Title: Catalina Update
Description: Wednesday, March 7, 2012
eaglegal - March 7, 2012 08:54 PM (GMT)
Hello everybody,
We have been checking the Catalina nest regularly and I’ll start my report from the east.
The Seal Rocks nest still has their two eggs and both, K25 and K34, share the incubation duties.


I seem to be spending a big chunk of my day checking this nest; we hike up to the nest in just about 10 minutes but once I get to the blind and it is the female who is incubating, I end up waiting for hours for her to make a move and let me see into the bowl.



It is during the switches that I finally get to confirm how many eggs are there. As of Monday they had two!


Here’s a video of the switch

Cont…
eaglegal - March 7, 2012 08:55 PM (GMT)
eaglegal - March 7, 2012 08:57 PM (GMT)
I made a video too

Then, I usually check the Twin Rocks nest. They have not laid eggs yet but are definitely present and active in their territory.
Empty nest…


On Thursday, I was searching for the pair when I spotted not one, or two but three adults chasing each other, and a little red-tailed hawk that was following the chase very closely.

They never landed so I was unable to ID the birds but they were most likely the TR pair, K33 and K17, and K67.
Here’s the video of the chase

You see, last week, Pete spotted K67 just a couple of miles away from the TR area so we are thinking she must be looking for a place to settle down and breed. Too bad for her K33 already has a mate, but can’t blame her for trying…

Yesterday I went over to the area again and after a couple of hours I spotted K15, one of the two chicks from RS nest from 2011, fly right over me

It wasn’t long before one of the TR adults came out from their hiding place and chased her off the area. Then, he/she flew over to the nest and perched on the ridge

I circled the eagle and the nest


Cont…
eaglegal - March 7, 2012 08:58 PM (GMT)
I also made a short video of the silly ravens moving stuff around on the TR nest

At the end of the day I head over to Middle Ranch to feed Hydi and Pimu and to check on the Middle Ranch nest

Last Friday, I found K93 incubating their single egg

When I check on them on Monday I unfortunately found an empty nest and I could see some broken shells on the edge of the nest

After a while, the female arrived to the nest and went into an incubating position, telling us that she has not given up and will probably try to breed again this season.

They still have about 2 months to lay eggs so we will keep checking.

I have a video of this nest too

The Two Harbors nest continues to incubate their two eggs and the West End nest incubates their three eggs. Check out these videos posted by some of our cam watchers
TH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFdyax39FDghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5HbGWpYqoAWE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhwQ3Yx0WjgUntil next week,
Steffani
Rosie - March 7, 2012 09:37 PM (GMT)
Thanks! I enjoyed those extra videos, especially, "...Look out below..."! Sometimes I wonder how parents-and eggs-survive! LOL
raycyn - March 7, 2012 09:47 PM (GMT)
Thanks as always for the fabulous up date -sad re Middle Ranch - hope they do have more eggs. Meanwhile we cam watchers are sure enjoying "our nests" and hoping for successful hatches.
Thank you IWS for being there for all of us! :)^ <3 <3 :<<o>>:
Cindy in Oregon
EarthMuffin - March 7, 2012 09:58 PM (GMT)
Steffani, thank you for the update! You have the patience of a saint, sitting there waiting for hours at the Seal Rocks nest to get a glimpse of the :egg: .
Very nice to see K15 :soar:
:'( that Middle Ranch pair lost their egg. I hope they try again!
PR - their nest looks in pretty bad shape. Glad to see them incubating nonetheless!
SoCal Lady - March 7, 2012 10:14 PM (GMT)
:}^ STEFFANI--You have amazing patience when you are waiting hours to get your chance to do the egg check.
The videos are delightful, especially the Aerials at TwinRock area! Beautiful sight seeing K17, K33 and K67 soaring together.
K17 & K33 seem to be enjoying being empty nesters, since they have not had a chance to raise chicks for the past 2 years and that nest sure looks not to be prepared for nesting this year either. They may still surprise us. :X:
summer818 - March 8, 2012 12:26 AM (GMT)
Thanks for the great update on most of our eagle couples. My heart breaks for the MR pair, they just can't get a break. I pray they try again, and have success in 2012.
Thank you for all the hard work and hiking you do for all of us, wishing you a great week!!!
canyonfran - March 8, 2012 02:33 AM (GMT)
With the broken egg shells on Middle Ranch and also the trouble with broken egg shells on Pinnacle, could it be that the DDT problems are still not completely absolved???? It's weird that there are so many broken eggs in the nests.
Thank you for your efforts.
cdn-cdn - March 8, 2012 03:28 AM (GMT)
Aw, :( sad news about the broken egg at MR. :X: that A-37 will be able to lay another egg this season.
Patti - March 8, 2012 03:38 AM (GMT)
So sorry about the Middle Ranch egg loss. I have a soft spot for this nest and hope it works out for them later in the season.
vickih - March 8, 2012 06:11 AM (GMT)
Steffani -- thank you for the great update. Looks like all is going well. Maybe K67 should check out A64 :<<o>>: :<<o>>: . I always thought they would do well together. I am so glad to see a picture of her. She has always been a favorite of mine. :P
Vickih
Artsy Mom - March 8, 2012 11:19 AM (GMT)
Thanks for all the videos and the :clk: :clk: of the nests Steffani :)^ So sad for the MR pair.
I too am wondering about the DDT issue. Will Peter try to collect any egg shell remnants to test them? I think we all have forgotten how uncertain life can be for the :<<o>>: :<<o>>: since there have been so many successes.
:X: for all the nesting pairs on the Channel Islands this year.
pescychick - March 8, 2012 05:26 PM (GMT)
Thanks for the great update Steffani. Sorry, to hear about the Middle Ranch pair, crossing talons that they will try again and be successful. Looking forward to our future hatchlings.
Carole
klemon - March 8, 2012 07:50 PM (GMT)
Don't know how you do it Steffi. Thanks for all you do. So sorry about the MR pair. Pray that they will reproduce again this year. <3 <3 <3
sunnyland7 - March 9, 2012 05:37 AM (GMT)
Steffani - So great! So many eagles Fantastic report!
birdcrazy - March 11, 2012 09:25 PM (GMT)
The West End pair just made their switch at 2:19 p.m. Sunday, March 11. I was only able to see two eggs in the nest, but one of them could have been covered by straw. Upate: I was watching an hour later and and did see the third egg when more rearranging was going on.