Catalina update, May 23, 2007

Hello everyone,
This week we’ve been working on Pimu and Hyde’s enclosures, raising the height of the roof, dividing the cages and adding shade cloths. We still have a lot of work to do before we can bring Hyde over but so far Pimu seems to like the expansions in her cage.
As you all know, banding season started today and will continue for the next couple of weeks. We went to Pinnacle Rock nest this morning to band the oldest chicks in Catalina. It was quite a hike to say the least; it took about two hours of rock climbing, rappelling and some serious hiking to get down there and just about the same to get back to the car. The site is so beautiful though, and everything went smoothly so it was all worth it.
Pete to the right K-65 to the left

K-92 landing near the nest


Here are some pictures of the site and some close ups of the nest and banded juveniles. I’m sure you will all appreciate them. Pinnacle rock pictures are rare to be posted since the nest is so far away from the observation point. We didn’t remove eggs from this nest this year and we didn’t foster any chicks here either so this will probably be the first and last time we go down there for the rest of the year so… enjoy them!
chicks before banding

catching them

holding the juveniles while Pete bands them

K-71 & K-00 The first chicks of 2007

Mom and her kids Pinnacle Rock


We had a very long day today but Pete will post some video soon.
I visited Twin Rocks nest yesterday and they seem find too.

We’ll band the West End chicks on Sunday and Twin Rocks on Monday.
Until next week.

Steffani

Those adorable chicks with their new wing bling!

Thank you!

Beautiful photographs, Steffani! Looking forward to the video. Thank you!

Thank you Steffani .... for the great update and wonderful photographs.

It never ceases to amaze me what you all go through to reach the nests ... rock climbing, rappelling and some serious hiking .... and the same in reverse!

Glad that all went well ... the chicks look wonderful sporting their new wing blings!

Pleased to hear too that work is going well on the extensions of Pimu and Hyde's enclosures. A lot of hard work .... but definitely worth all the effort.

Looking forward to further updates and videos of the other banding events.

STEFFANI - Thank you for such a beautiful and successful report on the banding at Pinnacle Rock - Boy - the experiences you are having - rock climbing and rapelling - sounds like you are enjoying every minute. Thanks for the wonderful pics of the 1st banded eagles of 2007 - K71 & K00.

Awesome job Peter and Steffani and IWS Staff!! It's great to see healthy, growing chicks! It's also good to see and hear that you got to the nest and back safely (and in one piece)

Glad to hear that Pimu is enjoying her new, larger enclosure! Can't wait to hear how she adjusts to her new neighbor, Hyde, when he arrives!

As always - thank you for the update!

Great job Steffani and Peter. What wonderful pictures and the scenery is breathtaking. The eaglets look so cute with their new wingblings. Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us, I envy all of you.

I agree. Awesome pictures! How many of you made this hike/climb? I noticed at least three of you in the one picture....and assume there's a 4th someone taking the picture.

Also wondering how the numbers are being decided since there are so many Catalina chicks to be banded this year.

Thanks again for the update and pictures. You all rock!

What a wonderful update and the pictures are spectacular! Like Jann, I am wondering how the numbers were determined, since they are not consecutive.
Well done on all the hiking, climbing, rappelling, etc., glad that everyone got back safely. The Pinnacle Rock parents certainly chose a remote location for their nest.
Well done to , , and the rest of the team.

OK. These pictures convinced to sign the book. Your work is so awesome.
Jo Ann in Oxnard

Great pictures! I'm curious why the numbers aren't sequential - is that something I should look up myself in the FAQs (she asked embarrassedly)? Thanks!

Edited to add - Oops - duplicate question. I should look to see if someone else posted while I have my "compose" window open. Sorry, cdn-cdn.[B]

Lucky You Steff, getting to hold the eaglets....

I sent out a mass email with the photos and update...


Thank you for sharing what you do with all of us, we love update day......
Thank you

The wing tag numbers are determined as follows: the first number represents the year in which they were hatched (i.e. 7 for 2007) and the second number is the number of the chick of that year. The letter K and wing color represents the Catalina Island project. (Santa Cruz’s uses the letter A and the color blue). Given that this year we had more chicks than anyone expected we had to use other numbers that were available even if they didn’t begin with a 7. We used K00 and K03. The rest are K71, K72, K73, K74, K75, K76, K77, K78, and K79. If you are wondering about K70, that number was already used in 1997, and that eagle is still out there somewhere.

Steff

Thank you Steffani! I was too lazy to look it up (but would have - sooner or later - more likely later)!

Steffani, what beautiful, take your breath away, photos you got of the trek and the nest and the eaglets. I especially love the one of the adult landing on the nest. Just awesome.
Great to hear that Pimu is happy with her new improved home. She is so beautiful and I hope her and Hyde become good friends. Can't wait the see him.
As always I am so impressed by the work that you are all doing out there and am very greatful.
Thank you Thank you