June 2008

At the beginning of what was a normal new EagleCam season, and after camera maintenance was complete in February, that joy slowly turned to a peculiar skepticism as to whether Star and Spirit would return to rebuild this almost completely disintegrated nest. But they did, and they’ve been back with committed determination. They continue to rebuild the nest, working sometimes into the dark hours, sometimes for days in a row, and as often as they can, crossing one green or sometimes dry stick at a time, poking and pushing those huge clumps of grass, bundles of straw and debris through any void areas, one small cluster at a time. Those items they choose not to use, well we find below—piles of them—small, large, every day, all the time.

Although I know for many of the viewing public and long time EagleCam watchers, this all seems to be a daunting, discouraging and extremely slow process; but we must remember this is the world of a bald eagle, more importantly the world of wildlife. Their time is not hurried along.

You are seeing this season’s progress from the “ground up” or in this case, the “base up”. You’re viewing the systematic construction of a brand new nest. If you can imagine it’s all being compiled using very unique tools, beaks and talons, and building on the strength they gather through overcoming the odds any wild creature faces, i.e.: interference from humans, the interlopers or invaders that have and had taken refuge in the base of this nest for so many years (and ended up being their downfall – no pun intended!), the strange and inclement “cold/wet/hot/cold/wet” weather we’ve had and continue to have causing the delay of any normal spring and now summer, as well as human interferences they deal with constantly. Many nearby areas of treed, brushy, countryside landscape and meadows have been cleared for homes. These were areas they’ve used for several years (old snags to build with or forage for prey) have been removed but these birds are resilient. Still, they forge on, they are determined to rebuild and produce young again at this nest. Mother Nature knows when that will be and it’s by her guidance they will continue to do what they are intended to do.

In many other cases, eagle pairs will use an alternate nest. We would have thought these two might have or possibly decided to move elsewhere too but this pair has not. They roost here night after night. They are here at dawn, through the morning hours to afternoon and into evening again. Some days it’s like they want to get this ‘home’ completed in a day; other days it’s all in that “eagletime” we speak of. In any event, this is all an incredulous journey we hope you continue to follow along, you’ve been devoted supporters over the years, don’t give up on “your” eagles now.

We realize funds are limited for many these days but also hope you continue to support the WDFW Watchable Wildlife program. If it weren’t for your continued contributions, these & the other wildlife cams you, your friends and family members view would not be possible.

For occasional updates, we will post as often as possible using this webpage link http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/eaglecam/kent.html. Be sure to also visit the Lake Washington Cam with “Peek” and “Boo”, they’re growing like weeds! In addition, check the Deltaview Forum and Gallery at http://www.forum.eaglechat.com/index.php too.

Again remember without your support these cams and the Watchable Wildlife program would not be possible.

Sincerely,
Loraine and Garry

The following pictures are a few of this season’s nest rebuild process, from the past few months to present. There are pictures of that ominous ‘hole’ that started the destruction process last fall as well as comparisons of the nest starting in February up to today.

Perhaps this is the season Star has decided to take a break “from kids.” Who knows? We’re not sure we’ll have eaglets at this nest this year but stranger things have happened. They may surprise us. We always knew a year without eaglets may occur; we just didn’t want to see it – again - and not because of nest destruction. Things will come around, just like in 2004.

Last fall squirrels burrowed holes up through the bottom of the nest as you can see in the following pictures. Star seemed to be surprised as well...

Between the furry critter on the left & the strange weather we’ve been experiencing for so long, all of this caused the nest to disintegrate and fall to the ground in pieces last winter after the squirrel’s front door was punched through.

After the Cam Maintenance February 2, 2008 this is the activity we’ve witnessed, well partially….

More sticks, grass and evaluations…


A new nest base has formed…

Both staying the night…

Both here tonight too.

After work all day, its time for rest.

A tail and a head equals two birds in the nest.

Stronger additions…

After returning from hiatus, she also looked surprise to see that hole!

Before and after spring growth and the nest is s-l-o-w-l-y coming along!