Santa Cruz Wendesday Update, Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Hi All,

Welcome to the Wednesday Update. Due to typical island technical problems, the Santa Cruz IWS crew has been without internet and land-line phone service for about a week now. Consequently, I writing this update from my off-island residence in San Francisco, where the internet connection is a tad more reliable.

As everyone already knows, Catalina Island has hatched out two chicks in the wild, the first since the late 1940s. There is an article about the chicks in The New York Times today. We hope to compliment this exciting news by having K-10 and K-26 hatch out a chick on Santa Cruz Island sometime next week.

This past week, Andy and I were on Santa Cruz Island while Karen was on Santa Rosa. Due to the calm weather and placid swell, Andy and I were able to take the boat out several times to observe and track A-00 and A-16, still considered to be potential nesters. We saw the eagles each time we went out, but were unable to locate a nest. Ryan and Kim will continue to search this week if the weather permits. Andy and I were able to float a fish out for A-00, and sure enough, the majestic bird flew of the cliff perch and swooped down to retrieve the fish from the water. We watched the whole show from about 50 feet away in our boat. We were hoping the adult would take the fish to its nest, but that did not happen. We’ll try again next week.

Karen kept a close watch on A-08 and A-22 on Santa Rosa Island. At one point, Karen saw A-08 catch a fish and share it with A-22, possibly courting her. A-08 then attempted to copulate with A-22, but she was not interested. Being a 3-year-old female, we think A-22 is simple too young to produce an egg. We will be taking the next couple of weeks off from Rosa to concentrate on Santa Cruz and the hatching chick next week.

That about sums it up. Here are several pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Until ‘nest’ week…
Chris


A-00 takes the fish right in front of Andy and I.


A-00 and A-16 perched on a favorite coastal cliff on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island.

Thank you Chris for the info and the super photos! Hmmm - where could that nest be ----- Have a great one!!

Thanx, Chris!

Wow, Chris how wonderful to sit and watch the eagle snatch the fish out of the water right in front of you. Very cool!! Great news about the Catalina chicks, I know you all must be very excited about this event and also the hatching of the second generation of the Santa Cruz nest. We are all anticipating that one. Great photos, thanks again for a super update.

Thanks Chris for the update and super photos. You guys are great

Thank you Thank you Thank you! As always....we are thrilled with our Wednesday updates! Good things ahead for next week!

Thanks Chris. What drama.
Jeanette

Wonderful update and photos...thanks so much!

Terrific update and gorgeous pictures! What a treat! Thanks, Chris!

Thanks so much for a great update, and wonderful photos.

Just adding my appreciation here for all the efforts of the IWS crew. Next week is going to be so egg-citing! Thank you for the update and pictures, Chris!

Oh COOL would that be, watching the eagle flash down for the fish!
Thanks for the update Chris, I'm curious tho, SF? so how do you get from SC to SF??
Ozzie

Another great report. Couldn't ask for better than this! Thank you!

Ozzie, maybe Chris takes Amtrak? Just a thought.

Thanks Chris for this great update and the pics of the eagle in action of catching the fish - sure appreciate all of the reports we receive from the IWS crew to keep us informed and updated.

"Float a fish" - interesting technique - Like fishing for eagles

That was pretty cool being able to watch him grab that fish....thank you so much for the wonderful pictures, the update (of course), and everything you guys and gals do for the eagles!!