Molly kirjoitti:This seems to be such a sad story But still....let`s keep our hope up that everything would turn out to a better direction in the end
~ Good news ~
BCAW/PattiO/WVSusan's blog
Quote: I must agree w several who have posted already that we have a 4 yr old dirty girl who didn't breed this yr. She is HUGE. .... Much bigger than Belle, but does not look threatening today at least not to Belle. Cannot confirm sighting of Lib. Questionable. Trudy comes in and sits on the limb above the nest and appears to be more of a guardian than a threat, at least how she may perceive at her young age.
She is dirty girl with size and stature more like a vulcher and still has dark markings on her head and tail. Lib would not stand a chance with this one. I think she, however, is not meaning harm to the nest. Trudy flew in to the nest unattended nest and simply went to the top limb as if in watch. She looked down at lPaddy and Paddy was looking up at her, Perfect opportunity if Trudy wanted to take the nest or the contents within, but she was just in protective mode.
That's all we have folks, wait Trudy just tried to land on the nest from the upper limb I still think she just wants to be a part of it, odd as it seems, she just doesn't know how It all works or she'd have brought a fish by now.
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BCAW/Mick
During mom's feeding, eaglet's crop gets bigger.
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Eaglet has made chick's poop, defecated - yesterday twice.
The chick is up and moving... can not see the egg more specific ... intruder somewhere above, Belle rocketed after the other. Chick is chirping alone the nest.
The new day is begining... Belle has been up and checked the nest cub couple of times. Think, if the egg should be fine and yet hatchedl! Can it be even possible?? I guess, I'm dreaming...
Just now it's peaceful, only wind. I try later put some pics here from yesterday.
Sadly I think its safe to assume that this breeding attempt has failed this year, I have not been watching the nest for long so does anyone know did something happen to the male at this nest site, has he disappeared ?
I think the eagle shown is a new female, probably the intruder that caused the nest failure, it must be one tough bird as apparently it has succeeded in driving off both the resident pair, as the resident male has been seen at the nest site regularly
In upcoming weeks, we will do our very best to post regular, factual updates that are grounded in science. Over the weekend, we were able to confirm the presence of a third adult eagle near the nest, and we are almost certain that it is a breeding age female. Typically, the presence of a new female means she is competing with the established pair of eagles for the current nest and the territory that goes with it. Nest competition is a common occurrence in areas with healthy eagle populations, meaning the total population of eagles near NCTC has likely increased in recent years.
We have also confirmed multiple sightings of the male eagle who is part of the established breeding pair. The male does not appear to be injured, and seems to be in good health. The eaglet which hatched on March 17th has died and the remaining egg is not likely to hatch given that it is not being regularly incubated by the parents.
We do have biologists on staff here at NCTC who are available to share their expert assessments of the situation. In addition, our land manager has been communicating with another raptor biologist based in our Chesapeake Bay field office. There is general agreement that if the new female eagle is successful in chasing off the current female, the new female will then need to recruit a male to join her. However, it is likely too late in the nesting season for success in laying, incubating and hatching any new eggs.
You may wonder why there is competition over this nest - and there are several potential factors. Eagles prefer to nest in the tops of large trees located near rivers, lakes, and other wetlands. The NCTC nest is located very close to the Potomac River, which is a plentiful source of fish for nesting eagles to hunt. In addition, eagle nests represent a considerable investment of effort to construct: they can be up to 10 feet in diameter and weigh up to 2,000 lbs. And finally, as mentioned above, nest competition frequently occurs in areas with a significant eagle population.
As I promised here some earlier pics. Couldn't make it yesterday and
had great difficulties today figure out of a large number of images...
The Sunday 20 March 2011, when Paddy died.
Paddy weakened. After couple of minutes Mom came, she saw... I thought, now she will go for a fish! She left. ( I turned the cam off)
At 18:17 - 18:21 CET
When I some hours later turned on... It had happened. Belle screamed painfully a while... later angrily to an intruder (?) upwards looking... again and again... and then watched quietly at Paddy standing in place for a long time... Began eat the fish and several times like asking, Paddy, you want a bit? Once the fish almost fall to the nest cub on Paddy, Belle frightened it very much.
Pain, Grief.
The Fish ~ You want some?
Brooding. Lost.
Belle vocalized painfully many hours...Night came, and she began to incubate them, she was sitting on the egg and dead Paddy tending them.
Following dayBelle buried Paddy and the Egg in the nest cub - todayshe did it a second time.