Observances From Afar:

Bald Eagle Nesting Log Along the Presque Isle River, Upper Michigan Summer 2000

June 7, 1pm CDT:  First day viewing the nest for me.  I could see two small little eaglets, white downy feathers yet and barely peaking their heads out of the nest at times.  The nest is located across the Presque Isle River on the North Country Trail.  The location will be hard to hike into, but the chicks were banded that day from an outside biologist tracking the eagle populations.  It looked like a scary climb.  There are worries that the nest may blow down because there is a crack in the base of the tree.

June 9, 3pm:  Confirmed two chicks.  Mom was laying beside them, and I was notified of the chicks being banded.  I wonder how defensive the mother was?  But I spent some time watching them, the family was not very active today.

June 23, 4pm:  Two chicks just in the nest getting newer feathers beginning to shed the downy.  Stretching more, still have to see the parents come to nest.  This means the chicks are old enough that the parents are able to take longer leave.  Usually one parent is closer by but I have yet to spot them through the dense trees.

June 27, 11am: Just the two chicks again, but the little male? is quite active.  Looking up at the taller branches and pondering flight.  I think mamma was close but I did not see her.  Could see them looking at a certain area in the trees. But they both were stretching and sunning their wings at times.  The one larger one has most of his dark brown feathers and is shedding the downy ones.  They will be flying soon, taking hops around the nest, attempted lift but not successful.  He has a white patch on the right wing right now.  The younger one squabbled a little with the restless sibling, but has less brown on it.  They both look well though.  I was there for over an hour watching them.

June 28, 3pm:  The two eaglets again.  Later afternoon, sunny out and in the 70's.  The eagle are active, the male again is trying for lift off.  Made an attempt at it.  I took Fletcher (he is doing a breeding bird survey for his capstone at Northland College) out to see them.  They seem a little more quiet than yesterday.  Maybe they have just been fed or its just this time of day.  The little male walking the edge of nest flapping and stretching frequently.  Both chicks appear much darker than the day before, lost a lot of fluff really quickly.  The day before you could see the down flying away but not today.  They settled back down into the nest and were quiet until I left.  Spent an hour and a half watching them.

June 30, 9am and 1pm:  Came early in the morning, heavy thunderstorms overnight and morning.  Trail was wet.  Posted my yellow flags.  Other chick was up on the edge this time.  Flapping around a little, seems more active early morning than older brother.  During my program today, lots of small warblers were in the nearby trees.  Warm, muggy.  The eagles are up on top not really moving around much, just basically standing.  Had ten people come all at the same time.  Lots of parents and kids.  In one group a car alarm went off, I was afraid it would scare the eagles but they seemed unfazed.  The older eaglet was calling, that high pitched squeal, was hoping the parents would arrive to answer him, may have been sitting where he could see them.  Just as he began calling the groups arrived and the car alarm went off.  But otherwise the male was sitting pretty for people to view, and did not want to face us so he turned his back end towards the spotting scope.  By the end of the program the flies were beginning to act up so I packed it in for the day.

July 1, 10am:  The eaglets were perched up on top of the nest again, preening a little and stretching.  Mostly sitting.  At times the shy one ducked down more.  But thunderstorms clapping in the distance.  Could only stay for my program hour because of the threatening skies.  Barely got the spotting scope up and had five people behind me.  The whole hour I had 27 people come and keep me occupied talking about eagles.  When the storm rolled in the birds took cover in the nest and I went for the car.

July 7, 1pm - 2:30pm:  Went to do my eagle watching program, down at Presque Isle after my Intro to bird watching program.  The stable flies were pretty bad, but in the trees it was nice.  Clouds overhead and a little muggy.  Slight rumbles here and there but not bad.  The two chicks on top of the nest looked a little bigger more active, glad to see the nest was okay after the big blow down in this area.  It was a pretty nasty storm trees down on the road and I was lucky to make it back to the apartment safely.  I had 42 people come to view them, seemed to enjoy the short walk in the woods.  Only old growth that seemed to escape the lumber area was on the ridge along were we look out.  I was swamped with people but the chicks were visible almost the whole time.  Moving about the nest a little.  The program seems to have a good response and children love to see the eaglets.

July 8, 2pm - 5pm: Cloudy day, scattered thunderstorms. Warm in the 80's overcast. Good day for viewing, light is on the nest and not in the trees. The eaglets were very active the male was calling again, at times. Working up his flight capacity the white patch on the wing is still apparent may be a distinguishing marker since it looks like both chicks have flight feathers now. All the down is off of them. He was perched on a limb straight out from the nest. Moved around a little then flapped with some effort to the upper branch that he has been looking at. The younger one also seems to be doing well. Perching on the tree branches that poke out from under the nest, each took turns sitting on top for over two hours. Backing up at times to defecate (shooting it way out, lower branches and ground would be covered white). But they both were trying out their new wings and now can get lift. It won't be too long before they really start flying around. A group of people from around Sauk Prairie (my home town, a place where eagles like to fish near the dam where there is open water during the winter months) came back again to look after yesterday's program and they most definitely got a better view of the pair at the nest with a smaller crowd.

July 14, 12:30 - 3pm: Nice blue skies overhead warm and in the low 80's. Little or no wind. Walked in with a few people early. One adult eagle was just leaving the nest at that time. Finally got a chance to see on of the adults although I suspect seeing one on the drive down because it would have been their territory. It was also a mature adult with white head and tail. But the two chicks were perched on the branch jutting out from under the nest again. Preening and stretching at times but mostly sitting and being good little birdies. I suspect that they have tried to fly a little bit more, they seem to be somewhat more confidant in the wings. They can now easily reach the higher branches above the nest and looked up at it frequently. At one point I suspected another hawk was overhead. They looked straight up and ducked down in the nest. I had many interested visitors today, a total of 26. Went well and the chicks were visible for a good part of the time.

July 15, 2:30 - 5pm: When I arrived at the eagle nest, mamma wasn't home yet. It was just the two chicks. The weather was warm, but cooled down after awhile. While I was setting up she came into the nest with a fish. The two young birds were trying to get at the food. The older one demonstrating his wings on the edge of the nest. Mom tore off some pieces (beautiful mature female with a really white head and tail, brilliant when flashing in the sun) and then she let the young feed on it. A raven went squawking overhead, the adult went out to the outer perch where the young ones now like to sit and she preened her beak on the wood. Something like floss? Then she sat for a time her attitude felt very loving towards the little ones. She then sat and seemed to be on the look out, raiders or dad? To come near. At about 3:05 she took off just as people were showing up. I felt very fortunate to catch her. People are always amazed at the size of the chicks and the fact that they are so dark. Had about 27 people come, sometimes its hard to count everyone. They come in waves it seems. Either real quiet or there are more than 5 people all wanting to look into the scope, I have to continually readjust it due to bumps.

July 19, 6:30pm: Just checked on the eagle nest to see what kind of activity was going on at night. I was working on the culture tour set up and posting signs so decided to try and show Jess (Visitor's Center Park Worker) the nest. I have a feeling the chicks were down in the nest for the night and so we were not able to view them. The parents may have still been away just sitting a little further off as do most eagles around the evening hours. The nest is probably quite crowded with two full grown eaglets.

July 21, 1pm: Tough time trying to show an eagle nest with chicks, if the chicks aren't there. But as of today, officially, the two young ones are out of the nest and along the river with mom and dad learning basic flight techniques. Five people out of the fourteen who came actually saw one of the young ones come up to perch on the nest - briefly. They like to swoop down low and disappear into the wooded areas. I was there for over an hour but no sign of them again before I left. Sunny day, few clouds, cool and breezy.

July 22, 2-4pm: Very fortunate to see one of the chicks perched, the younger one on top of the nest for my last program. I could hear the other chicks and parents calling periodically through the program which was a nice touch. They were sitting along the river and what seems to be close to us but there is no way to really tell with so many trees in the way. Near the end of the program the young one flew off the nest and moved down river, the adult came to get it. Perched in another large tree by the river, they were barely visible except the white head really stuck out. The calls of their young ones echoing, adult did spiral and met up with eaglet and took off down river. It was a really good sight for the visitors to see at my program. Many enjoyed the flight and were happy to get a peek at them unlike yesterday. Last day for the activity, the eagles are no longer dependant upon the nest and will be on the wing a great deal more. I will miss the program (and still do), it was one of my favorites and most rewarding.

Program notes: I handed out some of the Michigan wildlife posters with the eagles nest on it, seems to be a nice edition. Always bring at least two pairs of the good binoculars in addition to the spotting scope, it helps ease the burden of a crowded area and antsy children. I also bring along a milk crate for kids to stand on so they can look through the scope a little better. It would be a good long term hike if the nest is going to be reused and doesn't suffer from a blow down. Seems like it has potential as such.

Materials for eagle hike: laminated card of eagle habits and characteristics of nest site, any books on eagles, binoculars, spotting scope, milk crate for the kids to stand on, Michigan wildlife posters with the eagle nest on it (fun for the kids if you have something to give out to remember), bug repellant (its a must!), signs to post hike directions for eagle look out.