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Northern Channel Islands Update; March 24-31 2009
Topic Started: Apr 1 2009, 09:28 AM (3,116 Views)
IWS Crew
Advanced Member
Hi Everyone,

Spring is here and the flowers are blooming, the bees and butterflies are pollinating, and the Bald Eagles are busy incubating and raising their chicks. This last tour Peter Sharpe came out to Santa Cruz Island to help Rosanne and I survey and get the Pelican Harbor Camera ready for the hatching of the two eggs.
We were successful in getting the Pelican Harbor Camera remote to work so we could zoom in a little closer to the nest. Now we can see with more detail the chicks when they hatch. While we were there I took this photo using an adapter to mount my camera to the spotting scope.

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Later in the week we took the boat out on the water to survey for the Cueva Valdez pair. For several weeks we have been working hard to try and get a better idea of where they might nest this year. We quickly found them the mouth of Hazards Canyon. Both A-00 and A-16 were perched on the cliffs together. There is still a chance that they have a nest, or are still building a nest but have not laid an egg. Here is a photograph that Peter took of the Cueva Pair together.

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This is a photograph of A-00 the male flying over us.

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On our way back to Prisoners Harbor we surveyed Lady’s and Baby’s Harbor for a possible nest and in a low tree over the water Peter spotted A-64. His plumage is bleached and was much camouflaged against the background.

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To be continued...
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IWS Crew
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We continued surveying so that we could take advantage of the good weather and we went to the other side of the island to look for the Yellow Banks Pair A-01 and A-11. We were able to find both of them after watching one perched over the cliffs of Middle Anchorage. We did get to see one of the pair fly over the water and catch some thing bring it back to the cliffs and eat it.
Here is a photograph of that individual flying over the water towards the Middle Anchorage Cliffs.

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After a while of observing that individual the second adult came from the west and perched on a fence post. A few minutes later it left out of sight and the first adult we were observing followed.

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We are confident it was the Yellow Banks Pair and again seeing both of them together confirms there is no egg. There is still a chance they have a nest or are building one but does confirm they have not laid eggs.

The next day Peter went to the Sauces nest. He was able to watch both adults at the nest and he took these photographs.

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We were expecting the eggs to hatch this week and everything he saw indicated that everything was ok. Sadly, I found the nest empty yesterday. No adults for over an hour and a half. We have no idea why they might have failed this year as well. After watching the nest I went to search for the pair and I found them together on their favorite cliffs on Kingston Point.
So now we are down to only the Pelican Harbor nest and the Santa Rosa nest. Amanda Wilhelm was out on Santa Rosa this tour and she observed them incubating properly and we can expect their eggs to hatch any day now. So we hope the best for that pair on their second attempt to raise some offspring.

Northern Channel Islands Crew
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harpo516
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Great to see A64 - maybe he's going blonde! Great that you are seeing the pairs but sad that nesting isn't working out sometimes :( What a shame for Sauces pair.... I would assume there is still some time so maybe there will be more eggs..... :X: Thank you so much for sharing the info and the great photos! :><:
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summer818
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Thank you so much for this fabulous update with our sweet A64 (Spirit) going blonde. :lol: So sorry about the failed nests. :(
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iggle
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Life in the wild - some good news and some bad news.

Good that the Cueva Valdez pair are together with nesting still a possibility and also hopeful news about the Yellow Banks pair. Great news that our A64/Spirit is enjoying the island sunshine so much but sad news about the Sauces pair. Life goes on in the eagle world...

Thank you to the IWS Crew for allowing us to peek through the window into their world!
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Lauri
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Dear Crew,

Thanks again for a great update. Happy to see Spirit looking so well. He's got the "Camo-Eagle" thing down-- blending in to his environment.

Too bad about the failed nest... wonder what THAT'S all about.

Great close-ups of the PH nest, too.

You guys are terrific. Keep up the good work!

Lauri
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Holly
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What fantastic pictures. So, so pleased to see A-64. Our little guy is really changing! So sorry to hear the news for the Sauces pair, but hopefully their is still a chance for the Yellow Banks pair. Have a good week, and thanks so much for bringing us along!
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vickih
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I am sorry sauses pair were not successful -- hopefully it is not too late for them this season. I am soo happy to see a photo of Spirit. He's been a favorite of mine. He looks great at 1 yr.

Thanks for the great update and all you do.

Vicki
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Sara Oh
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Any possibility of doing some research on why the Sauces nest failed?

Thanks for the update. The photos of the eagles are breathtaking, as are the ones of the landscape.

Hard to believe A-64 is almost a year old. Time flies with the eagles!
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luveagles
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Thank you for a great report and pictures. You are all awesome. Sorry to hear the Sauces pair lost there little ones. :'( Hope they will try again.
The camera at PH is great we should be able to see the chicks really well. :D
Be safe.
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naturelvr
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Thank you for the GREAT updates. With the camera looking so good on PH, I am so EXCITED to see the chicks when they arrive! :^:
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cdn-cdn
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So sorry to read about the failure to hatch for the Sauces egg(s). A-02 and A-28 have such a large and well-built-looking nest, and they did all the right things it seems regarding incubation. :(

It makes me realize how fortunate it is that there are other successes, such as Cruz hatching when her parents were such young eagles. I hope the Sauces, Yellowbanks, and Cueva Valdez pairs have more success next season.

:X: for the Santa Rosa pair, A-08 and A-22. I always get their numbers mixed up with the Sauces' numbers.

Spirit looks wonderful, a real "Island Boy", all golden from the sun. <3

Thank you very much for the informative update and terrific photos.
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ojailala
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A-64 in the Oak Tree reminds me of the Cacuma Lake Juveniles.... hard to find... Great pictures of the PH nest... no clear... great report this work :><: :><: :><: :)^ :)^ :clk:
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davetheagle
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great report

question. what island is a64 hanging on? it is great he is still out and about. he will be 1 year in 2-3 months...no?

:soar:
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BetsyR
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Fascinating pictures! Delighted to see "Spirit" - A64. What happened to Skye "A65"?

thanks for your great updates,
Betsy
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