| Eagle at the Refuge Updates on the Family |
| May 12, 2009 The two eaglets in the photo was taken about 8 a.m. are in a dead tree perhaps 100 yards north of the nest. This is the first time that I have seen two of them together in a tree other than the nest tree. I began observing the empty nest at approx. 7 a.m. and about 20 min. later one of the eaglets flew into the nest and began eating something which was already there. After a few minutes it flew away toward the north and after a short search from the Dynamite Shed Road I saw the two of them in the tree together. After several minutes both eaglets flew out of the tree toward the north. After another search, I located them in another dead tree (this tree is approx. east of the faded red ribbon on the right side of the road) perhaps an additional 100 yards north of the nest. I also observed that there was another immature eagle in this tree several feet to the left and below these two, and partly obscured by some leaves in another tree. I observed the 3rd eagle with binoculars and am confident that it too was an immature eagle. This is of some interest since I have not seen all three eaglets together since the Sunday when the rather severe wind storm came though the area. Of course, the fact that three immature eagles are observed in the same tree does not prove that these are the 3 eaglets that hatched in the nest that we have been observing, but it gives us some hope that all three of those eaglets are still alive and well. By the time I moved my camera into position and was refocusing on the second tree at a different distance from the road (and camera) the eaglets(?) all flew out of the tree and I was not able to get a photograph of all three together. They flew generally south, and I later observed 2 of them together again in the nest. W. Lawrence Croft |
| May 22, 2009 The two eaglets were in the nest or on nearby limbs for the approximately 2.5 hrs that I observed the nest (I never saw the 3rd eaglet.) The eaglets were eating some "meat" in the nest off and on. One of the parents flew into the nest and joined in the feast, and at times would tear off a piece of the entree and give it to one of the eaglets. After a time, a helicopter flew by at a great distance from the nest making lots of noise which seemed to bother the birds and the adult flew out of the nest during this time, but that may not have been an example of cause and effect. W Lawrence Croft |
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Friends of Noxubee
Refuge
Friends of Noxubee
Refuge
| Eagles at the Refuge |
Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
I observed the eagles this afternoon (Saturday, March 27, 2010)
for about 2 hours starting at about 3:15 PM. The behavior of the
female(?) on the nest seemed to be consistent with continued
incubation of eggs. Based on estimates of when this began,
several of us amateurs predict that the eaglets will hatch between
1 and 2 weeks from today, if all goes well. Several
photographers, including Judy Howle who is now in charge of the
FONR photo contest, joined other observers who observed
and/or photographed the eagles. A couple of times the eagle on
the nest left the nest and flew around for about 5 minutes before
returning. Once we saw two other mature eagles and one
immature eagle flying in the vicinity.
for about 2 hours starting at about 3:15 PM. The behavior of the
female(?) on the nest seemed to be consistent with continued
incubation of eggs. Based on estimates of when this began,
several of us amateurs predict that the eaglets will hatch between
1 and 2 weeks from today, if all goes well. Several
photographers, including Judy Howle who is now in charge of the
FONR photo contest, joined other observers who observed
and/or photographed the eagles. A couple of times the eagle on
the nest left the nest and flew around for about 5 minutes before
returning. Once we saw two other mature eagles and one
immature eagle flying in the vicinity.
As some of you already know, the nest tree,
nest, both parents, and both eaglets appear
to be ok this morning following the high wind
and the large amount of heavy rain from time
to time late yesterday and last night. Both
parents were wet and holding their wings
out, almost like an anhinga, to let the cool
wind dry the moisture from them, while the
eaglets were hunkered down and keeping a
low profile. Mama did feed the youngsters
and moved at least one stick from one side
of the nest to the other during the time I
watched (about 9 -10:15 am.)
The lighting was poor and the cool wind was
brisk but I did shoot a few photos which I
have not had time to look at yet.
WLC
nest, both parents, and both eaglets appear
to be ok this morning following the high wind
and the large amount of heavy rain from time
to time late yesterday and last night. Both
parents were wet and holding their wings
out, almost like an anhinga, to let the cool
wind dry the moisture from them, while the
eaglets were hunkered down and keeping a
low profile. Mama did feed the youngsters
and moved at least one stick from one side
of the nest to the other during the time I
watched (about 9 -10:15 am.)
The lighting was poor and the cool wind was
brisk but I did shoot a few photos which I
have not had time to look at yet.
WLC
of Starkville is a founding member of the Friends of Noxubee
Refuge and one of the Starkville Audubon Chapter and the
National Butterfly Association, she is enthusiastic about
anything dealing with nature. Margaret has been an involved
in the Refuge’s management of the endangered red-
cockaded woodpecker for "forever" and has volunteered
countless hours monitoring individual birds, nests and
populations. She received Regional Director's Honor
Awards for her outstanding volunteer activities in 1995 and
2006.
On a more personal note, Margaret and her husband, John,
have a son and two grandchildren. She is the receptionist
and office manager for Copeland Clinic and also teaches a
Sunday School class for two-year olds, her "favorite age to
work with," at the First United Methodist Church in
Starkville. As you can tell, she stays busy!
Margaret wants to encourage people to become volunteers.
She said, “There is a peace and satisfaction that comes from
being in nature and making a difference.
Andrea
Dunstan
As many of you probably already know, about
4:30 pm some people who were watching the
eagle nest and taking photographs saw one of
the eaglets take off flying.
Unfortunately, I was about 10 minutes late for
this event but did see "him" perched in a tree
as I was walking down to the "nest viewing
area."
This may not have been this eaglet's first
flight since as some observers noted it was a
pretty good job of flying, perhaps as the result
of previous flights.
The attached photo shows "Mama" and "Little
Brother" watching anxiously as the flying
eaglet attempted to land in the nest tree. The
landing was not nearly as smooth as the
flight, but since he didn't hurt himself it would
have to be considered a success.
4:30 pm some people who were watching the
eagle nest and taking photographs saw one of
the eaglets take off flying.
Unfortunately, I was about 10 minutes late for
this event but did see "him" perched in a tree
as I was walking down to the "nest viewing
area."
This may not have been this eaglet's first
flight since as some observers noted it was a
pretty good job of flying, perhaps as the result
of previous flights.
The attached photo shows "Mama" and "Little
Brother" watching anxiously as the flying
eaglet attempted to land in the nest tree. The
landing was not nearly as smooth as the
flight, but since he didn't hurt himself it would
have to be considered a success.
April 09
All eagles are accounted for in the
photo. The flying eaglet is coming
in for a landing to eat an early
supper of fresh fish that Dad
brought to the nest. The flying
eaglet flew in circles over near the
road where we usually photograph
the nest. "He" seemed to be
enjoying flying and demonstrated
that he had learned a lot since we
first saw him fly last Saturday. One
of the adults started calling loudly
and he immediately headed for the
nest. I saw no indication that the
other eaglet had flown or was
about to fly although it did flap its
wings and jump up in the air
several times in the nest, and
spent some time "branching" on
one of the large limbs on the south
side of the nest.
All eagles are accounted for in the
photo. The flying eaglet is coming
in for a landing to eat an early
supper of fresh fish that Dad
brought to the nest. The flying
eaglet flew in circles over near the
road where we usually photograph
the nest. "He" seemed to be
enjoying flying and demonstrated
that he had learned a lot since we
first saw him fly last Saturday. One
of the adults started calling loudly
and he immediately headed for the
nest. I saw no indication that the
other eaglet had flown or was
about to fly although it did flap its
wings and jump up in the air
several times in the nest, and
spent some time "branching" on
one of the large limbs on the south
side of the nest.