Eagles will bother other eagles and osprey by trying to steal fish they catch. Who bothers an eagle? For one, some little birds will pester the eaglets after they fledge. On this day it happened to be a red-winged blackbird.
Little Pest
I have not checked up the eaglets in a while. I know one fell out of the nest before it was ready to fledge and broke its wing on the way down. It is at a rehab that specialises in eagles. Two remained and both fledged. Last I heard one flew to the river and never returned to the nest area. We are hoping it is hanging out down there. The third is a late bloomer. It only flies to the river to loose the pests that bother it. It is has been sticking closer to the nest.
Little Pest- Photo Bomb
In the above picture it looks like the red winged blackbird is having fun. It was trying to attack the eagle from behind it, at times hitting its tail area.
Little Pest- a gutsy bird
The red winged blackbird has a lot of guts landing next to the eaglet. So far this eaglet has no clue what to do about these little pests other than fly away. Have a great Thursday!
I first saw the eaglet not flying on Sunday. Today the DEC and a rescue group, Friends of Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center sent representatives to try to capture the eaglet. It has been grounded since Sunday after it left the nest.
When they came multiple people helped look for her in the woods. She had jumped off a cliff onto a tree branch and the consensus was watch and if she was grounded again contact them. FFF’s representative, Mike, gave me his number to send him pictures of the wings. Later in the day when a few others saw a disastrous trip from a tree to the ground, I contacted Mike. He got the ball rolling for the DEC and a State Environmental Conservation Policeman to come.
Last image right before it was caught. This was with my camera, the rest are taken with my phone. This was in the woods, so very low light and early evening.
Those of us waiting for people to try a second attempt at rescuing it were trying to keep an eye on the eaglet in the woods. She slowly walked up the hill taking breaks. It was a steep hill and no doubt was heading up to try to jump off the top again. As another person with me, Kathleen said, he was not getting lift. When they came Mark went above the cliff and I walked up the steep hill to try to pinpoint where the eaglet was. We also had two other ladies below the hill looking for the eaglet. It was hiding low in the brush. When the eaglet called we knew it was between Mark and I. Kevin Wamsley from the State Environmental Conservation Police and Chris Plummer from the Dept of Environmental Conservation came up the hill and looked between Mark and I. They very quickly found the eaglet. It was very close to where I was. Hence the above picture. I went partially down the hill and let the rescuers do their thing.
Look at those talons! Do not try to rescue an eagle on your own. Call in the proper authorities like the DEC, State Environmental Police, or a certified eagle rehabber.
Kevin and Chris quickly with a net and blanket captured the eaglet with only a slight chase. They walked it down the hill a safer way, then put it in a container, and then into a vehicle. Tomorrow it is being picked up by Mike of FFF.
Putting her in the box. They put her in a small box so she is not going to move around much, which should prevent further injuries.
Why was it not picked up earlier? There are evidently other eaglets in the area that were slow to fly when they left the nest. One started flying yesterday or today. The difference was this eaglet has several feathers missing in its wings and tail. They think that is what is hindering it. Because of the other eaglets similar situations in this part of the state, they may have taken a wait and see approach.
The eaglet was taken away by the New York State Environmental Conservation Police today.
I hope to be able to get updates on this eaglet’s progress. A lot of people tried to help today morning and night. We are all relieved the eaglet is getting care and will not be susceptible to predators another night.
I saw this eaglet on the ground not moving around much. It was near the nest tree. When the wind picked up it did walk and flap its wings. Did not see real flying effort.
The man who lives closest to the nest claims it is fine and he has seen it fly. I was there on and off for about 4 hours. I did not see it fly. The parent came by a few times and sropped food off in the nest, but no one saw it drop food off to this one.
This was at the edge of a field. Later it walked on a seldom used dirt road.
Its wing feathers don’t look to healthy. Maybe that is the issue. I am hoping it can get up to a branch tonight and fly to a higher branch. I am concerned about the coyotes, bobcats, and fox in the area getting it.
Does anyone have a clue? Someone else was messaging someone tonight about this eaglet. It looks like it has a problem.
There is new life at one of the local eagle nests overlooking the Hudson River. More branches are obscuring the view this year. This was mid morning and although there was sunlight there was also harsh shadows. As a photographer you secretly wish the people who own the land would trim the neighbouring trees when the eagles are not around in the fall, but you know that would not happen.
Evidently there are two eaglets in the nest this year. I only saw one pop their head up at this nest. This is farthest up it popped.One of the parents. They were feeding the babies something, but I could not tell what it was. It flew off and returned.
Other eagle’s and hawk’s nests did not survive the high winds we received with storms this winter and early spring. This nest has stood the test of time. Is this eagle a master builder?
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