Eagle nest project

[moss]

I'm trying to be more like @Steve Connally, I volunteered to help a state agency with an eagle nest project. My job was to climb to a new nest location for an eagle pair. Then capture whatever young were in the nest and lower them to the ground for banding and blood draws. I've been involved in a lot of owl and hawk nest work, this was my first eagle nest climb. The young are big for a bird, 10 lbs each!

-AJ

 

[Steve Connally]

Did you like the hissing? LOL. They sure try to intimidate. Those still have some downy feathers so they're still pretty young. Typically they wont go out of the nest yet. Not until about 8 weeks. Makes me giggle watching you trying not to get bitten. Honestly it wouldn't even draw blood.

 

[moss]

Did you like the hissing? LOL. They sure try to intimidate. Those still have some downy feathers so they're still pretty young. Typically they wont go out of the nest yet. Not until about 8 weeks. Makes me giggle watching you trying not to get bitten. Honestly it wouldn't even draw blood.

Yep. One was more feisty and I was concerned it was wanting to make a move out of the nest after I pulled it up and placed it in. The wildlife pros on the ground were concerned about them getting out of nest. They said if they did project was over so I was super cautious about keeping the more aggressive one in.

Yeah I instinctively avoid getting my fingers nipped by any animal. Their talons can do damage. I was taloned on my left hand two days before by a red-tailed hawk protecting it’s 2 young while I was putting a third back in after it fell 100’ and was rehabbed. First time that had happened being around many nests. The folks on the ground were telling me eagles are very docile once they’re grabbed and that proved to be true. Thx Steve!
-AJ

 

[surveyor]

That is one serious nest structure.

 

[Shadowscape]

That is one serious nest structure.

That is actually a pretty small eagle nest. I'm guessing only a year or two old. They get larger every year as they are added onto. The one outside my front window is about 10' across and probably weighs in at 450-500 pounds. I could literally sleep in there with a few other people.

 

[moss]

That is actually a pretty small eagle nest. I'm guessing only a year or two old. They get larger every year as they are added onto. The one outside my front window is about 10' across and probably weighs in at 450-500 pounds. I could literally sleep in there with a few other people.

This is the first year for that nest, they had another one for several years previously but lost both young last year to avian influenza and decided to move to a new location.
-AJ

 

[Shadowscape]

This is the first year for that nest, they had another one for several years previously but lost both young last year to avian influenza and decided to move to a new location.
-AJ

These eagles seem to want to build their nests in dead trees, I'm guessing it makes for easier approaches without foliage in the way, so about every ten years or so the trees fall over and they start anew. This current tree with the very large nest is due for tipping over soon, hopefully after Jr. is old enough to fly. The little one is smaller than those you were handling, but we had a late start this year. There were two, but only one in the nest now. Blown out or thrown out I'm guessing. It was the same last year. Started out with two and ended up with one. Can't be for lack of food as they haul 3-4 (that I see) large fish to the nest every day, along with bits of wolf kills.
I have never climb up to the nest to be that close to the chicks as I have a pretty good view from the house. The tree is about 75 feet below me and I am about level with the current nest, and I see no reason to intrude by climbing up there.
Looking forward to your next adventure. Always thrilling.