Monday, June 30
From RRP:
Decorah Ground Report, sent Eagle Air Mail!
by David Lynch
with photo by Ann Lynch (posted pending permission)
[ We arrived in Decorah on Saturday afternoon after a long day of airport adventures and a drive from Minneapolis, with a sense of uncertainty and dread from the events surrounding our eagle family for the last 2 weeks. That evening, we watched Eaglet Without Transmitter (EWOT) sitting on its new "surrogate" mulch pile nest, looking healthy, alert, and feather perfect. It was quite a sight for sore eyes! Later that Evening, Bob called me and wanted to meet and make some plans for Sunday, and informed me that Eaglet With Transmitter (EWT) had jumped back into the cornfields.
At 6AM Sunday morning, Bob and I made our way toward the last known data point for EWT, the highest point in Decorah, full of fields of corn and alfalfa. After a LONG drive up mud covered roads, slip sliding all the way, Bob fired up the GPS locator, and we received a weak signal that lead us another couple of hundred yards to the next ridge. After a walk through the corn rows, we located EWT in tall grass, hunkered down, which gave Bob the chance he needed for an easy grab. With skilled hands and years that have provided expertise, Bob scooped up EWT, with a firm grasp on those giant clown feet (that hold talons of steel now!), and hooded to eaglet in less than 30 seconds, giving us a fierce raptor that calmed in his hands. We returned to the car and made our way down the road, which resembled a mudslide after a night of downpours, and shot down the road to the most famous mulch pile west of the Mississippi!
After arriving, we walked with EWT slowly to a pile of grass clippings. Bob decided that would be a nice spot to place EWT, where the 2 eaglets could make eye contact across mulch pile mountain range. After removing the hood, we saw a feisty eaglet that wanted no part of either of us! A very good sign from this troublesome kiddo. We left EWT with 3 trout, and before we could get out of the yard waste facility, EWT had swallowed one whole, and then polished off the other two in less than 5 minutes.
About 15 minutes after placing EWT on the adjacent pile, EWOT took to the air and visited its sibling, reuniting the two after what we think to be 10 days apart. There was some beak play, wing flaps, and vocal greetings, and direct eye contact between the two, before sitting calmly next to each other for a while. Later, when EWOT decided to return to the mulch and forgo the grass clipping pile, EWT followed, and they each claimed their own mountain to rule. Soon, Dad arrived with a special order of "Bob" Trout, and delivered the fish to EWOT, and planted himself on the pile. It seemed to me (MY OPINION!) that he acknowledged that there were now two eaglets . Later that day, Dad arrived with a quail, and delivered it to the top of a mulch pile that now held two eaglets, and the melee that we all saw in the nest ensued … with EWT claiming the meal! We were thrilled to see this eaglet, who was trapped in grass hours before, grab the food, then mantle and claim like there was no tomorrow.
That evening, Darlene and Glenn Miller described some events that occurred while we were up at the Decorah Fish Hatchery speaking with Bob. EWT decided to play king of the hill, chasing EWT from mulch pile to mulch pile, until EWOT decided it had played enough. EWOT then flew to the tree line to perch for the night, something we believed had been happening on a regular basis. To everyone's surprise, EWT also took to the sky and headed for the same tree, making an awkward landing, as it hung from the pine branches. Upon closer inspection minutes later, EWT was perched perfectly, sitting proudly after following the siblings lead to take cover for the night. Needless to say, this was a welcomed sight for all after a week of sightings that did not include any flights! As Sherri Elliott would say, "Whatta Day"!!
This morning, we arrived at the mulch pile to find both eaglets back from their night at the Pine Motel awaiting a food drop from good ole Dad, and he did not disappoint. Within minutes, Dad arrived with a "Bob" quail, which was claimed by EWOT, and in lightning speed Dad returned five minutes later with a fresh and flopping trout for EWT! Our spirits were buoyed by the sight, knowing that just 24 hours earlier, EWT was virtually lost in a corn maze, using every bit of energy to free itself. Today was filled with eaglet relaxation in the new mulch nest, and a bath for each eaglet in the rain puddles that are ever present here in Decorah from the most unwelcome downpours.
As I leave after the rain to go check on the troublesome teens, I reflect on how thankful I am for this opportunity to view nature in a way I never dreamed of just a few years ago. I would personally like to thank Bob Anderson, for trusting me to help with Raptor Resource Project, for educating me every day, and for giving me memories that will last a lifetime. More to come from the ground, so stay tuned for more "eagle-center" highlights! ]
Our thanks to Dave & Ann Lynch for the great photo. As always, please respect their copyright and do not download without their express permission.
Over the next days and weeks during fledge, there is also the "Annual Migration of Decorah Eagle Photographers", so we'll be adding photo links, more ground reports, and of course updates from Bob. The juveniles might not be on our Ustream view, but they can't escape our viewfinders!!
A New ID for EWT aka Eagle With Transmitter:
PS from RRP: Bob and Brett announced EWT will henceforth be known as "Four" -- for the last number on her PTT. We know this is confusing for fans but we hope you will stay with us on the change. After several days of chasing our little EWT around (and many, many emails and phone calls back and forth with Brett), the two settled on it for reference. As moderators, we're primarily concerned she's safe and sound. We'll have a map of her adventures for everyone tomorrow. Thanks, everyone
From S.O.A.R:
When Facebook asks, "What have you been up to?" Me... shaking my head in amazement at the HUGE increase in page likes... on 21 June the SOAR Facebook page had around 660 likes... as I type this today (30 June 2014) the page has 7,350 likes. <shakes head in amazement> You 'eagleholics,' 'beak geeks,' and 'bird nerds' (your words, not mine) are the reason.
Thank you for the 'like' and I hope that you continue to follow the progress of the Decorah eaglet currently in our care and also take some time to browse through our website to learn about all that happens at SOAR!
http://www.soarraptors.org/
From RRP:
Decorah Ground Report, sent Eagle Air Mail!
by David Lynch
with photo by Ann Lynch (posted pending permission)
[ We arrived in Decorah on Saturday afternoon after a long day of airport adventures and a drive from Minneapolis, with a sense of uncertainty and dread from the events surrounding our eagle family for the last 2 weeks. That evening, we watched Eaglet Without Transmitter (EWOT) sitting on its new "surrogate" mulch pile nest, looking healthy, alert, and feather perfect. It was quite a sight for sore eyes! Later that Evening, Bob called me and wanted to meet and make some plans for Sunday, and informed me that Eaglet With Transmitter (EWT) had jumped back into the cornfields.
At 6AM Sunday morning, Bob and I made our way toward the last known data point for EWT, the highest point in Decorah, full of fields of corn and alfalfa. After a LONG drive up mud covered roads, slip sliding all the way, Bob fired up the GPS locator, and we received a weak signal that lead us another couple of hundred yards to the next ridge. After a walk through the corn rows, we located EWT in tall grass, hunkered down, which gave Bob the chance he needed for an easy grab. With skilled hands and years that have provided expertise, Bob scooped up EWT, with a firm grasp on those giant clown feet (that hold talons of steel now!), and hooded to eaglet in less than 30 seconds, giving us a fierce raptor that calmed in his hands. We returned to the car and made our way down the road, which resembled a mudslide after a night of downpours, and shot down the road to the most famous mulch pile west of the Mississippi!
After arriving, we walked with EWT slowly to a pile of grass clippings. Bob decided that would be a nice spot to place EWT, where the 2 eaglets could make eye contact across mulch pile mountain range. After removing the hood, we saw a feisty eaglet that wanted no part of either of us! A very good sign from this troublesome kiddo. We left EWT with 3 trout, and before we could get out of the yard waste facility, EWT had swallowed one whole, and then polished off the other two in less than 5 minutes.
About 15 minutes after placing EWT on the adjacent pile, EWOT took to the air and visited its sibling, reuniting the two after what we think to be 10 days apart. There was some beak play, wing flaps, and vocal greetings, and direct eye contact between the two, before sitting calmly next to each other for a while. Later, when EWOT decided to return to the mulch and forgo the grass clipping pile, EWT followed, and they each claimed their own mountain to rule. Soon, Dad arrived with a special order of "Bob" Trout, and delivered the fish to EWOT, and planted himself on the pile. It seemed to me (MY OPINION!) that he acknowledged that there were now two eaglets . Later that day, Dad arrived with a quail, and delivered it to the top of a mulch pile that now held two eaglets, and the melee that we all saw in the nest ensued … with EWT claiming the meal! We were thrilled to see this eaglet, who was trapped in grass hours before, grab the food, then mantle and claim like there was no tomorrow.
That evening, Darlene and Glenn Miller described some events that occurred while we were up at the Decorah Fish Hatchery speaking with Bob. EWT decided to play king of the hill, chasing EWT from mulch pile to mulch pile, until EWOT decided it had played enough. EWOT then flew to the tree line to perch for the night, something we believed had been happening on a regular basis. To everyone's surprise, EWT also took to the sky and headed for the same tree, making an awkward landing, as it hung from the pine branches. Upon closer inspection minutes later, EWT was perched perfectly, sitting proudly after following the siblings lead to take cover for the night. Needless to say, this was a welcomed sight for all after a week of sightings that did not include any flights! As Sherri Elliott would say, "Whatta Day"!!
This morning, we arrived at the mulch pile to find both eaglets back from their night at the Pine Motel awaiting a food drop from good ole Dad, and he did not disappoint. Within minutes, Dad arrived with a "Bob" quail, which was claimed by EWOT, and in lightning speed Dad returned five minutes later with a fresh and flopping trout for EWT! Our spirits were buoyed by the sight, knowing that just 24 hours earlier, EWT was virtually lost in a corn maze, using every bit of energy to free itself. Today was filled with eaglet relaxation in the new mulch nest, and a bath for each eaglet in the rain puddles that are ever present here in Decorah from the most unwelcome downpours.
As I leave after the rain to go check on the troublesome teens, I reflect on how thankful I am for this opportunity to view nature in a way I never dreamed of just a few years ago. I would personally like to thank Bob Anderson, for trusting me to help with Raptor Resource Project, for educating me every day, and for giving me memories that will last a lifetime. More to come from the ground, so stay tuned for more "eagle-center" highlights! ]
Our thanks to Dave & Ann Lynch for the great photo. As always, please respect their copyright and do not download without their express permission.
Over the next days and weeks during fledge, there is also the "Annual Migration of Decorah Eagle Photographers", so we'll be adding photo links, more ground reports, and of course updates from Bob. The juveniles might not be on our Ustream view, but they can't escape our viewfinders!!
A New ID for EWT aka Eagle With Transmitter:
PS from RRP: Bob and Brett announced EWT will henceforth be known as "Four" -- for the last number on her PTT. We know this is confusing for fans but we hope you will stay with us on the change. After several days of chasing our little EWT around (and many, many emails and phone calls back and forth with Brett), the two settled on it for reference. As moderators, we're primarily concerned she's safe and sound. We'll have a map of her adventures for everyone tomorrow. Thanks, everyone
From S.O.A.R:
When Facebook asks, "What have you been up to?" Me... shaking my head in amazement at the HUGE increase in page likes... on 21 June the SOAR Facebook page had around 660 likes... as I type this today (30 June 2014) the page has 7,350 likes. <shakes head in amazement> You 'eagleholics,' 'beak geeks,' and 'bird nerds' (your words, not mine) are the reason.
Thank you for the 'like' and I hope that you continue to follow the progress of the Decorah eaglet currently in our care and also take some time to browse through our website to learn about all that happens at SOAR!
http://www.soarraptors.org/