Catalina Update, Wednesday, April 11, 2012

[eaglegal]

Hi everybody,

All of the eight Catalina chicks are doing great and their parents are trying to keep up with their demanding appetites!

I checked the Seal Rocks nest twice this week but one of those days was too hot to take pictures so I just have a couple from yesterday




After checking SR I normally check on Pinnacle Rocks too. The PR adults continue to incubate their single egg, however, by now we assume that it isn’t fertile (even if the third egg broke and this happened to be the forth one), so it most likely won’t hatch. Eventually, they’ll realize that it’s been too long and will give up; until then we will keep checking.




Last week, I took a few of our most loyal supporters on their NAC tour and they went along and did nest checks with me. First we headed out to check Rattlesnake nest. This nest cannot be seen from the road but we do have a camera, a transmission and a receiver site, which is where I normally go, plug my monitor in and spy on the little ones.




I checked them yesterday again and they were home alone and constantly picking at each other…


As the chicks get older and bigger, they can be left unattended for longer periods of time but be sure at least one of the parents is perched near by!


I also made a little video


Cont…

[eaglegal]

We decided to head out to Two Harbors for lunch and later we drove to a lookout where we can see the TH nest.
We set up the scope and right away we noticed one of the adults perching on the nest. Moments later, the second adult came into the harbor, caught a fish and delivered it to the nest, right in front of our eyes!






Here you can see one of the adults feeding the little chick


Dave, Jann and Jo


The TH chick as well as the West End triplets are doing wonderfully and sure are entertaining our camera viewers! Here are some videos from last week.
WE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ia76E_IHPI

http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r236/cs...urrent=we-2.mp4

Looking around the WE nest
http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r236/cs...nt=Catalina.mp4

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

The other day, I was feeding Hydi and Pimu when I heard one of the Middle Ranch eagles vocalizing. I drove around and spotted our lady in blue, A37.
Do you see her silhouette yet?






She was calling out for her mate for over an hour… but he never showed.

Cont…

[eaglegal]

We thought that they could have started breeding at some other location, but yesterday I spotted both of them perched on the electric poles so that tells us that they are not breeding again just yet, though we are keeping an eye out for them.




Pete and I have surveyed the Twin Rocks area extensively trying to figure out where this pair is hanging out and where/if they are nesting.
Last year’s TR nest, still empty…


After days of searching, we have not come to any conclusions. Sometimes we spot one or the other but we haven’t been able to get good tag readings, and the area is so large, theirs has plenty of room for yet anther pair to establish a territory. We will continue to explore the canyons and the coast, maybe we’ll even take the kayaks out one of these days, and hopefully we’ll find something soon. Here are some pictures of the areas we’ve been and at the end some beautiful wildflowers.
Looking at Long Point


Looking at Little Gibraltar




Closer to the coast


Twin Rocks in the back and Little Gibraltar in the foreground




California Poppies


Cont...

[eaglegal]

Pete found field and field of these little yellow flowers (we are looking into what they really are because we aren’t sure)




And one more little yellow one


And these are Catalina Crossosomas


One of my favorite ones!


Last week, on one of my drives to the interior, I ran into a hiker named Sonya who was doing a whole island tour with some friends and also happened to be an IWS camera viewer. She was happy to meet me (and Darwin), we got to talk for a few minutes and I updated her on the status of the chicks.
She sent me this picture later in the week.


On Sunday, April 1st, we kick-started our 7th annual fundraiser, the 2012 Nest Adoption Challenge! We have already received some contributions and it looks like it’s going to be a great season!
There are many ways that you can contribute to the Institute’s efforts to restore and monitor bald eagles to the Channel Islands and at the same time participate in the distribution of fabulous prizes that include, among many: invitations to see our educational eagles Pimu and Hydi, whole-island tours with an IWS biologist, special eagle items AND the unique opportunity to officially name this year’s chicks, names that will go in our permanent records! Now, who wouldn’t want to do that?! Just visit out website www.iws.org or http://s11.zetaboards.com/IWS_Eagle_Forum/index/ and remember to mention that you would like your contribution to count toward the NAC challenge, and big thanks!

And last but certainly not least, a few minutes ago Pete received a report of a very special sighting. K18, aka Solitaire (aka Sassy) was spotted by Mandy Weston, who works on the Loggerhead Shrike Project on San Clemente Island. She took this wonderful picture and we are certain all of you will be rejoicing to find out she is alive and doing well!


Solitaire, was the single chick from the Two Harbors nest in 2011 and she is one of the first chicks officially named through the 2011 Nest Adoption Challenge.

Until next week,
Steffani

[JoJo]

Wonderful update Stef, and such great news about K18. Nice to see she is doing well.

Thank you

[pescychick]

Great report Steffani. Thank you. I know that many of our chatters will be thrilled to know that K18 is alive and well. YEAH !!!


Oh, and am saddened about the PR pair, I was so crossing my talons for them.

Carole

[Naturegal]

Steffani - Thanks again for a super update and great photos. The news about K-18 is spectacular.

[freetosoar]

Thanks for the report!

So happy to know that our Solitaire aka Sassy is doing well and close by

[cdn-cdn]

Thank you, Steffani, for all the eagle news and views. It's great to see the MR pair at their favourite perch, where we saw them on our tour. I'm so happy that K-18 Solitaire was sighted. Great photo of her, as well as the one of you with Darwin.

[klemon]

As usual another wonderful report. Thanks for all you the Doc and IWS staff do for us. So great to hear our Sassy is doing well.

[sunnyland7]

Steffani WOW<WOW<WOW!
Hooray for 8 chicks!
Sad for Pinnacle Rock!
Wonderful photos, beautiful views, lovely flowers!!!!
And on top of it all SOLITARE, my favorite!!!
Appreciate all your good work

[buffy3kins]

Thank you so much for yet another wonderful update. What makes it the greatest update ever is the picture of K18 Solitaire, our precious Sassy. javascript:emoticon(':><:')

[elgan]

Another brilliant update, TY for all your hard work

Always said Sassy was a California girl & wouldn't roam far

[janmoser]

oh steff, another beautiful day on the island and great report.
our sweet K18, wow, what treat. thank you.

[klmeps]

Your updates are always a treat but what a thrill to see Solitaire again! She was my favorite last year and I've wondered about her often. Thanks for everything you do for the eagles and us!

Karen