Catalina update, August 29, 2007

Hi,
Welcome to another Catalina update.
I’ve been all over the island this week, by ground and by air, keeping up with the wandering eaglets. Last Thursday I went to the West End and it actually started raining a bit, (which is quite rare out here) but I got far enough to get readings on most the eaglets that day.

I flew on Friday and got signals from everybody except K74 and K-73 (both WE chicks), I guess they’re still exploring the mainland.
I went on the plane again on Monday and got readings from everybody except K-72 (the female of the WE triplets) and K-78 (one of the TH chciks). I went exploring on the next day and couldn’t find them so maybe they’ve left the island as well, I’ll keep looking. This is the last picture of K-78, perched on his parents' favorite branch on the 23rd.

Pete saw him last on the 24th and got a great picture of him.

Last I saw K-72 was on the 24th but I couldn’t take a picture.
We’ve had a lot of sunny days here in Catalina so our West End cam has been on several times this week but no eaglet visits unfortunately. Monday, in particular, was exceptionally clear at the West End; I flew that day and was even able to see all of the Channel Islands except for San Miguel. Though I forgot to take my camera with me (oops) but it was beautiful and really neat to see the adjacent islands. It made me wonder what the eagles must ‘think’ and what makes them ‘decide’ to head either to the mainland or the other islands…
Here’s San Clemente seen from the Seal Rocks nest area on Tuesday.

We’ve been working on Hyde’s enclosure putting up some perches, a source of water, adding more shade cloth, wrapping up the perches with some rope, etc., getting it ready for when Hyde comes. Here’s Darwin, Pete’s dog, ‘helping’ us dig a hole to place the new perches.

Pete left to Santa Cruz today to do some trapping. He’ll be back next Wednesday, most likely with Hyde so it’ll be ready by then. We’re all very excited about bringing him to Catalina and see how he does in a much larger cage. I’ll start his training soon after he arrives.
Cont...

We have been making a lot of progress with Pimu. The person who rented the apartment right above us went out fishing in the ocean all last week and was kind enough to give us the carcasses of very large fishes and about 10lbs. of yellowfin tuna. I’ve been feeding her the filleted tuna piece by piece, placing it on a perch very close to her and watching here eat it from a close distance. So this is how it goes:
I place the fish on a lower perch right below her.

she comes down

she eats it

goes back on her platform and looks at me for more

after the 7th time she takes the ‘longer route’. From platform to the higher perch

and then to the lower perch

then she turns around and goes back to the higher perch and then back to the platform

on the very last bite she stayed on the higher perch and looked at me like saying… is there any more of that fish???

then I put her one bluegill on the other platform and wait for her to eat that too.
Before I was just placing all of her food on the platform and watching her eat so this is a great improvement. Soon I’ll try putting the little chunks of fish on the glove and have her eat from there. Eventually, I’ll wear the glove and see if she goes for it.
Lastly, I’ll leave you with another great capture of A32 by Frank Starkey

Bye,
Steff

Awesome awesome awesome .... what else can we say! Thank you

Love Pimu

Oh yeah - we love Darwin too..... He looks mighty handsome
And Hyde is coming - Woo Hoo

What a great Update! Darwin is quite the helper! Looking forward to seeing photos of Hyde and looks as if you're making great progress with Pimu.

Thank you for all the wonderful photos and news. Sounds as if we'd better keep our eye out on the mainland for a lot of these eagles. I wish them all safe journeys.

Steff, you really know a way to an eagles heart.. I think you and Pimu will become great friends..

Good luck finding the two mainland birds..I always keep my eye out for juvenile's here along the coast.

Darwin is a beautiful dog..He looks like he's smiling... Thanks again for another great update.....

OMG, Steff! Incredible update and INCREDIBLE pictures of Pimu! Wow! Thank you!!

Oh, what a treat to see these photos of Pimu and A32. A32's colouring has definitely darkened. I love that picture of her.

It's so nice to know that Pimu is feeling happier and more comfortable around you, Steffani. It looks like she really enjoyed the different fish flavours! What a nice fisherman to share with Pimu. Well done on getting her to feel more comfortable around you.

I am looking forward to seeing photos of Hyde, and to reading about Pimu's reaction to having a buddy nearby.

Great update Steff, and the pix are wonderful.
And the neighbor who went fishing and shared ROCKS! Pimu must be in fish heaven with that tuna. Thanks neighbor. Looks like that may be the beginning of some great progress working with Pimu, and that is such good news.

Thanks as always...........

Love your updates Steffani. The way you write them it's almost as if we were there! Thank you for taking us with you!

Steffi - You really outdid yourself this time. The photos are great and it looks as though you and Pimu are really starting to bond. Darwin seems to be a good helper too. Looking forward to seeing Hyde. Thanks for a great report on our eagles and hope the adventurers return to the islands from the mainland

Thanks for the update Steff. Nice pics of Pimu. What does Darwin think of Pimu? And vice versa? Looking forward to the pics of Hyde. Glad to hear you were able to find so many of the eagles. Please thank Frank for the lovely pics of A-32.

Steff: Fabulous, you have such a great writing talent, it;s like we're all right there with you. Thank you and everyone for all you do. Pimu looks fabulous! What a beauty.

Great narrative; great pictures!

Thanks, Steff!

Steffani

Your Update again is so very informative and it must be more and more of a challenge each week trying to locate the 2007 Eaglet Class members. Glad to hear you are still getting readings on some of them still on the Island.

You are making such great progress with PIMU and you photos are very exciting to see all Pimu's flying up and down from the perches. Beautiful Eagle who I hope will be happy to meet a new companion in the next enclosure. It will be fascinating for you all to observe and I bet quite noisy between the two of them in the beginning.

Your days are very busy and more than full of wonderment----happy for you ---you must go to sleep at night smiling from thinking of the fruits of your dedicated work and the wonders of nature you observe.

Thank you Steffani

Thanks Steffani What a great update!