Catalina update, June 20th 2007

They eaglets have fledged!!!
I’m pleased to inform that the Pinnacle Rock chicks have been flying around their territory for a couple of days now. This is them on Friday.


On Sunday they were hopping around away from the nest. Dad brought some food to the nest but since the chicks weren’t there he flew down and fed them.


This is about 30ft or so east from their nest. They could have easily made their way down there without flying so we weren’t sure it counted as a ‘fledge’.


Yesterday I went to check on them but I couldn’t find anybody, not even the parents were around the nest so we figured they had to have fledged.
But today, for the first time, I watched them both take long flights around their nest area.
This is K-71 taking off from the nest and flying around and below the pinnacle.

It’s K-00's turn to show off a little too.


It was very exciting watching them take their first flights (maybe not the very first but close enough). Sorry about the quality of the pictures. It wasn’t easy to catch them right before take off, also it was a hot day and the heat wave decreases our visibility.
I also checked on Twin Rocks yesterday, they seem to be ok. Their fledging time is getting closer. Here are some pictures of them exercising. K-75 on your left and K-76 on your right.

Wingercising a little more.

I visited Seal Rocks today; they seem to be doing just fine. They will be the last ones to fledge.


The West End triplets should be fledging next, followed by Twin Rocks and Two Harbors.
And finally, I went to check on the reservoir eagles, K-93 and A-32. I’ve seen them together every time I go out there so hopefully they’ll stay together and begin building a nest for next year. Here’s K-93.

And here’s both of them perched on the pine trees near our old hacking tower at the reservoir.

It has been an exciting week.
‘til next Wednesday.
Steff

Thanks for the great news and pics, Steff! I got chills jut seeing the pictures. I would have had tears actually seeing them flying!

Thank you Steff .... great update and wonderful photos.

Congratulations to the Pinnacle Rock Parents of Fledglings .... K-71 and K-00 ... First Fledglings of the Class of 2007.

It is a wonderful time ... as well as a sad time .... knowing that soon they will be out on their own .... we will miss all the eaglets when they all take that final 'Leap of Faith' and soar into the sky to "Fly Like the Eagles"... they are becoming.

We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to bring us this update and we are looking forward to your next update already!

They just don't stay little long enough!

Thanks!

Great update. Thanks Steff.

Pretty soon all our eaglets will be flying. Here's hoping for successful fledge by all our babies. We will miss them.

I have a soft spot for A32 (the first SC intruder) so it was great hearing more about her newly forming family with K93. In fact this was the pair that I originally wanted to buy wingblings from. Not sure if this will work with the way the program is set up.

Steff, thank you for the update and photos. It must have been a thrill to see some of the earliest flights of the Pinnacle eaglets. You did well to be able to get some pictures - I would have been so excited that I would have forgotten to snap any photos! Thank you also for the information about the other eaglets and the timelines for fledging. Safe journeys, little ones.

I think I'm going to cry..This season went by so fast, I can't believe they have started to fledge already...At least they are close to the nest still..Super shots of the fledging newbie eagles...

Thanks Steffani. What a thrill to be able to see them fledge. You must have had a few tears in your eyes Watching these guys from beginning to now. Great pics

It is so great!!!! Can't believe our time with our chicklets is almost over. It passes so very quickly. Thanks so much for the update and the photos.

Great photos Steffani! You must have been (and still are) quite excited to see the young eagles flying! What a moment! And then they left, one by one ......

As always - thanks for the info and the job you do!

STEFFANI - Tears in my eyes at seeing the 1st eaglets fledging - this season has really gone by all too fast - last season many of us had no idea what would happen when, but now that we know - it's a time we both anticipate and dread. This year we so many more nests to hear about as well - you did a great job capturing these pics against several odds - mine would have been all blurry due to shaking with excitement. Thank you again for a great update.

Steffani, Thank you for the great pictures and news. This is such an emotional time for all of us, we will soon be suffering from "Empty Nest Syndrome".

Wonderful news...feeling both and . Your pictures are great! Thank you!

Awwww Steffani....as I was reading your update, I was thinking what an amazing experience and season you have had out on Catalina as Pete's assistant...and thinking about the myriad of emotions you must be going thru as you see "your" babies taking flight and knowing soon your time will be over out there as you move on to the next chapter of your life. Your updates have been so wonderful and it was such an honor and privilege to meet you in April and get a chance to chat with you a bit up close and personal....and I LOVE it when you biologists use our Cruzerisms like...wingercizing!!! Come August....we shall miss you so much as you fledge to grad school...wahhhhhhhh....another empty nest!

Steffani, great photographs and GREAT news! So far, so good~~and I hope all the eaglets remain safe and happy flying around their turf. Now they can sit in the shade and I'm HAPPY for them.