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Catalina Update; Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Topic Started: Apr 15 2009, 12:41 PM (2,108 Views)
eaglegal
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Hello everybody,

Great news!
Twin Rocks (TR) definitely has two chicks on the nest. I was finally able to se two little heads bobbling next to one of the adults. I took a picture and drew some arrows pointing at the chicks.
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I also made a short video of the TR nest
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Last Thursday, the second West End (WE) chick hatched and joined the first chick that hatched two days before that.

Two Harbors nest still has its 2 chicks and growing quickly.

We check Pinnacle Rock (PR) and Seal Rocks (SR) every couple of days and their chicks are doing just fine; parents are always present, not necessarily brooding all day but definitely looking after their little ones.
On Saturday I visited PR and they had caught a large gull. Feathers and other food items were all over the nest.
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I made a short video of a feeding I observed and some nest cleaning up on another day.
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This is PR nest yesterday
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I also made a video of the SR nest on Friday.
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I was going to take some pictures yesterday since it was overcast, cool and the lighting was perfect but my camera battery died right then so no pictures.

On Friday, I looked for the Rattlesnake birds but had no luck. After coming home, Pete mentioned he saw at least one of them flying over Avalon Harbor so no wonder I couldn’t find them at their territory. There’s still a slight chance that they’d breed again so I’ll check their old nest, the new nests and go looking for them some time this week.

As far as Middle Ranch pair goes, still no news. They are back to roosting on the pine trees where the old nest is at but still no breeding behavior. We check them almost every day hoping to see something but no luck there either. She is still young for a first time breeder and he’s a bit “challenged” (he hasn’t been the best nest builder in the past) so if not this year, there’s always the next. It’s nice to see them and hear them regularly though.

Pimu and Pee’ ech are doing pretty well. On Saturday, a group of people from town visited our captive eagles as part of the Conservancy’s Families and Nature Program, and I gave a short talk about the Bald Eagle Reintroduction Program, the 2009 nesting season and “the girls”. I had Pee’ ech out and she behaved well, she even ate part of her quail on my fist in front of everybody; they were all impressed! No pictures yet but I know people took some.
It has been wicked windy over here so I don’t think our birds would eat today. I will drive to the cages to make sure the nettings are still in place but it looks like a skip day for them.

K00, the PR 2007 chick, has been moving all over the island. I got a visual of him flying over the reservoir yesterday afternoon.

People have mentioned to me that they’ve spotted juveniles at various places on the island so even if I don’t get to see them we know some of the youngsters are still around. I can’t wait for them to mature and breed as well!

It has turned out to be such a great year for the eagles on Catalina. Eight chicks hatching naturally on five nests is such an amazing success! I know many of our camera views feel sad and discouraged because of the nesting failure on the northern islands, especially for the Pelican Harbor chicks, but all I wanted to remind you all is that every single chick, no matter where it hatches or fledges from on the Channel Islands matters just as much to this projects and is just as important to us. I hope you find some comfort in knowing that all 8 chicks are doing wonderfully and accept the fact that death is just another part of nature.

I’ll leave you with a picture of some other new additions to this beautiful island…
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Have a great rest of the week and until next Wednesday.

Steffani
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Bird
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Thanks, Stef! Great update! Thanks for the pics and videos.

Such success for the project! Congratulations to you all!
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summer818
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Steffani, fabulous news! I love it. The winds are incredible here on the coast of Ventura County too! I look forward to the photo's the group took of Pimu and 'Heidi'. How cool! Thanks again for all you do, you're simply the best! :><:
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harpo516
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Steffani - thank you so much for your insight and you're right - every hatch is a step in the right direction for the bald eagles! Love the videos and shots - keep 'em coming! Still :X: for MR pair but like you said - always next year! :<::

I saw the herd photo in Jann's tour slideshow - now I'm jealous - we only saw a couple lone fellas! And again - there's always next year :X: :X: :X: Nice "bison" photo - thanks!
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beautifuleagles
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Thanks so much Steffani, for all you do and it is so great to hear such wonderful news. :ok: What is it with these eagles that they seem to like the open areas for their nests? Seals Rock nesting sight last year was such a neat place. Guess the eagles didn't like it! Great reports and super videos and pictures Thank you for all you do and that the crew does!! Take care and be safe!!
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Sara Oh
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Thanks for the update Steffani on the wonderful year Catalina is having. And I appreciate your words putting the PH chick deaths in perspective. It helps a lot to be reminded of the big picture. Indeed this is a very successful year for the eagles and IWS. Congratulations to you, Peter, and everyone else involved in this project. :><:
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Jeanette
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Great update as usual Steffani and I agree that every chick is so important bless them. I am sure the Conservancy and Nature group enjoyed your program and glad that Pe-eech behaved
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Naturegal
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Steffani - What wonderful news about the successful hatchings of all the new chicks. It sure takes away a lot of the sadness from the PH nest failure this year. You, Peter and the IWS Crew are all doing such a great job and thanks for your update, videos and photos.
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lovethebabies
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Thanks for the great update Steffani! It really helps to hear that the babies there are doing well! I really feel the loss of the babies when we've been able to watch them like at PH but I am always thrilled to hear of healthy eaglets, the more the better! It is wonderful that you can get pictures to us through the forum! Hopefully next year, there will be babies, babies, everywhere! It is exciting to know that the juveniles from previous years are hanging around and returning! Thank you for all your hard work! Have a safe week!
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SoCal Lady
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:}^ STEFFANI

WOOHOO!! TR K17 and K33 have TWINS also again this year! Loved your video of those adorable little ones sitting in front to adult! AND--you take those videos and pictures from soooo far away too.

Huge successes this year at Catalina with all Natural hatchings--just terrific outcome for 2009! The Reintroduction Program is working beautifully and you all must be so very Happy!

The winds out there were hellacious last night (Tues) and again today--I must admit I was quite worried about the twins at WE last night--the buoy between Anacapa Island and Catalina showed wind gusting to 44mph at 10:00pm and WE was taking it head on. Really relieved to see all was well AND everyone accounted for at WE this morning.

Thank you for all the video and great UPDATE !!
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Lauri
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Dear Steffani,

As usual, a terrific report! I'm happy to hear of all the new little eaglets starting their new lives on Catalina!

Have you set up any date for the Tongva elders to come back and re-christen Pee''ech/Heidi? I'm glad she performed well for her adoring public the other day. :D

Thanks for the reminder than each and every chick is an important part in bringing the islands back in "eagle balance." It's sad to see the loss of the PH chicks... because we can see them. They become a part of us, in some way.

I hope you are not getting blown away today-- it's blowing like CRAZY here in Los Angeles, dark clouds scudding in and out-- those eaglets are going to have to hold on tight today.

Thanks again for fabulous report! I really look forward to Wednesdays to find out what's going on and to get a peek at the other eagles we armchair eagle watchers wouldn't get to see.

Lauri
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Eagle Duo
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Great update, Steff. Love all the pics and videos, especially the ones of the ^"^ ^"^ ^"^

Thanks again for a great tour last week.

We also saw at least one of the Rattlesnake pair flying over Avalon Harbor last Friday. It was a beautiful sight. <3 <3
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Angelfish321
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:clk: Yes, I will take 8 thriving beautiful bald eagle babies anytime!! Wonderful update. Pardon my ignorance, but was that a picture of buffalos or bison? :unsure: :^: :^: <3 :soar:
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eaglegal
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Angelfish321,Apr 15 2009
03:54 PM
:clk: Yes, I will take 8 thriving beautiful bald eagle babies anytime!! Wonderful update. Pardon my ignorance, but was that a picture of buffalos or bison? :unsure: :^: :^: <3 :soar:

Bison
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dory
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Steffani
You are amazing!
Thank you!
Dory
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