The Eagles' NestPerched high aloft, in stately pine,
An object greets the eye;
The Home of one that flies,
With cautious tread I near the spot,
To get a better view:
When suddenly I find my plot
Is known by others, too.
A whir of the wings, a piercing scream,
Puts courage to the test--
An Eagle--of all birds, supreme--
Has come to guard its nest.
With hurried pace I make retreat,
Nor speak and unkind word,
'Twas uncle Sammy's bird.
Poems from the North Woods published 1922 ~ Page 50
An object greets the eye;
The Home of one that flies,
With cautious tread I near the spot,
To get a better view:
When suddenly I find my plot
Is known by others, too.
A whir of the wings, a piercing scream,
Puts courage to the test--
An Eagle--of all birds, supreme--
Has come to guard its nest.
With hurried pace I make retreat,
Nor speak and unkind word,
'Twas uncle Sammy's bird.
Poems from the North Woods published 1922 ~ Page 50
***ALL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY DECORAH EAGLE RESEARCHERS***
***CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION***
http://www.decoraheaglecamalerts.com/
http://www.raptorresource.org/new.htm
The Raptor Resource Project
Established in 1988, the non-profit Raptor Resource Project specializes in the preservation of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. We establish and strengthen breeding populations of these raptors by creating, improving, and maintaining nests and nest sites. In addition to directly managing over 40 falcon, eagle, and owl nest sites, we provide training in nest site creation and management across the United States, reach more than 85,000 people each year through lectures, education programs, and our website, and develop innovations in nest site management and viewing that bring people closer to the world around them. Our mission is to preserve and strengthen raptor populations, to expand participation in raptor preservation, and to help foster the next generation of preservationists. Our work deepens the connection between people and the natural world, bringing benefits to both.
Eggs laid
2/23/11, first egg at 5:33 p.m., followed by the first Decorah Shimmy of 2011
2/26/11, second egg at 6:42 p.m.
3/2/11, third egg at 6:47 p.m.
Hatches
4/2/11, first hatch in a 24-hour montage
4/3/11, second hatchling
First glimpse 4/6/11, third hatch in close-ups
******Frequently Asked Questions
How high is the nest?
About 80 feet.
How big is the nest?
About 6 feet across, about 5 feet deep; it weighs close to 1367 lb.
How old is the nest?The eagles built it in 2007.
A previous nest close by fell when a windstorm broke one of the branches.
Which is the male and which is the female?
It is hard to tell the difference unless they are both on the nest. The female is larger than the male. This female has an arched ridge above her eyes that goes further back than on the male, and her eyes are surrounded by a greyish shadow; the ridge above the male’s eye is shorter and seems a little closer to the eye. The male has a line around his eyes that makes them look “beady,” and his head looks “sleeker” than the female’s.
What is the history of this male and female?
They have been together since the winter of 2007-2008. Her markings at that time indicated that she was about 4 years old. They successfully hatched and fledged 2 eaglets in 2008, 3 in 2009, 3 in 2010, and 3 in 2011.
What is the area around the nest like?
The nest is in a cottonwood tree on private property near the Decorah Fish Hatchery (operated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources), on the banks of the babbling waters of Trout Run in extreme northeast Iowa. The nest can be seen from the hatchery, but visitors to the hatchery should keep their distance from the nest tree, both to respect the private property where the tree is located and to avoid disturbing the eagles.
Everyone has been anticipating the way to reference the 2012 Decorah eaglets. The first place will be D for the Decorah, Iowa, nest site. Numbers beginning with 12 will follow the D. Each successive year will continue on from the previous year.
We use nomenclature for the following reasons:
D identifies the nest site – Decorah, Iowa
Traditional names can create an undue tendency to anthropomorphize. While the human emotion that may be attached to the eaglets is understandable, an alpha-numeric system for referencing them may help us distance ourselves to observe the wonder of wildlife and nature at work. Beginning at 12 honors the 11 known successful fledges at the nest.
This reference system will allow RRP to integrate their findings more easily with other researchers. This will be easily continued from year to year. For the 2012 nesting season, we will refer to the first egg to hatch as D12. The second is D13. The third is D14.