Hello eagle fans,

Banding has begun on Catalina Island and I have many pictures and videos to share wit you all!

Last Friday, we headed down to the Seal Rocks nest to band the oldest chicks on Catalina. We hadn’t even gotten to our parking spot and both of the parents had already spotted us!




It took about 45minutes for us to hike down along the very steep hillside leading to a rocky drainage packed with several waterfalls and this whole time the adults were soaring over us.
Our first look at the nest and the chicks


One perched on the edge the other one under their bush




Parents always overhead!


This is Dr. John Clark, the Senior Plant Biologist for the Catalina Island Conservancy, who volunteered to give us a hand during banding. It’s always good to have an extra set of hands to hold a wing out while we work on the birds and to take pictures of the procedure because Pete’s and mine’s are busy with eaglets! (Notice the adults on the upper left corner)


Weighing the chick in the bag. One was a little over 8lb and the other one close to 10lbs.


Measuring talons, beak and legs.




Cont…

Placing the Federal Leg Band


After collecting a blood sample to analyze contaminant levels and sexing we placed wing markers


And then, radio telemetry backpacks!


I really like to admire their talons; they are so impressive, so large and sharp, so prehistoric-looking, they definitely make me feel like I’m holding a mini dinosaur!


Aren’t they really cool?!


The first chick we processed was the largest of the two and based on its measurements we banded it as a female, K20.
The second chicks was slightly smaller and lighter so it was banded as a male, K21

Time to put those chicks back!


Dad, K25, still dive-bombing on us…


Mom, K34, was circling us too!


The chicks gently step out of the bags and perch on the nest side by side, probably wondering what just happened… or not, who knows what they’re thinking.


Cont…

Snatching a few more shots and up we go!






Last view of the nest…


I put together a short video as well


I checked up on the chicks on Sunday




I found them perching on the edges of the nest, really alert and watching their parents fly around the area


Hello K20 and K21!


Cont…

I have been checking on the Rattlesnake chick about twice a week and the lone chick continues to grow under the care of both of its parents!




Dad looking right at the camera!




Wing stretch!




Over the weekend


Yesterday


As usual I made a video of the RS family


We will be banding the RS chick this Friday so stay tuned for next week’s update!

Cont…

The West End triplets have been doing really well this week. Growing rapidly in front on our eyes and becoming more and more self-sufficient at the nest. Lately, the parents have been delivering prey items and letting the chicks deal with them!








Triplets with mom




The little one has started to grow real feathers now and it is catching up with its siblings. We are all very happy about that!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke_wYizR9pk

The littlest one getting its sibling back! ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ant5Q7NJp2w

Here are more videos made by our camera viewers this week. Thank you all!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp4mO1WdZcU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QgJl2xi6sU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRYFINVRsz4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZM_4C7z01k

We keep looking for the Twin Rocks pair even on the opposite side of the island. I started the survey right at the edge of the Two Harbors territory and will work my way to the Pinnacle Rock area


Sitting across from the TH nest looking south


Looking at the TH nest and the west end of the island. The TH nest is in the square


Cont…

Catalina Harbor


After a few hours, the only eagles I was able to spot were the TH adults


They were perched at the very top of their nest ridge and remained together for a while




The arrows point to the eagles; I hope you can spot them too


I’ve also been keeping my eye out for the Middle Ranch pair. Over the weekend, I heard them vocalize back and forth at the reservoir and yesterday I saw one of them perch on the electric pole right by their nest


By the time I made my way around the lake, it had taken off.


I did get a chance to take a couple of pictures of this very flower-packed prickly pear cactus!






Cont…

One more!


Remember last week I came across a gopher snake and moved it off the road? Well, I drove by the exact same spot and this time, it was too late…


I moved it off the road so that whatever scavenges after it doesn’t get hit by a car as well


I have continued to work on Pimu’s and Hydi’s enclosures, inside and out!
First Pimu’s


She’s always talking to me, making sure I keep my distance




And now!






Cont…

Next is Hydi’s enclosure. She had a bit of a jungle growing in there and we don’t want to attract any snakes!






Hydi is much more calm overall so she vocalizes a bit but she doesn’t mind me pulling weeds right below her


Mountains of weeds!


And now




Next was the outside of Hydi’s enclosure






Cont…

This is where I feed Hydi every day and where people get a chance to see her eat off the glove when they take their IWS tours


Now


Half way into the weeding, I came across this little quail’s nest


So… I had to stop and just weed around this particular bush (in circle). Hopefully the parents return in the evening and continue to care for their little eggs


Local fishermen have been donating their catch to Pimu and this week we received several large fish heads. Pimu really seems to like them!


And why wouldn’t she? She loves to eat different things; she gets bored of any one food item… oh Pimu.




Through the 2012 Nest Adoption Challenge, the Institute has received a little over $14,000 in donations and they keep coming in! The NAC is the Bald Eagle Restoration Project’s most successful fundraiser and it’s all because of your generosity! All contributions to IWS go directly towards our efforts to restore and monitor bald eagles on the Channel Islands, and every single one of them make you eligible to participate in our Challenge’s drawing of the fabulous Nest Adoption benefits that include invitations to tour Catalina Island with an IWS biologist and get a chance to enter our captive eagle enclosures to meet Hydi and Pimu during feeding times, special eagle items AND the unique opportunity to officially name this year’s chicks; the same chicks many camera viewers have become attached to by watching their development day after day. Those names will go in our permanent records! Now, who wouldn’t want to do that?!
Just visit http://www.iws.org/NAC_2012.html or http://s11.zetaboards.com/IWS_Eagle_Forum/index/ and remember to mention that you would like your contribution to count towards the NAC challenge, and thanks!

Lastly, a dedicated bison enforcing wildlife protection signs!


Until next week,
Steffani

:><: Aa ha! Think this was the Best Catalina Update yet, Steffani!! Oh my, the pictures of the banding at SR were FAB -- so glad that Dr. Clark volunteered his help to make the EGGperience just a wee bit easier for you and Dr. Sharpe. . . extra talons, er, hands always good! And speaking of talons -- oh my -- incredible shots: thank you!

Here! Here! And a salute and CLINK to the local fisherman who are catering to our precious Pimu! Love it!

Thanks again, Steff, for an outstanding Update. Thinking of printing out and framing that one picture of the beautiful cactus blossoms -- you are such a artist behind the camera lens! :wub:

Excellent update Steffani - K20 and K21 look so good and so do Mom and Dad protecting their youngsters!! Fabulous! :><: Here's tho the fisherman saving the fish heads for Pimu! And to #3 growing a little bit more! He reminds me of "The Little Engine That Could" :D

Steffani - Once again you outdid yourself with the update and photos. K-20 and K-21 look great and love their protective parents. Kudos to the fishermen for keeping Pimu happy. >>: Thanks so much for all the news. :Hugs:

:}^

Thank You for the amazing update :)^ K-20 & K-21 sure look <3 <3
loved the video :<:: giving the chick a lil kiss on her back :wub: was the best!!!

rofl rofl :8O: and Mr. Bison... I thought he was a statue :blink:

When you get ready to do West End banding's will ya give lil "WEone" a Kiss for us :wub:
Thanks again for the hard work you guys do Your greatly appreciated by all (((GH)))

:)^^

Wow Steffani, Super Fantastic update as usual. Thank you so much for all the wonderful pictures. Yeah for K20 and K21 !!!

Looking forward to the next updates as the banding for 2012 continues.

Great work :<S><: and B-))

Many thanks to the fisher people for their generous >>: >>: head donations.


Carole

This update is another of the good news ones (except for the poor snake) Steffani :)^

Banding video and the :clk: :clk: of 20 and 21 are neat...those talons are also so clean as well as being so sharp :P

Mr. Bison should not be messed with :D

I hope the quail hatches all her little ones :X: Good thing she chose outside the enclosures to make her nest. Why waste perfectly yummy fish heads? All the best nutrition is in those as every :<<>>: knows. Thank those fishermen :ok:

As usual all the scenic shots are very special. Thanks IWS :<<o>>: crew for all the hard work. It's great to see all the new chicks on the nests this year. You can give yourselves a big pat on the back :><: :><: :><:

Thank you, Steffani.....think K20 & K21 were discussing to remove the welcome mat from the nest.

The captive eagle enclosures look great too. Nice and clean!

All looks well on lovely Catalina Island!

Steffani, a fabulous update! Except for the snake. :( You work so hard on the enclosures, and I'm sure glad Pimu is getting a lot of fish heads. :lol: Loved the banding and those gorgeous chicks. I can't wait to hear who is female and who is male on the WE nest. And of course our PH chick. Have a great week, and hope to see you and Peter soon.

Excellent post, Steffani!!
Fabulous photos and very insightful as to the behind-the-scenes activities that most of us would never have the privilege to view.
To observe the Eagles's journeys so closely & since the eggs were first laid, has created a very moving experience; a feast for the eyes, heart, mind and soul.
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Allison

Thanks for all you do for our beloved eagles!! Way to go Stef, B-)) , and Dr. Clark for helping out!!! :)^

Steffani, I know how steep those cliffs are.. Great job in getting there in one piece with all the equipment.. no easy task. I loved the video with the sea lions 'barking' below... just beautiful country to hang out!! You should have put us to work pulling weeds at Pimu and Hydi's cage.. its what I do best!!! rofl

Steffani :><: :><:
So great K20 and K21 :**: :**:
So glad West End looking so good. Am concerned about #3.
You all work so hard. Please keep safe!