July 28th Update

[IWS Crew]

Hi eagle fans,

Since the eagle-cam has remained on we've been keeping tabs on A-49 via it while also spending some time tracking all of the other eagles on the island. As witnessed on the eagle-cam over the last few days, A-49 has been frequenting the nest and the adults have been bringing food to the nest. He has been making short flights, some of which we have seen. He looks good and strong. Also, the GPS data informs us he has ventured as far as ~500 meters from the nest and the radio signals have informed us he's active and moving (in other words, all the technology is working to keep us up-to-date on the little cruisers adventures!). Knowing he is being well taken care of we have focused attention on some of the other birds we're keeping tabs on.

On July 25, Chris visited the grassland nest. Guess who fledged? A-60! Not as dramatic as A-49, but flight nonetheless. Chris watched him take a few short flights along the bluff. Mom and dad were in view and A-60 is being well looked after. Meanwhile, I watched A-55 feeding on a California sea lion carcass on Prisoners' Harbor beach. After feeding, A-55 flew to the lagoon behind the beach to stick her feet in the water (yes, another potential mate for A-49).

I also saw A-52 (another female) on the roof of one of the hacktowers. Someone had asked how the fledglings we release from the hacktowers find food, well, we provide some of it for a little while. We put fish and other food items on or in or in front of the hacktowers for the first few weeks after the eagles fledge. Just like A-49 returns to the nest for food, the eagles we release from the hacktowers return to the towers for food. Later, we move food to other locations for the fledglings to find. Otherwise, the youngsters are on their own to find carcasses on the beaches to scavenge (as A-55 did at Prisoners') until they start fishing and hunting.

On July 26 we motored along the north shore in the Zodiac toward the west end of the island. We saw A-55 perched on a driftwood log on Prisoners' Harbor beach, got radio signals on A-49 and A-61 (A-61 is the eagle from the west end nest on Catalina Island who had the broken leg. A-61 was released from one of the hacktowers on Santa Cruz Island and has been doing quite well), saw A-29 (an eagle released in 2004), and saw K-26 close to Fry's Harbor. This is where the sailboat Island Dreams reported a sighting of an adult Bald Eagle on the same day. I remember seeing Island Dreams and thinking what a great boat and what a great name! Thanks for reporting the sighting. FYI: the wing span is ~3x as large as the 2 1/2 feet reported, but being on the water can distort things! A-49 was perched on the branch to the right of the nest when we passed the nest again later in the afternoon.

Yesterday I tracked eagles on the east end of the island. In the afternoon I saw 3 recent fledglings and one eagle released in 2005 soaring above Montanon Ridge which is a north-south running ridge. The ridge creates great updrafts and thermals so it is a popular place for raptors to soar.

Today I was on the west end of the island radio-tracking and saw another recent fledgling soaring high above the island. There was a large elephant seal carcass on the beach. A few of the recent fledglings have been visiting the beach where the carcass is based on GPS data.

Dave was on the Zodiac again today and got some great photos of K-10 catching a topsmelt!

Enjoy the photos and thanks again for all of the posts!
Jessica



A-52 feeding on a fish on the roof of one of the hacktowers



K-10 catching a fish (topsmelt)



K-10 flying to shore with fish

[peppermint]

Great update, Jessica! It must be really exciting for you all to see the fruits of your labor soaring and hunting and doing so well.

Those photos of Dad (K10) are just awesome!! We don't see much of him so it's especially wonderful to see him in action....what a guy!!! I wonder if that's the fish he brought to the nest today? That second photo of him looks like his eyes are closed in contentment with a verrrry pleased look on his face....you GO Dad!!!

Ok...I stand corrected...I thought the grassland chick was A50...now I see she is A60...I was only off by 10!! It will be interesting to see who Prince Charming woos for affections in a few years.

[amalphia]

Wonderful update and wonderful photos! Thank you so much Jessica! It was really great to hear that A-60, the grassland 'let, has also fledged.... I have to admit that I've been more than a little concerned about that one given the photo of the "nest" and the fact that eagles rarely nest on the ground. For me, the success of those parents and that 'let are almost as remarkable as "our" A-49 and his parents. Continued kudos to all of you involved in these endeavors; there are a lot of successes to smile about!

[Cumbrian]

Jessica, WOW! Thank you so much. It is great hearing about all the other eagles you are monitoring, how they are coping with life in the great, outside world, where they are finding food etc, please keep reporting on all of them too. BUT, for me your photos spoke volumes. To see the area where you work and the eagles live and then to see our dad, K-10, catching the fish and carrying it ..................gives us the whole picture in a sense..........this could have been the fish that we saw delivered to the nest for Junior Cruz.

Again "Thanks", for all you and your team-mates do, not only in your daily work, but in keeping us updated, as often as you can.

[Cockney2]

Jessica - Thank you so much for the wonderful update on the eagles, and the gorgeous pictures of "our K-10." I would love a t-shirt with that picture where he (we think) is bringing his catch to A-49 Cruzer. It is spectacular. The information we are learning is fascinating. I am fortunate, as have been to Alaska and seen the eagles catching fish, etc. - but watching A-49 Cruzer be raised is wonderful.