Its Flag Day..add a little Spunk to being American

Oh I wonder will it ever be the same

My love of eagles unexpectedly led me on a journey I never knew lied ahead. I have lived the ups and downs and the agony and the ecstacy of these magnificent birds. BUT back in June 14 of 2006 the fledging on a young eagle named Spunky added "life" to all that our flag and the life of a Bald Eagle actually is for an American.

I hold both this day, bald eagles and this particular eagle very dear to my heart. As we watched him grow and struggle to survive at times we saw perseverance and courage, strength and character as well as devotion of an older generation to a new generation portrayed before our eyes.

Its now up to you and me as we struggle to some degree as a nation to apply the lessons that we who love eagles are learning as we watch them bring new life to their species.

His/her name is Spunky....at three years of age a bald eagle looks something like the image at the top of this post.

I want to send continued wishes of Godspeed to Spunky, her awesome parents Liberty and Belle and all of her siblings of special interest this year is Hidey...Spunky also has extended family around the country. Haven't we seen and learned so much about the life of these birds. It is not at all easy but they have come back and are thriving well.

My wish for All of America is that we do the same.

Eagles In A Storm

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, the eagle sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us-and all of us will experience them-we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them. The Bible says,

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40;31.


Author Unknown

For those who want to remember one more time or for those who have never seen them BELOW are several links to celebrate Spunk on Flag Day.

A Spunky kind of fledge

Spunky's Place

Flag Day 2006

Spunky weathers the storm

Farewell Tributes

Its NOT snow in the Oregon nest this time

I thought this was so worth sharing even though i am a week late with the news. Video by EmtyBelfry of Maine forum Pengra is one week old today.

Video of Dad and Pengra here

IWS news you may want to know

I realize many of you will be subscribers to this info and therefore have already received it. But for the rest I did want you to know aobut this upcoming event.

You may be interested to know that Dr. Sharpe and the IWS are planning on banding the Two Harbors nest eaglets on Friday, May 22nd and the West End nest eaglets on Friday, June 5th. The Two Harbors nest has 2 chicks (hatch dates 3/26 and 3/28). It was the FIRST TIME this nest was left to hatch naturally. The camera is located here: Two Harbors Nest http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/twoharborscam.html BANDING DAY IS FRIDAY, MAY 22nd 2009. The West End nest has 2 chicks (hatch dates 4/7 and 4/9) It was also the FIRST TIME this nest was left to hatch naturally. The Camera is located here: West End Nest http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/westendcam.html BANDING DAY IS FRIDAY, JUNE 5th 2009. A gentle reminder that the Nest Adoption Challenge (NAC) this year is being hosted on the IWS Eagle Forum. Please check out the various ways that you can help the eagles here: http://s11.zetaboards.com/IWS_Eagle_Forum/index/ The dates of the 2009 NAC are April 15 to June 15, 2009. Please check Nest Watch http://z7.invisionfree.com/CHIL_EagleCAM/index.php?showforum=5 or the IWS Eagle Forum http://s11.zetaboards.com/IWS_Eagle_Forum/index/ on the day of the event (Friday, May 22nd and Friday, June 5th) for approximate times. Thank you, CHIL EagleCAM forum Admin and Moderators

Another really fun photo from Stan Bousson

As always click to enlarge


I am so grateful to have met this photographer at Ruffles eagle releaselast August and now to have him as a friend and mentor at the Camera Club I have joined. He was sharing some of these photos at club last week and I requested this one to share with all of you. I thought it very unique and it makes me smile.

Can any of you think of a caption for this one. I would love to share your thoughts with him. How neat. Talk about a kodak moment

A Smile for Mothers Day

Part of life even for the birds and this is how its done!!!

A Celebration with Ma and Pa Hornby

Got 10 minutes? If you are an eagle lover and especially if you are a Ma and Pa Hornby family fan you are going to love this video. Hint if you have followed this family you just might need a kleenex


How well folks around the world remember the sad times of Ma and Pa Hornby when their eggs failed to hatch in 2006. This pair captured the hearts of those who watched and cheered them on and then shared in their mournful cries. A sound I can still hear in my heart.

Well it shared smiles around the world for Ma and Pa Hornby this year.
A bobbled head hatched at 7:49 am nest time on Monday April 27.


At the following request from Doug Carrick the eaglet will be named Hope

Doug Carrick wrote:
NEW CHICK
I would like the chick to be named "Hope", representing how so many have felt over the years. I can hardly believe it! So many things could have prevented this event from happening - and yet it has happened. Wow!
Once again, I feel so fortunate to be part of the "Eagle Story", which so many people have enjoyed - a world-wide story made possible by Hancock Wildlife and made personal by the Discussion Forum with all the brilliant observations and fun comments, enriched with pictures and videos. An overwhelming experience.



When the second hatches the thought is Hanc:

Here is a very fitting poem posted by Cal04 on The Hornby forum of Hancock website.

Hope is the Thing with Feathers
By: Emily Dickinson

"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea,
Yet never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me."

A collage of photos by Skipper can be seen here

A few peaks at some nests we know and one we don't

All images can be enlarged by clicking them





2 images of Norfolk nest by jrdeal of Maine forum that you must see:

Photo 1

Photo 2

My thanks once again to Stan Bousson who has become both a mentor and a friend through my local camera club. He is an awesome wildlife photographer and you have seen his pictures linked from both this blog and Lisa from Blackwater Refuge featured his series of photos called The Steal.

This year Stan asked permission form a local farmer to install a camera in a tree with an active Bald Eagles nest. The location is secret but he has given me permission to share these photos with you:










More of Stans Photography including The Steal series can be seen here

to order his photos contact sjbousson@mchsi.com...his prices are excellent and his photography is second to none.

Norfolk Eaglets get banded.

Click here for Photos and info on April 22 banding click here


A Great Video is here


More nice photos taken by photographer on site are here

April 19 2009

A catching up video for you

Nestcams for April 13

A video summary of the nestcams which you are bound to enjoy IF you will pour yourself a cup of tea/coffee etc, stop a minute and watch. Click here

In a sad note once again Pelican Harbor has lost its second eaglet at about 2 days old. Many of you know this is the same nest where a rogue eagle knocked Spirit and Skye last year before they were able to fledge. Poor K 10 and K 26 have 2 years in a row of thier young hatching and suddenly disappearing. This kind of information does deeply affect me. I am glad I did not know yesterday and to be honest I have not searched any further for any thoughts at IWS on what is happening at Pelican Harbor. This is definitely a nest of Untamed and Uncut Eagle Life

Pre Easter feast at NCTC LOL, and a new chick at Decorah

New Hatchlings Sidney and Pelican Harbor

Sidney video

Pelican Harbor video zoom

No word on a Decorah IA hatch yet but it surely is time...stay tuned.

April 7 nestcam Happenings

From Cumbrian on IWS forum the down day I was referring to
yesterday. The breaking news of a previos thread here has turned
to sad news now :

Sad News .... the PH Nest has lost their chick.

It is uncertain how ... or when ... the chick died.
The observers in Nest Watch did not see the chick at all this
morning ... and there were no feedings.
Then this afternoon observers saw ... what appeared to be ...
the body being removed from the bowl and placed at the side.
The adults have continued to incubate the second egg that is
still in the bowl.

The thought is that West End has a chick;
Here is a link to a video made by Cubrian

Below is a video I made of Wrays return to the nest



And a video view of actions around the nestcams I made for you.


Post on IWS forum by Dr Sharpe regarding Pelican Harbor and West End Activity today:"Based upon their behavior today, I would guess that a chick hatched at the Pelican Harbor nest around 10:30 am. That is when the male finally settled back down into the nest bowl after about an hour of jumping around. I'd give the chick about 6-8 hours to start poking its head up for some food. Of course I can't be sure there is a chick until we see one. I'm taking a day off at home, but have had the cameras up all day.

West End also appears to have a chick hidden away, although I haven't seen it either. "

He did quickly remind folks that this is not confirmed until a chikc is actually seen and there is no info on whether or not he has watched the video y Cumbrian I posted a link to above.

I Love this Blog Very Much

But having said that I am sincerely wondering if anyone else is actually following it on any regular basis anymore.

If there are a half dozen or so of you who actually still watch for and enjoy these feeds I do need to know. This Blog does take anonymous comments so post away. You will not see the comment right away as it does get filtered through my email ...or obvious reasons.

Eagle Season has its ups and downs and today it has had another one of those downs.

I am not sure if I need to actually search for the ups and downs and latest news on the nest cams anymore or not.

There are so many different forums and blogs etc. I need to know if there is still a need here for what I do. Please let me know.

There have been almost no comments for weeks now and I need to know where I am with this Blog.

Thanks

Glo

Maine Eagle Cam 2, Norfolk funnies, and Two Harbors twins

Maine has a pair named Jack and Jill.

You can see a video of Jill laying egg 2 here.....during a pretty good storm bless her heart.

Norfolk:

Two older ones are too full to fit anymore in their crops and baby gets a great feeding...Go here to see a heartwarming and fun video by Inklink of Maine forum

Two Harbors:

The twins are growing and very well behaved check this video out

And Mr Mom 81 is also an awesome provider check this out

April 3 taking a look at nesting activities

Breaking News!!! Its a baby eagle at Pelican Harbor. See the family here ;-)






Storming at NCTC this morning.


When the storm let up Baby found itself Home Alone or a while

NCTC new audeo video link

New Link for audeo and video from NCTC is Here

I will also change it on the side of the blog

March 30 Eagle cam update.

Lots going on on our eagle cams now and eaglets popping out all over.

Nestwatch March 28

How are the new parents with the very young pair at Two Harbors doing? Click here for a short video


For a peek at Norfolk and their three click here

Two Harbors first feeding

Breakfast at Two Harbors An eaglets first feeding.

Historic Hatch at Two Harbors

Bald Eagles are once again not just surviving but thriving on the Channel Islands and Catalina Island off the Coast of California. This video is of the first hatchling of an eaglet at the Two Harbors nest in many a year, since DDT contamination had renderd their shells so thin the parents were unable to incubate them to the hatching point. I have been following the work of a man named Dr Peter Sharpe who has been retreiving the eggs from the nests on these islands and artificially hatching them at a fostering facility on Catalina Island while the adults would continue to incubate wooden eggs. Once hatched and a few days old he would return them to the nest for the care of their parents. Todays video gives you a chance to see through the eyes of the Bald Eagle what they should have been seeing for many a year had we not messed with their environment to the point that they actually were endangered by human choices. I congratulate Dr Sharpe and all those who have worked so hard to remove the Bald Eagle form the Endangered list. It must never ever happen again.

Although I had won an opportunity to see the fostering facility last year, I was unable to complete the trip. This year Dr Sharpe chose to not foster any eggs and see if in fact this nest among several others were once again able to hatch their own. Watch the glorious and exciting result in this video made this morning for Two Harbors.


81 Dad after visiting twice and waiting for his turn to once again parent the egg/eaglet comes up with a plan:






Nice view of Little One and succesful Dad in capture by Lori



See video of Dad removing eggshell as eaglet is hatching here

March 25

Sights at Two Harbors as evening fell. Many folks feel like they saw good size cracks in both eggs on this nest as cam went off for the evening.

Is an Historic Hatching imminent at Two Harbors?

This year Dr Sharpe has chosen to not foster any eggs to the incubation facility. All of the eagles are brooding their own eggs. Two Harbors eggs are do to hatch at any time now. Will it happen? What will be the eagle's reaction as one of those eggs actually starts to peep and come to life instead of arriving int he nest a few days old. What kind of parents will they be with their first hatch? To me right now Two Harbors is in fact the cam to not miss watching over the next few days. So much to see that has not been seen before by this pair and thier young if all goes well. You can watch this cam here

March 23

Norfolk



Colorado

March 22

Norfolk Cuties



Hornby Wiggle




Oklahoma feeding



Next Hatchings to be watching for are

Two Harbors and Colorado both at Day 35 on March 24.

March 21 some new kids on the block

Norfolk Hatch video by inklink



Caltrans has 2...video of Boblet battles by Skipper


Oklahoma Hatch video by Peggy

Early Morning at Caltrans

March 18

A very slow motion but awfuly cute feeding.
Click here for A not to miss photo of the Norfolk pair

March 16

FINALLY

March 15

NCTC Photos below from Deb and Megan NCTC Bloggers.




Patti from Maine forum has made a slideshow which is closest thing we have seen to movement in the nestbowl all weekend. Click Here.

OK still 3 eggs...keep a very close eye on this cam.



Blackwater




A sweet photo from Soggy Norfolk nest.

Drama continues on Maine nest..it is never boring there for sure...see video here:

2 eggs at PH Video of eggroll

Fri March 13 3 eggs are seen at Sidney nest as well Decorah IA has 3 eggs...Photo below by Judy B Maine forum

Hornby offline til later tonight, no egg laid there yet as far as we know but pair has been seen in nest at nighttime.

NCTC Celebration

As we were watching the still cam on NCTC blog and realized that it did in fact appear that there is in fact now life under our Belle, and Liberty began bringing a feast to the nest for his family

one of the Bloggers Lolly mentioned that it was On This Day in History that Perry Como's Catch a Falling Star became a Golden Hit. I have chosen to set the video of todays happenings to that pretty song from Perry Como...it is in fact a Golden Moment for us who enjoy this nest and a very special Irish Blessing indeed.



Morning feeding about to happen