Bald EagleOn the pontoon ride today, we checked on the eagle nest and the loon families.
Last week, there was still one eaglet, grown to full size, at the nest. Now we have a different perspective on that. From a distance, we saw both eaglets soaring in circles over the nest tree as if practicing flying. Then one returned to the nest while the other soared higher and higher to become a dot against the blue sky. I didn’t know that eaglets would fly off and return to the nest.
Loon and babyFarther on, a lone loon was voicing the wail used to connect with other members of the family. Then it dove and came up next to the first baby we’ve seen on that lake this year. They can swim faster underwater than on top. As they often do after torpedoing underwater, it rose up and shook its wings and body, showing us the full, nearly 4-foot, wingspan.
CinnamonLater, after coming through a channel into a connected lake we saw the known family with two babies voicing the tremolo that often signals danger. There had been only one parent with the babies, but soon the other was there. Then we looked up and saw the danger. A mature eagle was perched in a perfect position to swoop down and grasp a baby and carry it off like Donna and I saw an eagle do with a mature mallard a couple years ago. I suspect our presence was what made the eagle fly off today. I know eagles have to eat, but we’ve been watching these baby loons grow up and we were glad the eagle decide to try for food elsewhere.
Cinnamon's cubsColleen and Cinnamon and their cubs also stopped by. Cinnamon is shedding and looking almost as black as Colleen where the new fur is coming in on her face and chest as in the picture. In the picture of Cinnamon’s cubs, the one in the foreground is the male.
A nice day with good company and good bears and other excitement. A person couldn’t ask for more.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center