Hello Everybody,

This week I have been keeping up with the recently fledged chicks from the Seal Rocks nest, K20 and K21.




I have seen K21 fly all over the nest canyon and back to the nest but I had yet to see K20 take the plunge!

Here it is K20, exercising and building courage to take the first flight!










And yesterday, finally I saw K21 flying around


Can you spot the elusive eaglet?


While I was waiting to see K20, the male K25 arrived to the nest with some food, given that both chicks were out and about, he decided to go ahead and eat it himself!


Cont…

Later, K20 and K21 soaring the canyon like pros! What a sight!


K21 landed on the nest first and K21 after (in the red box)




The loud sea lions


I have also been checking on the Rattlesnake chick. On Friday, I found him still on the nest but branching outside of the camera’s view


On Tuesday, I checked him again and all I found was an empty nest


I went out to feed the birds and came back but it still hadn’t returned to the nest


Looking down into the canyon


Cont…

So… I hiked out looking for him. I could hear him vocalized deep in the canyon but I couldn’t see it. I also didn’t see the adults around.
This morning I headed out to check on him again and after a couple of hours it finally hopped onto a grassy area near the creek.
Can you see him?


Ok, closer!






I waited to see him fly but it didn’t move from there, just kept vocalizing away. Again, I didn’t see the parents around so I’ll be going back there again tomorrow and make sure the parents continue to care for their chick. K22 is aboutg11 weeks old and parents generally continue to feed them until around week 16 so they better keep fishing for this little guy!
The eaglet is in the circle, the nest inside the square and the arrow point to the snag they like to perch on




I made a short video too


On my way back to town I stopped at the Haypress Reservoir and watched an osprey fly over the water. They are slowly coming back and we have been seeing them more and more frequently. It’s just a matter of time before they nest on Catalina again and we can’t wait.


Cont…

The West End triplets are next on the fledging schedule. Though for the littlest one, it might be a little longer.
The middle child and only male, K24, managed to get a fishhook in a toe on his left foot and thanks to the close up nest cam we have been monitoring him closely. It doesn’t seem to be infected or bother him too much, they are after all, capable of dealing with very spiny fish.


Many people are probably wondering if we would try to physically help him and the problem is that, because they are all so close to fledging age, approaching the nest could scare them off and all three could end up injured. Besides, we would need to request permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game in order to disturb the nest. If there appears to be a problem we may be able to try trapping him after he fledges. To do that we will have to find something big and dead (deer, pig) and set a trap on it and hope the birds find it.

Here are some videos and pictures of the triplets!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lt0ri1QqaI



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxtY1pad5O0



5Z


Entertaining themselves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hwnOATEncg



And some bad news, our close up camera on the West End nest has basically stopped working! Just when we were finally sitting back and enjoying watching this nest from two different angles, one of the cameras stops working, and so close to fledging time! Oh well, nothing we can do…

We mentioned last week that through the 2012 Nest Adoption Challenge, the Institute received $27,000 in donations during the recently concluded NAC. We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to and/or helped organize and run the NAC. Pete will be sending out an email to all the contributors to get their preferences for the benefits and then we will start drawing names in a week or two. To see the additional benefits available, visit
http://w11.zetaboards.com/IWS_Eagle_Forum/.../7722040/1/#new.

One of the ways people have contributed to the Institute is by adopting one or both of our educational eagles, Pimu and Hydi. Every adoption entitles you to have a plaque with your name or a message to be placed on our Eagle Aviary Donors Wall, located at the enclosures’ observation area at Middle Ranch. Each year, thousands of people visit the interior of the island and many of them stop to visit Pimu and Hydi, and the Donors Wall is the first thing they see! So feel proud and thanks again for the support!


Many people have adopted our eagles for multiple years so, for those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to see your plaque up and personal here's a close up!






Until next week,
Steffani

Steffani - as usual great report. Great to see how our eaglets are doing and progressing to fledging. You keep such a great eye out for our graduating eaglets!! Yes, we have been concerned about K24 and his talon issue. I do hope you will be able to catch him after fledging. We are keeping our :X: :X: for this. But he does seem to be doing okay.

Thank you for all you do.

Vickih :P

Thanks Stef, for that great report. We appreciate all the IWS team does in helping our eagles. <:::

So anyone know someone who has a side of beef to donate for WE rescue and maybe tag 5Z? :D <:::


Thanks for the great report Steff.

HI STEFFANI--- :><: for SR K21 & K20--Born to Soar and there they go!! RS--K22 ..wonder if it will fly back up to its nest...but I'm sure Mom and Dad are supplying good eats. :ok:

Thanks Steff & B-))
such a wonderful update! :><:

Steffani I totally loved watching K-20 and K-21 chasing each other around with the wind beneath their wings. What a joy that must have been to see in person after waiting for so long :)^

So funny to hear the barking (honking) from the seals in the background too :P

Do you think K-22 couldn't find his way back to his nest?
Maybe he was just crying so his parents could find and feed him :D

:X: K-24 will be trapped so you can remove that nasty fish hook from her talon.

Hi Stefffani :}^
So good to hear our eagles are doing well!.
Thank you for what you , Dr. Sharpe, and the team does! :><:

Stef - Another great update, and loved the canyon flight video of K20 & K21! :<<o>>: But I'm worried for little K22...hope his folks are keeping close tabs on him, and look forward to hearing good news in your next update! I have one of his banding day pictures on my iPod, makes me laugh every time I see it, so he holds a special place in my heart.

Thanks for keeping us in the loop on the WE kids & camera.... :X: that K24 will be susceptible to your lure, whatever it may be, when the time comes!

Hi Steff,

Thanks as always for the great updates! It is always fun to see our non-cam eagles too - thanks so much for sharing - really enjoy seeing the island and our favorite inhabitants. Fun also too see so many familiar names on the wall.

Take good care,

<3 <3 <3


Cindy in Oregon

:D thanks for the nice update...

Love to see al the pictures.....thx for sharing

Thanks for another wonderful update Steffi. Thanks to all the iws team for all they do for our eagles. <3 :><:

Thanks for another great update, Steff. :><: :><:

Can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all you do! :Hugs:

Hope you find everything good with K22 & his parents today!

Be careful & stay safe!

Thanks again Steffani! You never dissapoint with your updates! Glad the chicks are fledging and enjoy exploring the island. Wishing you and Peter a wonderful week of Eagletpalooza!