Eagle Fishing
 

On Saturday, my daughter and I fetched the boat from the marina and did our own little "shakedown" cruise. We stopped by to check on the eagles, and caught a glimpse of mom or dad up in a tree. The next day, Sunday, we went back with a camera when the rain had stopped, and were treated to a fishing expedition. I posted a few shots in the gallery. I liked this one...


http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...509/Eagle7.jpg

Awesome!! Great pic!!

Eagle Fishing
 

Thank you for sharing the shot, Woodsy! -- heading the gallery to see more. Love to see eagles on the lake.

GB

Eagle Fishing
 

Sorry, Grant -- meant to thank you for the shot! Not that I don't care about Woodsy... ;-)

:rolleye2:

Wow
 

That is so cool! Great picture and thanks for sharing. Where was it taken?

I overlooked the fish that Bald Eagle is carrying. :o

While you're out in your boat, stop by the vicinity of FL18 off Tuftonboro. I saw seven goslings with their parents there—for a total of nine Canada Geese!

I don't think we have any photos of Canada Geese in the gallery. http://www.afte.org/forum/smf1/Smile...smf/smiley.gif

Speaking of the damn geese, just a few days after posting a rant here about the dangers of allowing geese to flourish on the Lake, I was standing on our porch when I thought I saw a large group of loons floating by the dock. I looked again, and was horrified to to see a pair of adults shepherding six goslings along the shore.

"Move along, nothing here for you!"

The offending foul made their way out, across the Lake toward #59 buoy and Camp Winnaukee.

The next day, I saw a long line of them flying overhead. This is not a good sign.

Perhaps we can hire eagles to take them out. Convince them that they taste just like lake fish, but are higher in essential vitamins and antioxidants.

More eagles; fewer geese!

Disregard my last...
 

The pair, with their seven huge (!) Goslings, just went by my place on Friday to visit the newest 2-acre lawn in our neighborhood: then back the other way on Saturday. :(

(I failed to get my camera in time, but never mind anyway. :rolleye1:)

Had To Feed The Baby
 

The eagles need to do a lot of fishing to feed the baby(s)?

Awesome Pictures guys!
 

Grant and Sunset Bob. Nice pictures!

just awesome photos, they are gorgeous!

Great pictures, thanks for posting.

Fortunately, loons like goslings!....taste like fish I guess.

Some Bad News
 

On Saturday morning 6/27/09 I took a trip up to see the eagles.When I arrived at the Island I could not see the eagles.Then I realized that the nest was gone.About that time a forum member The Eagle showed up and told me that the nest had been blown down in a storm last week.He also said that the baby eagle was on the ground and had been abandoned by the parents.

I was so hoping to watch the baby grow up this summer.
What a shame.

I wonder if Fish and Game would step in if they knew this? Maybe get the bird and bring it to the Squam Lake Science Center? Of course I'm assuming the baby is still alive....

Eagle Down
 

I called Chris Martin at the NH Audubon Society this morning.

Eaglet Update
 

Direct from Chris Martin, Senior Biologist, Conservation Department
Pictures by Chris Martin

On Tues 6/30/09, NH Audubon volunteers Hal Busch and Everett McLaughlin and I paddled out to Poplar Island in Moultonboro Bay to investigate the report of an active bald eagle nest that had "disappeared" from the nest tree. The nest was documented to have at least one eaglet as recently as 6/20. On 6/25, Charley Hugel first reported the nest "missing" from the tree, a fact reconfirmed by Donna Ulbricht on 6/26.

As we walked toward the nest tree, Everett McLaughlin was the first to spot the 8+ week old chick (see attached) sitting quietly on a large rock under the nest tree. When we approached the bird, it stood up, spread both wings for balance, and hopped/galloped away without hesitation. It was apparent to us that it had weathered its fall from the tree and the past 6+ days on the ground without much of a problem. We noted a number of consumed fish carcasses scattered on the ground around the site, further evidence that the chick was being fed below the nest by the adults. We also saw both adults nearby.

We decided not to pursue the chick further for fear of injuring it or displacing it from familiar territory. From a management perspective, what is MOST NEEDED for the next couple weeks is for people to remain OFF the island until the chick is able to flap climb up into a tree where it will be somewhat less vulnerable to predators. Water-based observation by volunteers through July should continue. If all goes well, this chick should be flying by the final week in July.

- Chris

Nice work Chris!!

Wonderful!
 

Thanks for the update! :cheers:

Nice to see what looks,for now, like a good ending!

Another thanks!
 

It’s nice to know we have qualified and passionate folks out there trying to monitor and safeguard our natural resources. We must let nature takes it’s course though. Hopefully things will work out for the best.

Great update SCG.Score one for the wildlife vs nature.

I do hope the eagles return to nesting on that spot. Let's hope the youngster makes it through the summer okay. Must've been one hell of a storm to blow that nest down -- think of all the storms over the past year that it withstood!

Eaglet Update
 

I visited the island about noontime today on my Seadoo. Got in real close and shut off my engine. As I floated by, I had a great view of the eaglet sitting comfortably on a large rock away from the shore. Rocky II is BIG. He watched me for awhile then stood up, flexed his wings and hopped/floated down off the rock and into the brush. Looks like he's/she's being well fed. Can't wait to see him/her up in the tree.

Great news, thanks for the upsdate!