Catalina Wednesday Update, April 4, 2007

Good Evening

We have definitely had an exciting week on Catalina. The excitement started on Saturday, March 31st when Steffani saw the first bald eagle chick in the Pinnacle Rock nest, a nest in which we left the real eggs this year to see if they could hatch. Dave Garcelon and I drove up the hill and hiked down to our nest observation blind to see this historic event for ourselves. This is the first known successful bald eagle nest on Catalina Island since 1945 (although there were likely undocumented nests into the early 1950s). The next day I went out to check on the nest and the second egg had hatched. I never even dreamed that both eggs would hatch. We worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service to put out a press release on Monday morning and the news has now gone all around the country.

First photo taken of the chicks on Sunday, April 1st


Video of the chicks


While all the activity was going on at the nest on Sunday, things were just heating up at our incubation facility. At 11:57 on April 1st, the first West End chick successfully hatched on its own. A second West End chick started the hatching process at about the same time, but appears to have gotten stuck, so we assisted it out of the egg at about 17:00.

First West End chick hatching


We then had a break for a day before the first Twin Rocks egg hatched on its own at 06:08 on April 3rd. Today, April 4th, the third West End chick hatched at about 08:00 and the second Twin Rocks egg just hatched at about 22:00 (thus the late update). The first Two Harbors egg has externally pipped and is in the hatcher. It should hatch sometime tomorrow or early Friday. The second Two Harbors egg is still in the incubator and we are hoping it will internally pip tomorrow.

We are now trying to keep up with feeding the eaglets every 1-3 hours throughout the day. Fortunately they sleep well through the night. This video gives you an idea of what we have to listen to for much of the day.



We are now keeping an eye on the Seal Rocks nest, which still has its eggs and they are due this Friday and Monday, so we may have more exciting news for the next update. I plan on fostering the West End chicks (either two or three, depending on the success at Seal Rocks) on Sunday and then the rest of the chicks through next week.

Until next week.

Oh Dr. Sharpe, I so envy you. I would give anything to trade places with you and hold those little darlings. FANTASTIC!!!

Thank you, Dr. Sharpe, for another incredible update and for our IWS tour yesterday.....one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

Thank you for taking the time to update us with the happenings on Catalina.

Unfortunately the first two videos did not play .... darn Photobucket ... but the third was just amazing to watch ... these hours old chicks grabbing at/for the food .... boy, one chick thought you were not fast enough!

Looking forward to seeing them fostered into the nests .... and the reactions of the parents to them!

Works now.

Thanks, Dr. Sharpe, going to watch the other videos now. I'm sort of choked up over the TH chicks & didn't expect this reaction.

Wonderful WE hatching video. Thank you!

Thanks Peter ..... absolutely amazing ..... I love your ... "You can do it" ....

Lets hope, and pray, all the others ... can do it too.

Dr. Sharpe - Thank you so much for taking these wonderful closeup videos of the hatchings and letting us know who is who - they are so adorable and to think what handsome and beautiful creatures they will become - at what stage do you begin to use the hand puppet in the feeding? I guess no one is concerned about them becoming imprinted on humans at this young age otherwise you wouldn't be feeding them and letting them hear your voice or see you - are they able to see very clearly yet?

Thank you - what else can anyone say.

Can't wait for Sunday

Well, geez, I don't even know where to begin...thank you so much for letting us be a part of the first West End hatching. I too, loved the "You can do it!" and the "Push" (I've heard those words of encouragement before myself ) Loved watching the feedings and seeing the little thing practically fall over to grab its food! Loved the one little one with the tuft of feathers sticking straight up on the top of it's head! Too cute! I can't wait to let my kids view these amazing videos. Also loved the last part of the video with your hand sort of "holding" the chick...only 12 hours old and sooo big! They look so tiny, but yet when you see an adult human hand there, you realize that they aren't really so tiny after all! Also, when you see the baby chicks in the Pinnacle Rock nest, you realize just how huge the eagle's nest really is! These videos are all that I dreamed of being a part of and even more! Thank youso much for taking the time to share this exciting time of your job us!
Okay, so I know I couldn't climb to an eagle's nest, but boyI'm good at feeding and nurturing little ones. What I would give to be able to hold that little spoon!
Enjoy, thank you, and restful nights are ahead!!

WOW Thanks so much Dr Sharpe and crew for that amazing update. They are so cute and you guys are sooooo busy! Glad that they are all doing well and most importantly sleeping through the night! That is every new parent's wish Thanks for taking the time to update us.

Thank you so much Dr. Sharpe and Steffani for sharing this miracle of life with us. This is a first for me and it is an experience that I will never forget. I really envy you and your team for the work you do and your dedication to this project.

I too have WOW's and WONDERFUL, and lots of thank you's.
This has been an incredible experience to watch unfold, and one can't help the little tears of joy that pop into the corner of an eye.

Peter and IWS crew,
I am so appreciative of these video logs of what I never could have seen in the wild! What a gift to observe not only newborn eaglets but to know from which egg they were hatched! You have guided us through the entire process, from nest building to mating to egg laying to hatching. And we still have the fostering, growing and fledging to look forward to! Wow. the gratitude I'm feeling has left me speechless!!!

Except to say that I am your forever fan, and will do whatever I can to support your precious work.

Sara