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| Northern Channel Islands Update; March 10-March 17, 2009 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 19 2009, 12:27 PM (1,561 Views) | |
| IWS Crew | Mar 19 2009, 12:27 PM Post #1 |
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Amanda, Rosanne, and I had a very busy week on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. Rosanne was on Santa Rosa this week and reported that both adults are still incubating at the nest in Trap Canyon. It's hard for us to see into that nest from anywhere without disturbing the adults, so we will wait to be surprised around hatching time. She also reported sightings of A-64 hanging out in Trancion Canyon with another orange-tagged bird. It's possible that this bird was K-67 since we later saw that bird on Santa Cruz. A-34, A-29, A-36, and A-39 are all hanging out on Santa Rosa Island as well, and all those birds are of breeding age so we are searching the island in hopes of finding other nests as well. Amanda and I spent lots of time searching other bald eagle territories on Santa Cruz. She observed the Sauces nest one afternoon and saw both birds taking turns incubating and rolling the egg/eggs. (Again we won't know until they hatch how many eggs were laid.) Later in the week, we just checked on the nest but didn't have enough time to find out who was sitting on the eggs. Both of us headed out to A-17 and K-11's territory from different vantage points and found both adults perched on a point near Johnson's Beach. They both hung out together for over an hour, so apparently they do not have a nest yet. Here is a photo of Johnson's, part of their territory ![]() I later saw A-17 perched in these pine trees on Sierra Blanca ridge, which seem to be a popular roost spot for the eagles. ![]() Amanda headed out to Fraser Point to search for the new pair we found out there earlier this year, A-40 and A-24. She didn't spot either of those adults, but instead found A-46 perched along the bluffs at the western end of Santa Cruz. The next day we both headed out to Yellowbanks on different trails. It was a very windy day, so we were hoping to see the eagles flying around. Amanda got a glimpse of an adult eagle flying probably to roost, just before sunset. Here are a couple photos of A-11 and A-21's territory: ![]() ![]() I headed out to Pelican to check on the camera and while out there I took a couple photos of K-26 settling in to incubate. ![]() ![]() Monday was a very eventful day for us, as Peter came out on a helicopter so that we could survey the northern islands searching for eagles and nests. On his way out from the mainland, they flew over Anacapa and the east end of Santa Cruz. At Yellowbanks, he saw two adult eagles, indicating that they too are not nesting yet. We then headed out to survey the rest of Santa Cruz starting with the north shore. I included a photo of Pelican Harbor and Tinker's Cove from the helicopter. ![]() When we got to Cueva, we got visuals of three eagles. One adult and two younger eagles. We identified one as K-67 from photographs, but unfortunately could not read tags on the other two birds. We surveyed several of the major canyons on that coastline trying to narrow down a nest location where the other adult eagle might be but couldn't find anything. We are hopeful there is a nest somewhere around there and that we will be fortunate enough to have good weather so we can take the boat out to further explore those canyons in hopes of finding a nest. Unknown sub-adult ![]() K-67 ![]() |
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| IWS Crew | Mar 19 2009, 12:31 PM Post #2 |
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Cont. . . We then surveyed the rest of the coastline and we came to Fraser and the very western end of the island we found two adult bald eagles, one we identified as A-24 from photographs, and we are assuming the second eagle was A-40. ![]() ![]() We then flew over to Santa Rosa where we surveyed along the coastline looking for eagles and nests. The only eagle we found was A-36, spotted along the NW shoreline of the island. Rosa coastline from helicopter ![]() A-36 ![]() We then continued surveying along the south side of Santa Cruz Island where we spotted A-17 perched at her usual spot overlooking the ocean. ![]() Continuing along the south side of the island, we spotted two more eagles hanging out along the coastline at Willows. We identified one as A-45 and we could not read the tags on the other bird, but it was not a full adult. It's possible that it was A-51, who has been recently spotted along that coastline, and the plumage of this bird was similar to that of A-51. We will continue to survey that coastline this week in hopes of spotting them again. Unknown sub-adult ![]() A-45 at Willows ![]() Until next time. I'll be out on Santa Cruz this week also with Dave, while Suzanne is on Rosa, so hopefully we'll have more exciting news to report next week. Steph |
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| SoCal Lady | Mar 19 2009, 12:53 PM Post #3 |
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STEPHANIE! This UPDATE is so very exciting! EAGLES! EAGLES! EVERYWHERE!! Wonderful news and the pictures are just beautiful! As always, thank you so very much for giving us these wonderful visuals! |
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| cdn-cdn | Mar 19 2009, 01:07 PM Post #4 |
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My goodness, you must have to keep a log book of the eagles, their numbers, where they were last located, and so on. It is tricky to be able to remember all these numbers. I am wondering about the Cueva Valdez pair, they are old enough to have a nest and have been a pair for at least a couple of years now. Terrific update with outstanding photos, thank you so much. What a pretty photo of Tinker's Cove and Pelican Harbor. :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: :soar: |
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| Lauri | Mar 19 2009, 01:58 PM Post #5 |
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Dear Stephanie, Great update and fabulous pictures! You have a couple that would make great postcards. You've sure seen a lot of eagles this week. I'm so jealous. Thank you so much for the great report! Lauri |
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| Sara Oh | Mar 19 2009, 02:00 PM Post #6 |
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Thank you for the full update Steph. There are lots of eagles to keep track of. Sure wish A-49 was one of them. |
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| summer818 | Mar 19 2009, 03:59 PM Post #7 |
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Stephanie, incredible report! Seeing Willows and Cueva Valdez just warms my heart, my favorite anchorages, besides Fry's just west of Pelican.
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| lovethebabies | Mar 19 2009, 04:06 PM Post #8 |
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Stephanie, you have had a very busy exciting week! Beautiful pictures! So exciting to read about all the eagles you spotted. So Spirit (A64) and Surprise (K67) were hanging out together! That is so exiting! I'm very happy to know they are both doing well! Now, if you can just get a sighting of Cruz (A49) Thanks for the great update Stephanie! Have a safe week!
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| bette | Mar 19 2009, 05:12 PM Post #9 |
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Stephanie, the pictures of the PH nest are awesome. Thank you. |
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| Patti | Mar 19 2009, 08:47 PM Post #10 |
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Stephanie, wonderful report! Fantastic photos and great eagle news. So many eagles. |
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| betsy | Mar 20 2009, 12:33 PM Post #11 |
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WOW Stephani what a great report. I sometimes wish I were a kid again living back there. The picture were so spectacular. Thank you for your report and everyones dedication to these beautiful Bald Eagles. |
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| davetheagle | Mar 21 2009, 01:38 PM Post #12 |
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did i read a-64 is out and about. YEAH. wonderful report and photos. i hope all goes well for k10 and k26. these 2 are my favorite couple. i love there live web cam. should be just a couple of weeks now, i would guess. |
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| luveagles | Mar 21 2009, 05:28 PM Post #13 |
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Thank you Stephanie and Crew What a wonderful report and pictures. Now we know what the helicopter noise was last week at PH. Stay safe have a great week. |
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| vickih | Mar 22 2009, 01:51 PM Post #14 |
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Stephanie, Great update! Loved hearing about all the sub adults hanging around. Is it possible the sub adult you have a picture of could have been Cruz? She and A51 would have about the same plumage, wouldn't she? Just a thought. I keep hoping someone will see her. Great news K67 and A64 are hanging around. They were both the younger siblings and I enjoyed both of them. Have a great week. Vickih |
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Wonderful news and the pictures are just beautiful!

Seeing Willows and Cueva Valdez just warms my heart, my favorite anchorages, besides Fry's just west of Pelican.

6:44 AM Jul 11