Santa Cruz Update, May 31, 2007

Hello Eagle Fans,

Welcome to the Santa Cruz Island Update. After not having a connection for about a week, our internet has been reactivated. We apologize for the lack of Updates; hopefully this will make up for it.

Unfortunately, the spring season has come to an end and two of our employees, Andy and Karen, have moved on to other exciting wildlife field jobs. They were both exceptional employees for the IWS Bald Eagle Project and we thank them for their help and dedication. They will be missed. Andy will be going to the northern coast of Alaska for a bird research position and Karen will be going to the New England region to assist in a bird-trapping project. Thanks for everything Andy and Karen!

Here is a picture of Andy and Karen on the boat near Arch Rock on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island.



Before leaving, Andy and Karen were able to make it down to Catalina Island to help Peter Sharpe band the eagle chicks in the Pinnacle Rock Nest, an experience I think they will never forget. Kim and I were on Catalina for two days and helped band chicks from the West End Nest and the Twin Rocks Nest. Ryan and Jessica are currently on Catalina helping with the Two Harbors Nest and the Seal Rock Nest, the last two nests to be banded for the 2007 season on Catalina. What a fun and memorable experience for all! Next…the Santa Cruz Island nest. Here are several pictures from our trip.

An untagged adult flies by on the West End Nest.


Kim and Jessica hold chicks while Peter and Stephanie retrieve the last chick from the West End Nest.


Peter and Stephanie prepare to go into the Twin Rocks Nest.


Stephanie, Kim, Jessica, and Peter banding the Twin Rocks Nest chicks.


K-33 letting us know who is really in charge at Twin Rocks.


The Twin Rocks chicks before the banding.


The Twin Rocks chicks after the banding.


Now back to Santa Cruz Island. According to the most recent GPS data from transmitting eagles, we have 3 eagles on Santa Rosa Island (A-62, 60, and 33), 4 eagles on Santa Cruz Island (A-29, 21, 04, and 02), and 13 eagles on Anacapa Island (A-59, 58, 55, 52, 51, 48, 49, 45, 43, 40, 36, 35, and 34). Additionally, we have two eagles on the mainland: 1) A-46 is east of Mount Lassen near Interstate 395 in Northern California, probably fishing on a reservoir; 2) A-39 is summering at the mouth of the Columbia River in northern Oregon/ southern Washington. These two birds must be expert fishing eagles by now. As I just mentioned, most of the eagles are on Anacapa, likely feeding on dead or injured chicks from the thousands of nesting birds. After spending several weeks on Santa Rosa Island, A-49 traveled to Santa Cruz Island on 5/14, only to proceed on to Anacapa Island on 5/23 where she has been ever since. All the eagles seem to be finding food and moving around frequently. Recently, Kim found another potential pair for next season: A-02 and A-28. Several weeks ago, Kim saw the pair together near a small beach on the west side of Santa Cruz Island. A-02 is a 5-year-old female and A-28 is a 3-year-old male. The tally now stands at six eagle pairs as potential nesters for next year. Wow!

The web camera chick is growing, growing, growing…almost full-grown. K-26 and K-10 have been feeding the chick a healthy diet of birds and fish, enabling the chick to grow to adult size in almost eight weeks. Absolutely amazing! The chick banding should be a fun event for all to enjoy online.

Here are several pictures to leave you with. Until ‘nest’ week!
-Chris

Humboldt lilies are exploding all over Santa Cruz Island right now.


A nice sunset is always a good closer.

Great update. Thanks!

Loved the photo of K33.

Beautiful photographs!

Thank you!

Absolutely, K-33 photo is stunning! And how 'bout those chicks, I could just squeeze cuddle them!

Wonderful update with wonderful pictures....just like you promised! Glad ya'll got to take part in one or more of the bandings.....and took us along with you!

Sorry to see Andy & Karen go, but it sounds like they both have exciting adventures ahead of them in their new jobs. It was great meeting and talking to them and you when we were on Santa Cruz last month.

Thanks, again to the whole IWS crew! You Rock!

Thank you ... for the wonderful update .... as you promised .... and it was worth the wait.

Wonderful photos and news about all the eagles including our beloved A-49.

Good Luck to the members of the crew, who are on their way to pastures new and new adventures along the way. You certainly have wonderful memories to take with you from this experience ... holding a bald eagle whilst it is being banded for example.

Keep on keeping on .... we certainly appreciate all you do.

Thanks Chris - Great pictures. You can bet no phones or doorbells will be answered next Friday during banding time. A-63 will have everyone's attention!!!

And probably no for any of us the night before in anticipatioon of the big event.

What a great and lengthy update, I love it! You guys rock! Thanks so much.

Chris, another fantastic update with photos. Sorry to read that two team members are leaving already, but what a memorable experience Andy and Karen have had. I wish I could have had that job when I was their age!
I always love to hear about our special princess, Cruz.
The heights that Dr. Sharpe and the rest of the team have to climb look precarious on their own, without taking in to consideration the fact that you are holding on to a wiggly and upset eaglet. I'm glad that the team members and the eaglets survived the banding process safely.
Thank you very much!

Chris: The updates are always worth waiting for - it's not like it's the only thing on your agenda! And they are much appreciated.

Best wishes to Andy and Karen in their endeavors! Glad they got to help with some of the banding! All of you were busy folks - and now A 63 will be getting "blinged"!

Great to hear the reports of all the eagles traveling and checking things out! SUPER to hear about possible nesting pairs!

Again - thank you all for what you do (and ps - love the last photos !) aaaaahhhhhh

This update was worth the wait. Thank you Karen & Andy, we hope to see you next year! And as always, the photos are incredible.

Please let us know when the SC eaglet will be banded. Funny, I was getting caught up on my National Geographic magazines this weekend and saw Jim Spickler (who banded Cruz last year) featured in the March issue under the Environment section. NG has a very mixed up page numbering system, they don't count all pages, but it's in the short features before the major articles. I was like "Hey, I know that guy!" He was measuring a tree (Hyperion), the largest coastal redwood in the world.

Chris fantastic update and it was well worth the wait. Loved the photo of K-33 doing his job and protecting that nest! In fact all of your photos were great.
Best wishes to Andy and Karen on their new jobs and a big thank you to them for all of their help with the eagle project.
All of you guys are great. Looking forward to the banding of the SC eaglet A-63!
Thanks so much

Hmm, Santa Cruz blue tags, gap between A-49 & A-63...

I've missed something...

Chris Thanks for the great update and beautiful photos.
Andy and Karen - wishing you all the best in your new endeavours.

Chris and crew, the update was great. Thanks.
I chuckled when I saw the two photos of the Twin Rocks chicks. They look just the same before and after with the exception of the added wing blings.
I love the photo of the lilies. The color is breathtaking. You should consider entering it in a contest.
I can see the joy and reverence on the faces of the crew holding the eaglets. I should say I can feel it. I know how I would be feeling if I were lucky enough to find myself in such a blessed position.
Happy trails Karen and Andy. Thanks for all you've done.