Resighting banded Bald Eagles
by Larissa Smith, CWF biologist
Each year biologists with NJ Fish & Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program & CWF venture out to eagle nests to band the chicks, take blood samples and measurements. The chicks are banded with a green NJ band that has a specific code and a silver federal band. At the time of banding the chicks are approximately six weeks old and have a few weeks left in the nest before they fledge. In 2018, we started to publish the re-sightings in the Annual Eagle Report. In 2022, we have already received quite a few re-sightings. E/63 is one of those eagles.
E/63 was banded May 1st, 2018 at the Galloway nest in Atlantic County when she was six weeks of age. She fledged in early June along with her sibling.
She was re-sighted in February 2021 along the Hackensack River, Bergen County. At that time she was a little over two and a half years old.
This year she has been spotted by several people once again in the Hackensack area. The side by side comparison photos below, show the difference a year makes in her plumage.
In 2023 she’ll be five years old, mature and ready to find a mate. Will she return to southern New Jersey to nest or stay up in the Northern NJ area? Hopefully this won’t be the last time we get a re-sighting of E/63.
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How wonderful that E/63 has been seen so many times doing well! What a beautiful eagle! Yesterday (1/28/22) during the snow fall (as in the top photo), I was out doing my nest checks and saw many eagles of different ages. The eagles seemed to be more active than usual soaring, hunting and cavorting while the humans were hunkered down indoors! I think we were all having more fun out in the snow!
What a wonderful post about this beautiful Bald Eagle. I love seeing the photos of her being banded. E63 is the first banded Bald Eagle I have sighted. Wishing her all the best as New Jersey’s Bald Eagles continue to thrive.
I enjoy reading about our banded eagles and their journeys!
Another exciting year!! Thank you ALL, volunteers particularly!
As a elderly man at 72 years of age, I recall the fond times of taking that leisure drive through the Delaware Water Gap in New Jersey. A photographer I am who has traveled the roads of our country America to discover the diversity of the land. To be part of the circle Planet Earth. ( The Circle of Man ), given to us for our adaption to natures ways. Man’s hands his touch is like no other on Earth. What I found in my touch of life is love and appreciation walking the trail my pathway in life. I keep my distance as I should binoculars, cameras, gear, a sandwich, and large bottles of water my reliable 4 wheelie and it’s cruse through life. Tears come to my eyes when I see high in the sky Americas Bald Eagle. Congratulations to the CONSERVATIONIST THE BALD EAGLE LIVES ON I have a degree in Conservation many years in the past, but I myself wanted to bring to light in the media PLANET EARTH There is no other Living Planet GRD