Santa Cruz Update, June 21, 2007

Hi Eagle Fans,

Not a whole lot going on these past few weeks. Our primary goal for the summer seasons it to trap, trap, trap. We would like to trap 5 to 6 eagles to obtain precious data from their blood samples. We can relate the blood taken from the trapped eagle to the blood taken pre-release to uncover the levels of toxins in their bodies and compare it to the amount of time they have been in the wild. We can then relate the toxicity levels back to the GPS information and purport what the significant food sources contribute to their high or low levels of contamination. In addition, we would also like to reequip many eagles with new VHF/GPS units for data waypoints and to assist in the nest search for upcoming nesting season.

We have spent almost a week now trapping, but have yet to catch an eagle. Trapping days consist of long hours in the blind, sun-up to sundown, looking through the scope every several minutes at the trapping sight. Patience is mandatory. We do have a few tricks up our sleeves and later in the seasons we will try alternate trapping methods. We’ll keep you posted of our hopeful success.

The chick looks full-grown and is soon ready to fly; just a couple more weeks of wing exercises and he will be prepared to make ‘the first leap’. A-49 is on Anacapa with at least 10 other bald eagles, feeding on birds and socializing like a healthy teen should be. Here are some photos for me to leave you with.

Until ‘nest’ week,
Chris

A-16 scoops a fish off the water on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island.


A-16 flies by us with a hearty meal and several interested neighboring gulls.

Thanx, Chris!

Thanks for the update and the pictures of A16, Chris. Good luck with your summer project.....and your patience!

Thanks so much Chris for the update. Happy trapping
Jeanette

thanks so much chris. great updates and pictures.

Thank you Chris ... great update and super photos. Great to hear our girl is still socializing and is still exploring the area.

Good Luck with the trapping.

Thanks Chris for the beautiful pics - great captures - hope your trapping is successful to get the data you need.

Thank you Chris awesome photos!! Glad to hear A-49 is a doing what she should be doing - hanging!!

Our Princess the teenager . Wow she is such a social butterfly . I am thrilled to hear she is doing what is expected and more Thanks so much Chris for the great update. Loved the pics. A-16 better watch those gulls they might just want to take the fish. No our eagles are too much for a bunch of gulls even one alone
Frances

Hi, Chris. Great update, with some different information. Good luck with your trapping and I hope y'all will let us know some of the comparative results.

Funny Chris should mention replacing the GPS units; when I checked on
Cruz's (A-49) travels last week, nothing had been recorded since April. I thought maybe the unit had fallen off already. But I checked again, before replying tonight, and lo & behold, she is on Anacapa as he reported.

http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/A-49_Maps/A49%20tracking.htm Scroll down to May 23-June 13 2007 on the box below the map.

Thanks, Chris and all the IWS crew, for the 1000'th time from me, for your weekly updates.