Catalina Update, Wednesday, August 8, 2012

[eaglegal]

Hi everybody,

We have had quite an interesting and busy week tacking the remaining juveniles on the island.
Maria started working on Catalina last Wednesday and right away we headed out to the west end to look for K27, K24 and 5Z. Before getting to Two Harbors, we picked up K24’s moving signal heading east, away from the WE territory and K27’s signals was coming from the nest. We hiked out to a safe peak where we could see the nest but be far enough away so not to disturb the adults and searched the ridges. Right away we spotted K27!


We headed back after a few hours and on our ride back we spotted this large, black bird soaring the blue skies; sure enough, it was 5Z! She was riding a thermal for a while and then headed back to her nest area.
It’s hard to photograph a flying bird through the binocular but here it is!


On Monday, we embarked on another adventure; taking both kayaks out to the west end to look for the juveniles.


This is our view of the WE nest




Again, we spotted K27 right away and watched her land on the nest camera




Closer




After a while, one of the adults showed up. It was K01! Can you see him?

Cont…

[eaglegal]

Here’s K01 and the long view camera for you to have an idea of where it sits in relation to the actual nest.


After about an hour, another juvenile came to the area and started chasing K01. It was 5Z and she also started playing with his sister, K27. It was really great and we sure enjoyed watching those two fly around like pros, fighting over the same branch and also harass their parent for food. I wish we could have taken a video but sitting on a moving kayak is not the best place to take video from.

Driving back home on a beautiful sunset after a long day in the ocean…


Here are some links to videos taken by cam viewers over the week, enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2pbMyE__IQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Z2KTB7EBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkE5WNWRtiQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvNpZs3ElTU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_n_Yw2_1V4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suqCO-2YGIE

This week we also gave an eagle presentation to the 2012 Catalina Island Conservancy REGI Interns so I took Hydi out to the field and fed her while we talked “eagles”. For the rest of the morning, they helped up us clean and organize the inside of the container where we keep Pimu’s and Hydi’s food, fishing gear, building tools, etc., and also helped out cleaning enclosures, raking leaves, cutting branches and more.
The interns working in Hydi’s enclosure




We cleaned out both Hydi’s and Pimu’s ponds and left them crystal clear. Pete bought some bales of hay to help keep the water cleaner for longer.


Carefully trimming Pimu’s tree so that she does not freak out and hurt herself


Here’s Pimu, always checking us out while we clean her home




Cont…

[eaglegal]

Cutting some tree branches before they start falling on Pimu’s netting/roof!






Raking, raking, raking…


Maria and I stayed working at the enclosures through the afternoon but we still have a bit more work to do, so, we are headed there after lunch!

Yesterday, Maria and I explore the whole west end in search of K24, who has not returned to the nest for over a week so we started worrying about him. After several hours and miles later, we finally picked up his moving signal flying from the Empire area coast to the south side of the island. We cut across the island as quickly as we could but K24’s ability to travel by air left us both driving in the dust, literally! Anyways, even though we did not get a visual, we know he is moving around and that’s all we need to know for now.

Yesterday, for the first time, Maria picked up Hydi on the glove and fed her a few pieces of pork. They both did wonderfully and Hydi did not jump or freak out at all! Visitors were even watching through the windows and Hydi vocalized but still did not jump off the glove.
Maria will be handling Hydi inside the enclosure for now until they are both comfortable with walking through the entryway and being held and fed on the outside perch.

We have been working on the last step of our NAC fundraiser; mailing gift items, adoption certificates, photos, tax letters and more! So keep an eye on your mailbox the next few days because there are many packages going your way!

Pete is currently on a very much deserved vacation so it will be just us girls for these couple of weeks.

Until next week,
Steffani

[jbirdyhome]

Another fabulous report and great pictures. Your hard work is appreciated. We all wish K24 well in his travels.

[JoJo]

Super West End report Steffani, Thank you and all. And loved getting a good look at the other side of the nest.

This post has been edited by JoJo on Aug 8 2012, 10:36 AM

[river]

Thanks for the wonderful update ! and its nice to hear all the trips are accounted for.
Soo glad to hear Maria & Hydi are doing well
what a great job cleaning in the enclosure looks fabulous!

[ørn]

Thank you for this report, so beautiful pictures, very nice to hear that K24 is still around on Catalina.

[abgator]

Hi, Steff! Always nice to read your updates, but I totally love the side pic of you and your growing baby

[amethyst]

Great news from the WE!

...and thanks for those pics...I did not know there was such a cliff beside that nest...and I see just how far away those left and right peaks really are!!!


Ahh, the "summer help," I wish I had a nice summer job like your interns do...

Take care Steff!

[EmeraldSkye]

I wish K24 good luck, I hope he finds enough food. I was hoping he'd stay around for a while and learn to hunt and fish from his parents (and also get a free meal from them) but I guess he feels like he can do it on his own.

[SoCal Lady]

STEFFANI AND MARIA--This is great news that you got radio signal on K24...MeToo looks beautiful soaring. Your from the kayaks of K27 on the cam pole is even more Queenly looking K27 upon Her Throne

Very happy to hear Hydi is being polite and cooperative with MARIA.

You and your Little Bambino Baby Bump are so Cute.

[raycyn]

Thanks Steff and Maria - I had to laugh when you said you did not want to get too close to WE adults - neither would I to those two! So glad you saw all 3 of them, and then got signal again from 24 - that is wonderful. Always more work to do for Hydi and Pimu, and you do it with such love - yay Maria for holding Hydi - she is so big would be a little intimidating to me

Love the updates - they make my week - best to you both, and yay for Dr. Sharpe getting a vacation!



Cindy in Oregon

[klemon]

Fantastic! What a wonderful update. So glad the triplets are doing so well and that 24 is doing his adventure thing. Hydi and Pimu look great. Glad Hydi behaved for Maria. Thanks for all you and the crew do.

[summer818]

Thank you so much Steffani! I'm so glad Maria is there to love all the eagles while you're loving your new arrival. So glad to see 5Z (aka Metoo) soaring the skies. She's a true beauty. So glad that K24 signal came in, he's had a tough time with that hook in his foot, and now he's enjoying soaring the skies.

K27, what can you say, she loves her nest and cam pole. Wishing you girls all the best, and have a safe and wonderful week. It's a hot one!!

[sunnyland7]

Steffani, So interesting!!!!Glad K24, K27 and 5Z are doing so well.
amazing where you hike to! WOW! such views!
Keep safe!