we have an aerie!!

18 years ago

Big news, big news....hoo I am so excited!

Ever since my first sighting of an eagle over 6 years ago, I have had my hopes up that eventually they would regain their status as regulars in our area. Since that first appearance I have seen them more and more frequently and then came the big moment yesterday: we have a nest! I had just seen an eagle about a half mile from the location and was telling a neighbor about it when he asked me if I had seen the nest. I was skeptical at first, since the description of the location was very close to a large red tail nest that has been active for the last few years--surely it was the same one. I was coming home from a dental appointment yesterday and decided to make a quick detour and have a look for myself and sure enough, there it was. I can't believe it. There was a nest behind my parent's house the last few years, but it was far enough away that you really couldn't appreciate the hugeness of it. Not so with this one. It must be as big as the hood of a car! I can't say for certain since the light was not that good and I did not have my field glasses with me, but there seemed to be a head-shaped shadow poking up in the middle of it. At least a few others have indeed seen two birds in the area so this could be the year when eagles do finally make their official reproducing comeback. The nest is far enough off of the road that people harrassing them should not be too big a deal.

First the pileateds, then the eagles...what else is next??

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Comments (6)

lkz5ia
18 years ago
THe bigfoot?
dirtgirl
Original Author
18 years ago
Im hoping for a chupacabra, actually.
But I haven't seen one 'yet-i'.

sorry bout that:)
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catherinet
18 years ago
How cool Dirtgirl! I'm so envious! Keep us posted on developments.
vonyon
18 years ago
Yay!! How exciting is that? Keep us posted.
Birdsong72
18 years ago
Seeing them, having them nest does allow one's soul to soar eh dirtgirl?!.

We were similarly blessed in having a pair take up residence as the sole nesting pair at a nearby reservoir some 5 years ago. This in the shadow of NYC no less.

All the best with them. God bless
dirtgirl
Original Author
18 years ago
Sometimes it is too easy to get into the glass-half-full thought pattern and assume that things with the state of the environment are only getting worse, not better. When I step back and consider that there probably hasn't been an eagle nest anywhere in this county for the last 50 years or so, maybe more, then it comes as a much welcome reminder of just how resilient nature is despite our intrusions.

Yesterday I called the regional DNR as well as the local office who oversees this particular reclamation area, and found out that there is indeed a fellow responsible for confirming and recording eagle sightings. He was given the location of the nest and I guess the rest is up to our feathered pair. It's only about a mile and a half from here so I have it MADE for watching them. My next purchase will have to be a spotting scope!!!
I had a very encouraging 15 minute talk with the site superintendent...I have always had a love/hate relationship with the DNR. Despite the fact that I am nearly surrounded by thriving DNR natural areas that were once barren coal mines,I have had no choice but to question their motives behind the work--is it to maintain the environment for wildlife or to maintain the wildlife for hunters? To my surprise, this fellow voiced this very issue without my ever having mentioned it, and his concerns were the same as my own. I knew the previous director for several years before he relocated and the discussion with this new guy left me very reassured that things might be in fairly good hands here locally.