Why Is the Eagle Count down in our Country

I don't post much on this Blog now. There are a multitude of sources for up to date info on the various online nests and I have Glo's Glimpses for my photography etc BUT when I read this CLICK HERE I knew it belonged over here for anyone who is concerned for our Bald eagles. Lets not deny there is an obvious problem yet we can not decide what the problem is. The count is down more than 40% in places. This is a fairly long but informative and thought provoking read. I hope if you are an eagle or Wildlife lover at all that you will take the time to at least see the question. We need to find the answer and we need to give the funds to find it sooner rather than later. Delisting is in the way of funding release however. Just one facet of the problem that this article points out.

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