Catalina update, August 15th, 2007

Hello everybody and welcome to another exciting update,
Another week has gone by and the eaglets of Catalina have officially started to explore the world. I don’t remember if I mentioned it on the previous update but it had been a while since I last saw K-73 or K-74, or picked up their radio signals. Well, it turns out K-73 has left the island and was spotted near the Van Damme Beach State Park, in the Mendocino area, feeding off of a dead gull on an rocky offshore. Pete and I had our doubts that they would leave the island so quickly before even exploring it, but I guess they were in a hurry to see the world, at least K-73 was.

(photo by Ron Cheers)
They’ve been gone for over a week and I’m still not sure where K-74 is at, I went looking for him all day Sunday but didn’t have much luck. Hopefully we’ll ‘hear’ from him once more, though it feels good to know its sibling is doing just fine.
K-72, the female of the triplets, has been seen all over the island. She was by Seal Rocks on Saturday, back at the West End on Sunday and apparently at the nest yesterday afternoon.

(capture by Cumbrian)
On Sunday I hiked to the WE nest and all around but didn’t find anybody so I went back and all the way down to the beach and guess who decided to fly over my observation spot…? K-72 and K-71. They didn’t feel like showing up while I was up there and waited until I was a mile away. Kids…

last week I also surveyed the coast along Rattlesnake Canyon, Twin Rocks and Empire Landing. I haven’t seen the Rattlesnake pair myself but the kayakers tell me they see them all the time fishing and soaring around the area so I believe they’re doing fine.
Right before getting to the nest I spotted K-17 hanging out up high on a tree.

We got very close to the Twin Rocks and I got a cool picture of them.

Around the same area I saw a dead sea lion floating and ‘headed’ for the shore. It wasn’t pretty but I’m sure the gulls, and maybe our eagles, had it for dinner. Nothing goes to waste in nature.

I spotted K-75 way at the top of TR, right by my observation spot. See if you can spot him.

I don’t have pictures of the rest of our birds but they are all still in Catalina, looking happy and healthy.
I went fishing yesterday, here’re a few shots of the reservoir’s wildlife and scenery. When it starts getting late, all the insects and insect-eating animals come out. Sometimes I have bats and swallows fly inches away from me or my fishing line. Here’s a picture of a barn swallow.

I really enjoy fishing for Pimu and so do a couple of my friends. I took this picture last night and I wanted to share it with you ‘cause I love it!

I haven’t been able to catch a whole lot off the shore because it’s covered with some grassy vegetation so we have been taking that little rowing boat out. Here’s what we caught last night

Something quite interesting also happened last night while I was fishing… A-32 was perched on her favorite palm tree vocalizing away so I’d throw a fish for her, K-93 was perched on a eucalyptus tree not too far away from her, and almost right above me (apparently) was K-00, when I saw K-93 fly straight up towards where I was and I lost him among the branches, then I heard a lot of winning calls, like from a baby, and all of the sudden I see K-00 take off really fast and K-93 after it. I guess K-93 was either ‘welcoming’ the juvenile or driving him away. Who knows. I followed K-00 to make sure he was ok and I saw him flying away. I’ll go back to the reservoir today see if I spot him.
That's all for this week.
Steff

Thanks for another great report, Steff. The sunset was fantastic!!!

Wow! Mendocino area! Another amazing Update, Steffani...going to read it a couple more times, but wanted to thank you! Super photos and news.

Thanks Steph! Enjoyed all the pics you took! Also glad to hear the eaglets are so well travelled.

Thank you for the beautiful photo journel and update. It is certainly a big task to track all the eaglets this year, especially when they play hide and seek with you...These eaglets are very adventurous now that they have their flying permits...

I hope you don't mind I snaged some of you photos for the forum..

I love all the photos you share about the island and it's inhabitants

Boy, I'm going to have to study all the eaglets numbers to keep up with who is where..

Thanks Steffi for your update and great photos

I thought I found 75 in your photo but alas it was dirt on the screen! LOL
Fantastic update - glad to hear the adventurous eaglets are taking their explorations seriously (and far and wide)
Love the sunset and I'm sure Pimu is enjoying the fruits of your labor (and you friends)!!
Thank you - thank you .....

Wow Steff! Terrific update! I love your narrations of what you do on the island. Very interesting. And I love your pictures. Great sunset. Very beautiful.

Hi Steffani

Steff: Thanks for the great report and all the wonderful pictures. I loved the sunset picture too.

I am amazed that 73 is all the way up in Mendocino. What great pictures. Thanks Steffani. It must be incredible to be fishing and have the eagles all around you!

Awesome update and Photos, Steff. Love the sunset, too!

Did someone actually snap that pic of K-73 and the gulls and send it to you?

I found K-75!

At Twin Rocks, are they hiding behind and peeking out behind the rock?

I don't know Mendocino at all let alone in relation to eagle home so... off to mapquest.....

Is this it??

Thank you, Steffani. Glad to know the eaglets and their parents are doing well. Thanks for the info that the Rattlesnake pair is doing fine. I really enjoyed your little story about the Thompson Reservoir pair .

I'm thinking it must be Harry who has been so bold as to fly to the mainland already!