Photo From The Field: Eagle Chicks

Photo Captures Beautiful Eaglets of Different Sizes

by Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist

photo by K. Clark
Photo by Kathy Clark

Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s partner biologist — Principal Zoologist with Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) — Kathy Clark checked on an eagle nest built on a structure only accessible by boat. This photograph shows the three chicks and the difference in their sizes. The youngest chick is approximately 2.5 weeks old, while the oldest is around 3.5 weeks of age.

 

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Larissa Smith is a wildlife biologist for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

Update on Duke Farms Eagle Cam

Juvenile eagle, D-98 recovered dead in Maine

by Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist/Volunteer Manager

Duke Farms eagle chicks in nest after banding on May 14, 2014
Duke Farms eagle chicks in nest after banding on May 14, 2014

On July 27th the juvenile male, D-98, was found dead by residents of Little Sebago Lake in Maine. He was banded at six weeks of age along with his two siblings one male and one female at the Duke Farms eagle nest which was broadcast live online.

His body was found floating in the lake by residents who reported the band numbers to the National Bird Banding Lab. We then received the report that he was found dead and were able to contact the finders for more information. Residents of the lake which is NW of Portland, reported seeing him near an active eagle nest located on the lake. The nest had chicks which had fledged in early July. On July 25th residents reported seeing a juvenile with a green band sitting in a tree near a boat house;

“The youngster had been in a small tree next to our boat house for quite a long time when an adult, carrying a fish, swooped in over the folks sunning on the beach and attacked the young bird. It dropped the fish in the process. The adult flew off leaving the fish and the juvenile behind. Thanks to a cell phone photo, we know that the youngster had the band colors of the later retrieved juvenile”.

While we don’t know for certain we can assume that the juvenile’s death was in some part due to injuries that occurred when it was attacked by the adult.  It is always sad to report on the death of an eagle especially one that hundred’s of Duke Farms eagle cam viewers watched “grow-up”, but it is the reality of life in the wild. The mortality rate for first year eagles is fairly high as they are still learning to hunt and survive on their own.  It is very unusual to receive this much information on the details surrounding an eagles death.  D-98 made an approximately 390 mile trip up to Maine.  He probably found plenty of food at the lake which is why he was hanging around, but ended up in another eagles territory.  Hopefully the remaining two juveniles from the Duke Farms nest have better luck and survive their first year.

 

New Jersey Eagle Chicks Getting Ready To Soar

by: Larissa Smith: Wildlife Biologist/Volunteer Coordinator

Shark River eagle chick © Tom McKelvey
Shark River eagle chick © Tom McKelvey

So far twenty-one eagle chicks have fledged from nests in NJ.  Eagle Chicks take their first flight around 11-12 weeks of age but weeks before that they’ll start  stretching their wings, flapping and hopping around the nest.  These activities help to strengthen the muscles they’ll soon need for flight.  The next step is to start “branching” which means they they’ll hop from the nest to the branches of the nest tree.  They’ll then take short flights to nearby branches to gain strength and confidence.  After fledging they’ll remain in the area of the nest tree for several weeks to learn to hunt and practice flying.

Fairgrounds eagle nest © Kevin & Karin Buynie
Fairgrounds eagle nest © Kevin & Karin Buynie

 

Two Eaglets Have Hatched!

A close up view of the Duke Farms Eagle Nest.

by Larissa Smith, Biologist/Volunteer Manager

If you haven’t yet seen the Duke Farms Eagle Cam please check it out.  It’s a great opportunity to

Adults feed their young at the Duke Farms eagle nest on 4/12/11 @ 7am.

see what goes on at an eagles nest and it can be addicting!  The Duke Farms eagle pair has been nesting on Duke Farms property since 2005 and have raised and fledged eleven chicks. Both the adults in the pair are NJ banded birds which we know by their green leg bands.

This season there are  two chicks.  The first chick hatched on April 7th and the second hatched on April 9th.  The adults will brood the chicks to keep them warm so right now a great time to see the chicks is during feeding sessions.  Both chicks are getting plenty of food!

It’s hard to believe that these tiny chicks will be full grown and flying in about twelve weeks!  To  read  updates on the chicks and their development go to: