Catalina Update, Wednesday, June 13

[Eagle Guy]

I spent the week up on Santa Cruz Island, but Steffani kept an eye on the Catalina birds this week. All are doing well and getting closer to fledging. The Pinnacle Rock eaglets may fly as soon as next week, so we'll be keeping a closer watch on the nest.

Before I left we finished up with Pimu's cage expansion and she seems to appreciate it. The photo below shows her higher roof and we cut off four feet of the roof on the right and made a new perch, which she uses a lot.



Pimu drying off after taking a bath in her pond.



Here are a couple shots that Steffani took this week at two nests

Twin Rocks chicks on June 11


Pinnacle Rock chicks on June 11


Finally, I received the blood tests back for the 11 Catalina chicks this week. We were correct on 10 of the 11 on the basis of beak size. The official list is:

Pinnacle Rock:

K-00 Male (we guessed he was female because he was very close to the male/female cutoff in beak size)

K-71 Male

West End:

K-72 Female
K-73 Male
K-74 Male

Twin Rocks:

K-75 Male
K-76 Male

Two Harbors:

K-78 Male
K-79 Female

Seal Rocks:

K-03 Female
K-77 Male

Well, that's it for this week. Until next Wednesday.

[harpo516]

Awesome! Thanks as always!

Love Pimu - love that Pimu loves the larger area she now has -

Congrats on the male/female gestimations! You guys can advise me anytime I'm gambling - well...... if I'm playing with someone elses' money! LOL

Again - great job with the banding, etc. We all appreciate that it has been very busy and hectic the past couple weeks! You guys/gals rock!

Thank you Peter and Steffani

ps interesting that 2 nest have 2 male chicks!

and Pinnacle Rocks - well they need some stick adjustments - just how can that be comfortable!

[saraoh]

Hmm, interesting that there are eight males and only three females. Any thoughts on why there is such a difference in numbers?

[SheilaSB]

Thanks for the update on how many males/females - unfortunately some of the males may need to branch beyond the island to find their true love, unless next year produces more females - is expense the reason the Catalina chicks don't receive a tracking device on banding day?
So happy to see the amount of room Pimu now has - looks like she is enjoying being able to branch out more.

[Loverofchicks]

The update. I can't believe that there are more males usually that is the other way around . Thanks so much Dr. Peter for the all the chicks gender. Now I can name them with names for their own gender. I love to put names to the personality they have. Thanks so much for all you all do. and Pima looks like she is the new cage. With more room to wonder .
Frances

[Bee]

So, males aren't always right...

[Patti]

Thank you for the great update/photos. Now the males will be wandering around and no doubt causing a stir in Canada later in the year.

[Joanie]

GREAT report.... as usual! I know that you have both had a busy, busy week what with Peter away on Sta. Cruz and the 11 Catalina chicks in Stef's care and we are ever appreciative of your endulging our quest for MORE, MORE, MORE info, detail, photos et al. Thank You for ALL you do!

[Lou]

Thanks for the update Dr. Sharpe. I really love the photo of Pimu drying out. It is wonderful to see that all your effort is paying off with all those chicks on Catalina.

[Naturegal]

Thanks Peter for a super update. Pimu looks like she is really enjoying her new abode. Looking forward to the DNA results on A-63.

[JudyB]

Thanks for the update! 10 out of 11's not bad!

I noticed in your answer to a question about the WE nest that you speculated the reason the two females were sharing the nest was the shortage of males on the island at the time - any idea if that is still the case, or are the genders more balanced on the island these days? Seems hard to imagine that the shortage of males (if it still exists) could result in more male eggs - but the world is a mysterious place!

I really don't have a sense of how many of the eaglets hatched/fledged there are returning to settle down in the area - or for that matter if they are returning as pairs, having met up with their true love at some swinging singles spot on the salmon run up north (or wherever they go!), or returning as singles and looking for mates in the neighborhood where they grew up. So much to learn.

[Ojai Hikers]

Boys Team 8 - Girls Team 3...Let's Go Girls !!!!

[r.e.s.]

So, what are the odds that with all these males around, we'll see aother nest with three adults bonded -- two males and one female?

[Madison99]

Thanks Peter for the great update. We all appreciate your hard work!

[Eagle Duo]

As always a terrific report. Pimu's enclosure looks so nice and airy! I'm glad to hear she seems to like it. Is the enclosure ready for the golden eagle yet? Sorry, the name escapes me right now. I'll probably remember some time in the middle of the night. Loved the picture of Pimu after her bath too.

Thanks also for the wonderful pictures of the nests we don't get to see on line. Hoping the Pinnacle Rocks & Seal Rocks eaglets make the news again when they fledge! Possibly as early as next week? Oh my, not sure any of us are ready for that.

This has been a wonderful year for the eagles and for all of us, thanks to the efforts of you and your team. Thanks for letting us tag along each step of the way!