freedom and Soar were up on the nest, both 8 weeks old and I'm hoping to see more of them this next week.

At nest 5, I finally found the second eaglet, it was sitting behind a branch on the north side of the limb. I had thought maybe one had fledged, but instead it had just found a new perch. They are both 11 weeks old and will probably leave the nest this next week.

The colorful clouds of sunset appeared to be casting for roles in the mini movies going on in the sky tonight. I must have shot a hundred images of all the formations and colors.

At nest 3, Victory Bell was up on the nest. Nest 4 I found no eagles that I could see. Remember though, the foliage is very dense there.

Harry and Gary stopped by to say hello, and we talked awhile about where they had seen the wolves. I think this fall I will go back on my Wolves of Whitewater project.

They are by far the most elusive creatures of all critters in this valley.

On the drive out a long, skinny fellow met our path. He looked up behind his black whiskers and studied our move before making his. "Dave give me my camera." I reached for it, but the fast-moving weasel had already "popped" into the ditch.

This next week is supposed to be good weather in the valley, and well-deserved.

I'm looking forward to day 167.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Day 165, Sunday, 6/21/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles























Hello Eagle Friends,

It was a beautiful mid 80s day in the valley. The sun was shining until early evening when the clouds rolled in bringing in the thunderstorms.

Em went with me and we had a great time swapping stories and making up characters for the books she wants to create while we sat looking up at the eaglets.

Dancer had just dropped off dinner as we stepped on the well-traveled, winding trail through the 8 foot grasses. The wind provided comfort from the heat, and the clouds were beginning to fill in all that open blue sky.

The eaglets hardly act like 10 week old eaglets, and I don't think these two at nest 1 will be leaving, by choice, any time soon.
They just are not practicing their flights like they should be at their age. Having some good weather this week may change that
prediction.

Neither eaglet was eating the food brought in, it seemed to be more of a dominance play. Who ever could hold their stance over the food seemed to be the game. Maybe they had eaten well today and just were not hungry. But then again, have you ever known an eaglet not to be hungry?


D'ODEE sat on the west of the nest watching the sun setting, while Daniels Charlie sat in his favorite spot on the south side of the nest looking down at us frequently.

We stayed as late as we could without missing our lighting on the other nests.

On our way to nest 2, there was a huge deer, so big, that I was sure it was the only antler-less buck in our region, but it turned its head and it was a doe. She turned her head in the tall weeds where she had been grazing and then moved on.

At nest 2, Terry Gail was up on the nest crying out and walking to the very edge of the north side of the nest. Many times The Mayor or Judy will sit there, and I think she was just checking to see if one or the other had silently flown in. The early
evening lightening blazed across the bright yellow feet of this young eagle.

I know the shots I took tonight are of the remaining few I will of this eaglet before she fledges, probably this week. She is ready, and a week ago, I thought she had fledged.

We moved on to nest 6 where we found Freedom and Soar, the 8 week old twins perched looking out at their view of the marshes below.

Further up the road we found the big pond's goslings who in just the last week have changed from gosling to young goose.
The shot you see is both the parent and the goslings, can you tell who is who?

The goslings are the shorter ones in the picture.

We found another painted turtle in the road, they must all be starting to lay their eggs, I guess I don't that much about the painted turtles lives, not enough to know why so many of them are sunbathing and spending so much time on the roads this past couple weeks.

The white pelicans that came in a couple days ago had flown off since last night. Maybe they'll return another flock, another day.

For the second day in a row I have only seen one eaglet up on nest 5. I can't be sure if one has fledged or if it is just laying down in the nest at the times I arrive. I did see one of the parents swoop down off the nest, that's the first time in a long time that I have met their timing.

Em kept trying to catch dragonflies and damselflies while I was shooting the nest 5 shots. Then I heard this loud buzz and at the same time Em called out, "Oh mom--that wasn't a dragonfly---it was . . . a hummingbird."

I laughed, "I thought I heard a hummingbird flying around." They make such a loud rustling as they pass you that you never really forget that sound. I don't think I'll ever forget Em's expression either, when she quickly dropped her hands down and pulled her head back as the bird flew past her.

As we drove to nest 3 she said, "I wish I could have a dragonfly for a pet. I've never had one."
"Someday, we'll find one that lives in the marsh and you can watch him grow up."

Then I saw something in the road and pulled over. "What is it mom?"
"I think it's a blandings turtle." I moved picked him up and moved him out of the road so it didn't get hit. With good timing too, 30 seconds later he could have been flattened by a fast-passing truck. He sure was a beautiful turtle. "Can we keep him?"
Why did I know she'd ask that.
"Nope. This is a protected turtle and this is his home."


At nest 3, Victory Bell was up on the nest and the clouds were huge and full of pink hues. They were breath-taking. I posed Em in front of them and shot a few pictures of her holding another monarch caterpillar find. One of her monarch caterpillars changed into a chrysalis, and at the same time, a second one hanging died.

As I changed their cage this morning I watched as two grubs crawled out of the upside down caterpillar's body and dropped into the towel at the bottom of the cage where they pupated. This was the caterpillar that we found by nest 3 that had two black scars on its side. I figured that a wasp or insect had laid their eggs inside it.

The parasite eats the host until the day the stop eating and as they try to change either into their chrysalis or spin their cocoon--out crawls the parasite to go on to the next stage of their life cycle. I have seen this hundreds of times in my life.
Hundreds of times while the caterpillar is trying to spin or turn into their pupated stage.

Today was the first time I photographed it happening.

Then as we were heading of to the truck I noticed a dragonfly sitting low on a grass blade, "Em come see this dragonfly," I called out.

I shot a couple pictures, and as she came running, I said, "Look at that--he only has three wings. The forth one is curled up."

"Oh the poor thing. Why is his wing like that mommy?"

"My guess is he wasn't able to pump his wings when he hatched, he must have been interrupted, or maybe he was injured as a nymph and the wing never developed properly." I reached my finger down to the dragonfly who had a million eyes on me and surprisingly, he stepped up onto my finger. "It looks like you have your pet dragonfly, if you'll take him and take care of him."

"He flew, barely, to Em and he has been by her almost all night. He was grateful for the drinks of water and the small bite of meat we gave him. Dragonflies capture their prey in mid-air, so getting him to feed by hand, is crucial for his survival.

I'm looking forward to day 166.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Friday, June 20, 2008

Day 164, Friday, 6/20/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles






















Hello Eagle Friends,

Today was packed full of promises. My trip to the valley was a warm one, with temperatures already in the mid 80's, and with the humidity it felt like a 100 degrees.

I decided to cover all the other nests first and save nest 1 for last today.

I found no activity on nest 7, although it does appear the nest is either beginning to fall apart, or someone is adding to it.

On my way to nest 2 I found a mother pheasant watching over her little chicks who were hopping, leaping, and trying to fly
over one another. She kept a close on me, peeking out from behind a grass blade, and finally I won her trust and she stepped out into full view with her darlings.

Terry Gail was 75 days old today. She was practicing her flights across the nest when I arrived, but one of her parents must have been near for she stopped flying and started crying out instead.

At nest 6 the twins, Freedom and Soar were both visible and actively picking at something on the nest. They are 7 and 8 weeks old already and I'm expecting to see them practicing their flying and leaping up and down starting this next week. Their nest looks small in comparison to the other eagles.

I counted five turtles basking in the road, and I stopped for a few of them and pushed them off to the side of the road so they didn't get hit.

At nest 5 only one twin was visible, and I wondered if the other fledged.

The puddle with all the tadpoles was dried up when I passed by today. My heart goes out to all the lives that could have been.
It makes me wonder why a toad would lay their eggs in water that is that shallow to begin with, when only a few hops away their offspring would have had at least a 50% chance of survival.

I stopped to photograph and video tape the lives in a ditch pond. There was a huge bull frog calling out, who, unlike Gold Eyes, allowed me close to photograph him, and there was a leopard frog across from him. As I filmed those frogs I noticed
a five spotted fishing spider with its legs spread out and leaving little dimples on the water surface. These spiders grow quite large, I've seen them almost the size of my hand, and they scare a lot of people, but I've never had a problem with them trying to bite me.

I've seen them diving down and coming up with a minnow, or a tadpole. This one today must have been waiting for his opportunity, or he knew he had four frog eyes on him and that was his reason for remaining so motionless.

Victory Bell was up on nest 3.

I found the father eagle for nest 4 sitting high in a dead tree with his wings open and his beak open to keep cool. When he flew
back to his nest a male red-winged blackbird dove at him, and pecked his head.

I went to the whirlpool that the flood created to see if I could find those snakes again today in some good light. I didn't find any though, which makes me wonder if I had found a den at all, or did I happen upon a snake that had just given birth? Which is really early for most species, and that doesn't explain the garter snake that was with them either.

I didn't go to far before finding a pile of turtle eggs that had been dug up and eaten down to the last drop of yolks. There were
about twelve eggs from what I could tell. I felt around to see if there were any others that were missed, but to tell you the truth, I wasn't real comfortable sticking my hand in any hole near where I'd found those unidentified snakes.

Do you remember me telling you about the short-nose gar that I saw being tossed up on the swirls of the whirlpool?
I found two of them dead up on the shore. Maggots crawled in and out of their decaying bodies along with a a horde of
beetles who specialize in cleaning up our shores.

I wonder how many fisherman fishing those marshes and streams know that they are full of short-nose gars with razor sharp teeth?

I hiked out to nest 1 and found the twins hungry and crying up on the nest. I'll close today's story with my experience.



Tonight, with little warning it happened.


A prayer answered. A long-awaited promise, answered in a way, well I
think somewhere it is written, well, here it is: "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27) Tonight I believe I had one of those leadings in a way that only the Lord can speak.

There I was sitting at the eagle nest 1, my main nest for these past 4 years when suddenly, strong winds blew in from the west and then the east. Without warning I found myself in a whirlwind of grass chaff and seeds plastering my face, blowing dust in my eyes while debris blew across the black skies that covered the blue.


At first it was just leaves being carried on 40-50 mph winds, then small leaves attached to their branches. I wasn't sure if I was sitting where an invisible tornado was forming, or if the winds were just playing tag before sunset. I watched as the eaglets stood up against the winds, beating their wings as if challenged by them. Within seconds the temperature dropped from 85 to low 70s, or so it seemed.

A light rain followed, but not enough to discourage my wait.

I sat through a second shower, and even stronger winds, but I wasn't going to budge.

The father eagle came in and delivered dinner to his hungry twins who mauled him, forcing him back to flight. In fact, he flew so fast that as I dragged my shutter, panning on him -- he blended in with the winds and was barely visible at all.

From the looks of the skies, I gave up believing tonight would be the night, and decided to call it a good day and began my hike out, back to my truck.

I was almost to my truck when a burst of light poked out of the clouds, and it winked at me. All of a sudden, the rain came down, sprinkling at first, turning into a light shower. As I stared to the west, and watched the backlit rain falling, the winds turned my head to the east, towards the nest a quarter mile back.

Without further hesitation I dropped my gear, threw it all to the ground taking only what I could carry during a fast run back through the ten foots grasses, over the fallen stumps and to the promise I was sure I would have one day, if I was just patient.

If I didn't give up.

If I waited through every storm.

If I trusted Jesus.

As I ran through the rain I had the sudden realization that for every tear I ever had shed I was now enduring my own personal shower. But without the showers, without the sun, there would never have been a race back to the eagles I have loved all these years.

When I arrived back to where I had just left, I discovered through my new tears that God is faithful, and he gave me a sign as his promise.

I would never have expected . . .



. . . there would be a tall, wavering cottonwood tree planted by the river, in a place that I sometimes have called my valley of
the shadow of doubt.

But there it was, a tree with two eaglets and even more unexpected was the mother eagle who flew right through the sky bringing in food for her eaglets, and those of you who know me, know how dear that mother
eagle, Daedee, is to my soul.

But I assure you there has never been a flight such as this not in the four years I have spent there waiting. As the eaglets cried out their ear-piercing screams, hunger cries like never before, they were announcing their mother eagles presence as she flew across the valley, over the river of life, pushing all doubt and any chance of shadows aside.

I had but seconds to choose, video or stills, and as I hit record on my video camera Daedee flew right through the double rainbow and to her little ones cries.

I wish I could share that video with you right now, but maybe, one day God will help me get this video of these God-created eagles lives ready, and made for public viewing.

Of course, that's another promise--and another rainbow in time.

Well, I just thought you might enjoy hearing a true story from a gal who sits with the eagles--eagles that were at the end of my rainbow--far better and worthy than any pot of gold.

May God bless you all.

I'm looking forward to day 165.

See you on the journey--

Lisa