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Chat - Wednesday May 20, 2009; Hello Peeps
Topic Started: May 20 2009, 04:13 AM (368 Views)
Topa Topa Hikers
Eagle Guardian
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Topa Topa Hikers
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Norfolk chicks
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Good that the owners of the black lab knew he was special, that he had "The Right Stuff" to be a rescue dog. Great story, Topa.

Glad you like the Norfolk pictures. We don't have too long to wait now!
:><:
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Laurie, I just read about RayRay being in the hospital. I hope the doctors have figured out why he is sick so that he can get well quickly. I'll be thinking of RayRay and his loved ones today. :Hugs:

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Artsy Mom
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Transcript of Live Chat from Eaglet Banding at Norfolk this morning:

Norfolk Botanical: Welcome and we will begin the project soon

Admin: chat room is not enabled for open chat. The regular Eagle Chat Room is open for users to talk amongst themselves.

Norfolk Botanical:At this point we are waiting for one climber to arrive. Dr. Watts will meet with the climber to determine who will ascend the tree to get the eaglet

Norfolk Botanical: In a moment you will see the table where staff from the Center for Conservation Biology will prepare the eaglet for the transmitter

Norfolk Botanical:The media is arriving and beginning to set up. They will be to the right of the table (top in your view).

Norfolk Botanical:General visitors to the garden can witness the event from Renaissance court

Norfolk Botanical: Dr Watts is currently being interviewed by a local TV station

Norfolk Botanical: he is commenting that this is a little more delicate than the banding operation a month ago

Norfolk Botanical: The eagles are older and can be more aggressive so the climber and biologists must be more careful

Norfolk Botanical: We are still waiting for Tim Nuckols to arrive - he is the climber for the day

admin: Perry, several users have asked why only one eaglet is being fitted with the device, and how they chose which bird will get the device

Norfolk Botanical: They will select the largest bird so the weight of the transmitter will have the least impact. It is not very heavy and will not affect flight, but they are looking for the least amount of impact

Norfolk Botanical: I think only one bird is selected because of the cost of the project - this is a question better suited to Dr. Watts - I will try to find out.

admin: Another user asks where the parents are during this activity

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. Watts confirms that the expense is one concern and that they put only on transmitter per brood in an effort to spread the transmitters out among a wider group of eagles to better understand movement

Norfolk Botanical: As for the parents - as you just saw, one parent briefly returned to the nest for a moment just minutes ago. Generally during this process, the adults will circle overhead

Norfolk Botanical: This satellite transmitter is the first to be fitted on an eagle in the Chesapeake bay region and it will help CCB answer the question about where the eagles go.

Norfolk Botanical: The transmitter weighs 70g and is solar powered. It will be fitted on the bird using a harness. The harness will have enough room for the bird to grow

admin: Perry, several users have asked when these eaglets are expected to fledge

Norfolk Botanical: Tim Nuckols has just arrived

Norfolk Botanical: The eaglets will fledge in about a month

admin: Perry, one user asks if the public can follow the eagle's location online via this tracking data

Norfolk Botanical: yes - I will see if we can get the web site listed

Norfolk Botanical: to fit the transmitter - it take about 10 minutes on the ground for them to fit the transmitter

admin: Perry, we have had several questions about the harness, whether it is permanent and whether it is restrictive to the bird's flight and ability to fish

Norfolk Botanical: The climb is about to begin

Norfolk Botanical: The harness will stay on for at least 3 years and the bird could pull off the harness

Norfolk Botanical: Nathan Jones is in the bucket as it heads up to the tree

Norfolk Botanical: Once the transmitter is place you can track the eagle online

Norfolk Botanical: for the tracking site

Norfolk Botanical: also check www.wildlifetracking.org

admin: Perry, several users wonder whether the adult eagles will attempt to defend the nest during the climb

Norfolk Botanical: Nate is preparing the climbing ropes

Norfolk Botanical: Nate is heading up the tree

Norfolk Botanical: The eagles are aware of his presence

Norfolk Botanical: The adults will circle overhead but not aggressively defend the nest

Norfolk Botanical: You can see the shadow of athe adult flying overhead

Norfolk Botanical: also spiders are running across the cam domes

admin: Perry, several users ask if the eaglets are noisy during this activity, calling out etc.

Norfolk Botanical: the eaglets are not vocalizing at this time - it certainly cannot be heard from the ground

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. watts is climbing the tree

admin: Users are wondering about Nathan, and if he was the climber during the banding.

Norfolk Botanical: Nate was one of 2 climbers for the banding

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. Watts is approaching the nest

Norfolk Botanical: The eagles are not very alarmed

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. Watts is looking for the best approach to the nest

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. watts is about to step in the nest

Norfolk Botanical: Tim Nuckols is bringing up a bag to lower the eaglet

admin: Several users have asked about Dr. Watts. Here is a link to the CCB, of which he is the director: http://ccb.wm.edu/

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. Watts prepares the bag

admin: http://ccb.wm.edu/about/about_watts.htm

Norfolk Botanical: He is placing an eaglet in the bag - no problem

Norfolk Botanical: He will secure the bag and transfer it to Nate

Norfolk Botanical: The bag is getting ready to go down

Norfolk Botanical: They are gently lowering the bag

Norfolk Botanical: On the ground is Reese Lukei to catch the bag

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. Watts will descend, the other two will stay in the tree

Norfolk Botanical: Reese will open the bag

Norfolk Botanical: Libby Mojica in the orange shirt is working the transmitter and harness

Norfolk Botanical: His head is covered to keep him calm

Norfolk Botanical: She is fitting the harness

admin: Libby Mojica: http://ccb.wm.edu/about/about_mojica.htm

Norfolk Botanical: She is placing the transmitter on the center of the back

Norfolk Botanical: checking fit, making sure the feathers

Norfolk Botanical: this is the oldest of the 3 chicks

Norfolk Botanical: He has a full crop

Norfolk Botanical: She straightens the feathers out over the harness

Norfolk Botanical: Correction - this is the second eaglet - HH - they think it might be a female

Norfolk Botanical: Adjusting the harness to make sure it is loose enough for safe movement, but not so loose it falls off

Norfolk Botanical: She is making sure the harness is centered and does not interfere with the crop

Norfolk Botanical: The bird is very relaxed

Norfolk Botanical: The cam is so zoomed it si hard for me to hold it steady on the eagle

Norfolk Botanical: The harness is on and she is letting it relax

Norfolk Botanical: The bird was actually asleep while she was fitting the transmitter - Libby had to wake the bird up to make her sit up

Norfolk Botanical: to make final adjustments

admin: In answer to dozens of inquiries about why this particular eaglet was chosen, here is the answer given earlier: They will select the largest bird so the weight of the transmitter will have the least impact.

Norfolk Botanical: Final adjustments

Norfolk Botanical: She is riveting the straps in place so the fit will remain correct

Norfolk Botanical: Libby used a piece of cardboard under the strap while she uses the rivets

Norfolk Botanical: the eaglet has gone back asleep

Norfolk Botanical: She is about 8 weeks old

Norfolk Botanical: Reese is photographing the work up close

Norfolk Botanical: Eaglet is sound asleep - makes the work easier

Norfolk Botanical: Last of the rivets are put in place

Norfolk Botanical: there is still some natal down on the eaglet

admin: Several users have asked if we now know the sex of all three eaglets in the nest

Norfolk Botanical: The oldest and youngest were determined to be males when the banding was done last month. It appears this eaglet is female

Norfolk Botanical: Libby trims off excess harness

Norfolk Botanical: She is superglung the ends of the harness to keep them from fraying - cardboard is between the harness and feathers to protect the feathers

Norfolk Botanical: She is picking the eaglet up and preparing to show it to the public

admin: WVEC.com will post a slideshow of the events later today

Norfolk Botanical: She is being shown to the public and is very calm

Norfolk Botanical: WE cannot see the barricade and the public from our cam

Norfolk Botanical: She has spread her wings for the public

admin: WVEC-TV reporter Joe Flanagan will have a report tonight on 13News. His report will also be on WVEC.com.

Norfolk Botanical: This eaglet weighs about 10 pounds

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. Watts is explaining that the eagle will eventually pull the transmitter and harness off

Norfolk Botanical: He is talking with the public but is turning to return the eagle

admin: Perry, several users wonder if the adults are still circling above

Norfolk Botanical: not at the moment - one report had them over the admin building a few minutes ago

Norfolk Botanical: Joe Flanagin is interviewing right now

Norfolk Botanical: The eaglet is going back in the bag

Norfolk Botanical: It is zipped up and they will attach to the rope for the return home

Norfolk Botanical: one adult is flyng over statuary vista

Norfolk Botanical: the bag is going up

Norfolk Botanical: Nate and Tim are taking the bird out of the bag

Norfolk Botanical: She is back in the nest

Norfolk Botanical: Tim and Nate are preparing to clear the area

Norfolk Botanical: Dr. Watts now thinks that one of the other eaglets - HE - is a female and not a male as originally thought

admin: Perry we have had many many users express their thanks to you for the outstanding play-by-play description of the events, and for the work Norfolk Botanical has done to bring these eagles to the public.

Norfolk Botanical: Nate went down first and is going down in the bucket. Tim will follow

Norfolk Botanical: An osprey is chasing one of the adults flying overhead

Norfolk Botanical: The adults are circling closer as Nate and Tim leave

Norfolk Botanical: Both adults are circling nearby

Norfolk Botanical: thank you everyone who logged in today

admin: We have had many questions about visiting Norfolk Botanical Garden. Here is a link to their excellent Web site: http://www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org

Norfolk Botanical: It is our pleasure - we hope everyone can come to the Garden sometime and visit

Norfolk Botanical: They are now pulling the truck away - this will encourage the adults to return

Norfolk Botanical: Tim is out of the tree

Norfolk Botanical: All is calm and back to normal in the nest.

Norfolk Botanical: We will monitor the audlts today. After the banding last month, they were back on the nest tree within 10 minutes of the truck leaving

Norfolk Botanical: This is the eaglet with the transmitter on the front nest

Norfolk Botanical: On your screen now is the female with the transmitter

She looks great y'all!

Norfolk Botanical: Thank you - I am logging off now

admin: Our thanks to Perry Mathewes, education director at Norfolk Botanical Garden
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Harpo516
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Naturegal,May 20 2009
02:32 PM
This is a post from NinaB that was posted in Nest Obs.

Sorry, I didn't post correctly. I meant to post in nest observations for today, not start a new topic. Anyway, to repeat (hopefully in the right place), in case anyone would like to check it out, a blue-tagged Bald Eagle was seen the past two days and again this morning at the Santa Barbara Cemetery at 901 Channel Drive in the trees along the cemetery property bluffs near the west end (Clark Estate). You can check the discussion posting at sbcobirding.com for the original message as well as any follow-up sightings/pictures if it is seen again.

Nina Bliss

Hi Nina and welcome :}^ . I checked out the website you mentioned and this is a photo of A-35 that was spotted in the cemetery, also a brief bio of this eagle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27856490@N08/...537088808/show/

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Harpo516
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82 back with big fish

kids looking at each other to see who is gonna get it!

mom feeds chick to left but one on right finally makes his move and hogs in between and now getting the bigger share of foods!

now first fed makes his move to get his share! :P

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the kids make sure they each get their share - mom has several bites for herself
one chick up to the little perch rock- mom up to the big perch rock -- then off she goes!


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Topa Topa Hikers
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A-35 looks a little tattered. :unsure:
I hope it's finding enough food to eat.
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Topa - Val is beautiful, I just <3 these dogs, what heart they must have. Wonderful story of the black lab, another happy ending.

Cheryl - Great job on the Norfolk photos, thanks for posting all of them.

Scott - You are so right about Peter, "The Dope on a Rope Guy". (Peter used this expression, not me) rofl
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Topa Topa Hikers
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our newest member
Pmathis205
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Yes, Carole, I'm always afraid to say that about Dr. Sharpe, the Dope on a Rope, in case someone thinks it's my idea and not his. :P I think the Eagles of Catalina DVD is just the best. :)^

A big welcome to Pmathis205, do drop in and say hi. :}^

NinaB and Deb, thank you for the information about A-35. Somebody should leave her a big salmon, or maybe she'll remember her island home and return where there are plenty of  ><'> .



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KLJinOz
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G'day Peeps, just whizzing through, busy today, thanks for posting up the banding in N and update on A-35, how cool is that!
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Topa Topa Hikers
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Topa Topa Hikers
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To Climb A Bald Eagle Nest Tree....
Surmounting the nest isn’t as difficult as I thought it might be.
The alarmed chick softly clucks as I offer him complements
and other kind words. Patience. I move slowly at first, taking more photos
as I further converse with the nervous eaglet. More patience. The chick’s
initial fear gives way to cautious curiosity. He is calmer now and I can move
on to the nest platform without fear of him slipping and falling off.
I wonder what the eaglet is thinking as I gently tap him under the wing
with a stick taken from the nest. He is distracted. My movements are slow
and calculated. The chick barely responds as I move closer and gently place
my hand on his back. I careful make sure to fold his wings to the side before
I pick him up to put him in the bag. The bag is small, which is a good thing,
but it takes some time to get him situated in the tight space.
The chick’s feathers are still developing so I am careful not to damage them.
A smaller bag is better because it limits the chick’s movement during the
ride to the ground, thus limiting the chance of injury if he decides to flap around.
I gently lower the bag to the biologist below.
Patience. It’s my turn to wait while the others do their job.


A- 49 Cruz 2006 Banding Day
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I am alone on the nest…..but not really.
A humming bird comes by for a visit.
It is time for the chick to be returned to the nest.
I slowly pull the bag up from below. As I gently open the bag’s draw-string the eaglet’s
sleepy eyes open and adjust to the light. He gets excited! I can see his new wing tags:
baby blue with the number “49”. I hold him a moment to be sure he is calm and ready
to be back. Number “49” lets me know when he is ready to be released. His breathing
and heart rate calm. It is time for me to say my goodbyes. I wave to the camera and
wonder if anyone is watching. Its time for me to go down. Just a few more kind words
and thanks for bald eagle #49 before I descend.

What a magical day.

A gentle reminder; Please check out the various ways that you can help the
eagles here: http://s11.zetaboards.com/IWS_Eagle_Forum/index/

Snagged from;
Jim C. Spickler
Senior Biologist
Eco-Ascension Research and Consulting


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