Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Camera discussion for the Harrison Mills nest in Harrison Mills, British Columbia

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Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:50 am

.
The Harrison Mills Discussion Forum

Welcome to the 2022-2023 Eagle Nesting Season

Image

This Nest is in the Pacific Time Zone

The adults are Duffer (M) and Dimple (F) (both of those are golf terms, in keeping with the fact that the nest is on the edge of a golf course). They were named by Betty Anne, the great friend of the eagles who used to own the resort where the nest is. We occasionally use Mr & Mrs D when referring to the pair, and Dad Duffer and Mom Dimple to remind people which is which.

There were originally 2 pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cams focused on the nest; unfortunately the South cam stopped working in 2021 and our tech person was not able to get it started again from the ground. Most of the eagles we observe take a long break after the nesting season - and we were hoping to have climbers check or replace the South cam and clean the North cam while they were away - but they only took brief breaks in 2021 and again in 2022 so that didn't happen. The remaining cam is usually focused on the nest, but can also show the eagle activity on the Chehalis-Harrison Flats to the northeast (the resort is on the west side of the Harrison River, just before it joins the Fraser River).



Useful Links

- Weather at Harrison Mills, courtesy of The Weather Channel

- Harrison Mills History and Information Thread

- Link to the 2021-2022 Nest Thread

- Link to HANCOCK WILDLIFE MEMBER'S DICTION-AERIE


Nest Adoptions

2023 Nesting Season – September 2022 – August 2023
This Nest has been Adopted By:

~ Irish Eyes ~
~ Charlie Ipcar ~
~ JudyB ~
~ gemini ~
~ The very generous ongoing support from Jane McLennan on behalf of her grand-children Tamsyn, Lucille, Finola, Hanna and her great-grand-children Ivy, Winter, Winona and Bea ~



Pre-Adoptions for the 2024 nesting season
~ Irish Eyes ~
~ Charlie Ipcar ~
~ JudyB ~
~ gemini ~


ADOPT A NEST OF YOUR OWN
Click here https://hancockwildlife.org/adopt-a-nest

Adopt a Nest Wall of Honor (Right-click and open link in new window or tab to see at full size)

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:51 am

Time Line
  • Adults Return: camera was offline July 27-August 23; the eagles were being seen through July 25 and both were seen on August 24 when the cam came back online; we don't know if they were away while the cam was down.
  • Cam Offline: the camera went offline on March 14 - hoping it will come back as I'm not sure when/if we might be able to get someone out there to check on it
  • Site Visit: CC398 visited the nest area on May 17 and said it appeared that they eagles aren't using the nest this year (link). There are lots of tall trees in the area, and I hope they're having a good year, wherever they are!
  • New Cams Installed: August 25, 2023; connected to internet September 7, 2023

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:21 pm

About the Nest

The nest was 176 feet high in the fall of 2012 when the cams were installed in a huge Douglas Fir tree on the 10th green of the golf course at the Sandpiper Resort in Harrison Mills, British Columbia (site of the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival). The tree is probably more than 250 years old; because it continues to grow, the nest is likely higher now, and there is a lot of tree above the nest (at least another 50-60 feet), so lots of places for the eagles to perch out of sight of the cam.

View of the nest tree and nest from fall 2012, with thanks to Karen Bills (clicks bigger):

Image


View of the tree above the nest, with thanks to JudyB (clicks bigger):

Image


Map of the golf course from fall 2016 showing approximate location of the nest, with thanks to Gail Morris, who wrote the description:

Image

I see that there is some interest in the layout of the golf course and where the nest is in relation to the various fairways. I am attaching an aerial view I got last fall (2016) at the FVBEF which I marked to show (as best as I remember) where the nest is and also the tall fairway tree and Mom's perch. Her perch is, actually, off the map to the right of the blue rectangle, I believe. We cannot see the gazebo structure shown on the shoreline as it is behind the trees. The #10 fairway runs along Morris Valley Road to the nest, from the Sandpiper Inn parking lot, and is North/South I think. You can click the picture to enlarge. Ignore the yellow arrows...they were on the map to show the trail to the gazebo.

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:08 pm

About the Eagles

Eagles from this area generally head north towards northern BC and Alaska when the nesting season ends in mid-August. They stay a while around the northern coast and rivers where the salmon begin to spawn first, then as soon as the spawning occurs farther south the eagles will follow those fish so they can feed off them. Eagles typically arrive back in the Harrison Mills area sometime around late September or early October. The Harrison Mills area, where this nest is located, is noted for its abundance of spawning fish from late October into December - and what is so breathtaking is that thousands of eagles from all over have been seen during this time, and they usually stay around until the fish are gone; they will then move on to their own territories and nesting areas.

Mr and Mrs Honeycomb, the original pair that we watched from early 2013 through 2017, followed that pattern, generally leaving in mid-August and returning in early October.

David Hancock's 2013 article about the history of the Harrison Mills nest - and the history of Mrs Honeycomb - viewtopic.php?p=609367#p609367.

Mr Honeycomb was last seen in mid-June 2017; local observers reported seeing two eagles fighting around that time, and we suspect he may have lost the fight and left. Mrs Honeycomb successfully raised their two chicks, and she and the two chicks left the area in mid-August.

Two adults were seen in the area in late September of 2017, and Mrs Honeycomb returned to the nest on October 3rd; a new male began spending time with her soon afterwards (though we didn't see him come to the nest until March 2018), and they produced one egg. The new male shared in the incubation and helped brood and feed the tiny chick when it hatched on May 21. Those of us watching suspected he was not a first time dad - he seemed reasonably comfortable incubating, and while it took a few tries to connect, was able to get food to the chick the first time he tried. Sadly the tiny chick died during the night of May 28-29 for no apparent reason - possibly some internal defect or maybe a food item that was contaminated (he was fed frog the day before he died). Mrs Honeycomb consumed the remains on May 30. Both adults were on the nest May 31st - the male brought Mrs Honeycomb a huge frog, which she ate. And that was the last time we saw Mrs Honeycomb.

Her mate remained in the area and continued to work on the nest, and after a couple of weeks he brought a new partner to the nest. This new female was definitely an adult, but had a few dark feathers still visible on her head and tail, so we suspect she was 5 or 6 when she arrived in mid-June 2018, and had not nested before. They worked on the nest and the male courted her by bringing food. There were no visits to the nest from August 13 through September 19, 2018. The pair returned on September 20 and began working on the nest; they were given the names of Duffer and Dimple, or Mr and Mrs D for short, later that fall.

For the next three years (2019, 2020, and 2021), Duffer and Dimple returned in September, worked on their nest, mated, and generally acted like a bonded pair of eagles that planned to raise chicks - but did not produce any eggs. We think they took a break away from the area for part of August and September, although the cam was down part of the time at least one year, so we can't be positive how long they were away.

While eagles are generally old enough to produce fertile eggs and raise a family by the time they are five years old (which Dimple was when she first appeared in 2018), some eagles take a little longer. And while some new pairs raise chicks their first season together, others take a year or more to get in sync. And in 2022, Dimple laid her first egg the evening of April 10. Those of us who watch them were ecstatic! And then we wondered why Duffer, who had been a helpful mate to Mrs Honeycomb in their year together, did not come to the nest to help with incubation. The morning of April 12, Duffer landed on the nest briefly then went to a perch, and the zoomer followed him and found that he had apparently been injured, probably in a territorial battle for the nest. There appeared to be a lot of blood on the side of his head and neck, but no long term physical damage that we could see. From the actions of the eagles, we suspect the intruder was in the area for a few more days before giving up and moving on. Duffer successfully protected his territory - but unfortunately this intrusion appeared to disrupt his instinct to incubate. Dimple did a fantastic job caring for the eggs, but she also had to take care of herself, so the eggs were left alone at times, occasionally for several hours - and not surprisingly, they didn't hatch.

They both were great - and we are hoping that they will both be able to focus on raising chicks in 2023. :love:

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:40 pm

Eaglets Produced

Mr & Mrs Honeycomb
2013 - 2 eggs - 2 chicks (Birdie and Bogey) - Birdie fledged successfully
2014 - 1 egg - didn't hatch
2015 - 2 eggs - 2 chicks (Driver and Putter) - both fledged successfully
2016 - 2 eggs - 2 chicks (Sandy and Piper) - Sandy fledged successfully
2017 - 2 eggs - 2 chicks (Bunker and Divot) - both fledged successfully

Mrs Honeycomb and New Dad (later named Duffer)
2018 - 1 egg - 1 chick (Chips) - died when 1 week old

Duffer & Dimple
2019 - 0 eggs
2020 - 0 eggs
2021 - 0 eggs
2022 - 2 eggs - neither hatched

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:18 pm

How to Tell Who is Who - ID Pics 1

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:38 pm

ID Pics 2

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Mon Sep 12, 2022 2:52 pm

ID Pics 3

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Mon Sep 12, 2022 2:52 pm

ID Pics 4

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:20 pm

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:21 pm

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:08 am

NEST VISITS - September 2022

Please refer to the 2021-2022 Observation/Discussion thread starting here for details of visits in September.


One or both eagles seen:
September 1 - Dimple?
September 2 - Duffer?
September 3 - Duffer?
September 6 - both (lots of activity)
September 7 - both (lots of activity)
September 8 - maybe both at different times
September 9 - both (closeup pics on babysitting branch - link)
September 10 - both
September 14 - both
September 15 - both
September 16 - both
September 17 - both
September 18 - both
September 19 - both
September 20 - both
September 22 - both
September 23 - both
September 24 - both
September 25 - not seen but possibly both heard (cam offline part of the day)
September 26 - not seen but at least one heard
September 27 - both on nest
September 28 - both
September 29 - at least one
September 30 - both



No visits reported - September 4, 5, 11 (air quality bad - maybe time for a trip up north), 12, 13, 21

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:09 am

NEST VISITS - October 2022
October 1
viewtopic.php?p=611730#p611730
October 4 10:25a
viewtopic.php?p=612375#p612375
viewtopic.php?p=612378#p612378

October 5, 6 ..No Nest Visits

October 7 .6:50am Dad Duffer and Mom Dimple in the nest
Start here viewtopic.php?p=612896#p612896

October 8, 9 No Nest Visits

October 10 at 8:15a m.Both in the nest...Start HeRE
viewtopic.php?p=613438#p613438

October 10 at5:58pm Both Adults on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=613533#p613533

October 10 at 6:53p .Think Dad back on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=613560#p613560

October 11 ..No Nest Visits

October 12.. Mom Dinple Dad Diuffer on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=613849#p613849

October 13..Both Adults on the nest .Start Here
viewtopic.php?p=614112#p614112

October 14 ..Two Visits
One at 6:52a ..other at 7:43am ..They are mixed .. so start here

October 15 Two nest Visits Mom Dimple , Dad Duffer.. Start here 8:32am
viewtopic.php?p=614478#p614478

October 15 at 6:45p Both on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=614581#p614581

October 16 at 6:58a . Mom Dimple flew in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=614651#p614651
October 17 at 8:11 am Mom Dimple , Dad Duffer
viewtopic.php?p=614857#p614857
October 18 at 12noon ..Actually 11:16am /Start here
viewtopic.php?p=615074#p615074

October 18 at 4:49p
viewtopic.php?p=615158#p615158
October 19 at10am
viewtopic.php?p=615274#p615274
October 20 at 9:46am
viewtopic.php?p=615524#p615524
October 20, 12:09pm.Lots of action on the nest .'N Flicker , Dad Duffer with a fish , Start Here
viewtopic.php?p=615548#p615548
October 20 at 1:28p both Adults on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=615578#p615578

October 20 at 6:40pm Mom Dimple on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=615656#p615656

October 21 at 6:2Oam Windy at the nest Cam went to Black Screen and I can not connect to the NPTZ Cam
viewtopic.php?p=615721#p615721

Ocrober 25 at 10:25 am NPTZ Cam is streaming
viewtopic.php?p=616567#p616567

No nest visits afer the cam was streaming
October 26 Nest Visit ,,Start here
viewtopic.php?p=616795#p616795
October 26
viewtopic.php?p=616869#p616869
October 27,..TrACKER 16 VISITING H MILLS
viewtopic.php?p=616978#p616978
Adult on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=616988#p616988
Nest Visit 11:41am
viewtopic.php?p=617015#p617015

October 28 .. Nest visit
viewtopic.php?p=617209#p617209

Adult on the nest ..start here
viewtopic.php?p=617270#p617270
?Dad Duffer on the nest 'Maybe Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=617323#p617323
Late posting of nest visit from 1:57pm Mom Dimple, Dad Duffer
viewtopic.php?p=617333#p617333
October 29 AT 3:24p .Mom Dimple, Dad Duffer on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=617501#p617501
6:04pm Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=617558#p617558
October 30 , No nest Visits;
October 31 AT 2: 36Pm Both eagles on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=617952#p617952
4:41 pm Both on the mest
viewtopic.php?p=618009#p618009

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:09 am

NEST VISITS - November 2022

November 1 No Nest Visits
November 2 at 4:20 am
viewtopic.php?p=618354#p618354
10:08am Mom Dimple Dad Duffer
viewtopic.php?p=618375#p618375
6:32pm
viewtopic.php?p=618399#p618399

November 3 ,4 No Nest Visits

Nov 5 12:56 pm ,Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=619011#p619011

November 5 Last live feed was 1:59p .. Cam went to Black S creen
viewtopic.php?p=619006#p619006


November 5 at 9:11 pm H Mills N PTZ Cam is back
viewtopic.php?p=619074#p619074

November 6 at 4:43am Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=619120#p619120 4
November 6 at 1:39p Both on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=619238#p619238
November 6 at 5:13pm Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=619301#p619301
November 7 at 7:53am .. Mom Dimple and Dad Duffer
viewtopic.php?p=619441#p619441
2:26pm Adult with food ? Fish Both on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=619503#p619503
4;22pm Mom Dinple eating the Fish
viewtopic.php?p=619552#p619552

November 8 at 7:44am /Dad Duffer on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=619671#p619671

November 9 at 3:56a,, Mom Dimple in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=619831#p619831

November 10 at 2:06am Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=620077#p620077
November 10 at 11:`17
Dad Duffer in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=620131#p620131
Mom Dimple in the nest with Bird 4:21P M
viewtopic.php?p=620204#p620204

November 11
11:42am Mom Dimple in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=620365#p620365
2:29pm Dad Duffer with prey
viewtopic.php?p=620388#p620388

Novemer 12 ..No Nest Visits

November 13 5:48am Mom Dimple in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=620730#p620730
November 14....5:20a Mom Dimple in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=620948#p620948

November 15..3:53am Mom Dimple in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=621157#p621157
2:47pm Mom Dimple on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=621330#p621330
5:11 PM.. Mom Dimple on nest
viewtopic.php?p=621355#p621355

November 16 2:12p Mom Dimple on the nest ..Dad Duffer with food
viewtopic.php?p=621515#p621515

November 17 at 9:53am Mom Dimple and Dad Diuffer on the nest Dad Duffer brought in a Fish Head ... Start here
viewtopic.php?p=621727#p621727
More Here
viewtopic.php?p=621746#p621746
3:19pm /Mom Dimple with food .. Fish
viewtopic.php?p=621820#p621820
N Cam went to Back Screen at 5:33pm..NPTZ is also
viewtopic.php?p=621855#p621855


November 23 at 11:27 am ..Cam is Back
viewtopic.php?p=623070#p623070


November 23 at 5:28pm Someone in the nest...Start here
viewtopic.php?p=623148#p623148

November 24 at 5:53pm Adult Landed in the nest and took off
viewtopic.php?p=623347#p623347
Out of sequence
5:52am Dad Duffer, Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=623365#p623365


November 25 at 9:13am Adult land calling has a fish
viewtopic.php?p=623474#p623474

From the DVR .Mom Dimple with a fish
viewtopic.php?p=623524#p623524

November 26 both Eagles on the nest ..Start here
viewtopic.php?p=623738#p623738

November 27...Cam went to Black Stream at 8:01p m last night and I Can't connect to the NPTZ Cam.]
viewtopic.php?p=623875#p623875

NPTZ Cam is back
viewtopic.php?p=623906#p623906

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Re: Harrison Mills 2022-2023 Observation and Discussion Thread

Post by JudyB » Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:10 am

NEST VISITS - December 2022

:hug: December 1 at 11:02am ..Cam is back
viewtopic.php?p=624979#p624979


1;34pm....Cam is Streaming
viewtopic.php?p=625013#p625013

3:12pm Young Visitor in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=625026#p625026

3:5pm Visit0r is back
viewtopic.php?p=625037#p625037

December 2
12:41p //Mom Dimple with something
viewtopic.php?p=625238#p625238

DECEMBER 3at 8:47am Adult on the nest with food
viewtopic.php?p=625412#p625412

viewtopic.php?p=625419#p625419


3:57pm Someone in the nest with food.Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=625511#p625511

DECEMBER 4
7:46 am Both Adults on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=625643#p625643

8:35am Mom Dimple eating in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=625653#p625653

DECEMBER 5
10:26 AM Both Adults on the nest viewtopic.php?p=625643#p625643
Mom Dimple in the nest
viewtopic.php?p=625653#p625653
DECEMBER 6 at 7:14am
viewtopic.php?p=626231#p626231

DECEMBER 7...... Adult with food //Mom Dimple start here
viewtopic.php?p=626399#p626399
12:04pm'Dad Duffer on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=626454#p626454

12:07..pm 'Out of Sequence Mom Dimple, Dad Duffer
viewtopic.php?p=626473#p626473
More here
viewtopic.php?p=626531#p626531

DECEMBER 8, NO NEST VISITS

December 9 at 4:34pm Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=626999#p626999

December 10.. No Nest Visits .

December 11 7:35am Mom Dimple and Dad Dufffer
viewtopic.php?p=627359#p627359

11:22 am Dad Duffer , Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=627375#p627375

December 12 at 1: 42p Dad Duffer, Mom Dimple .Dad with prey
viewtopic.php?p=627649#p627649

4:41pm Cam to Black Screen Power Outage

viewtopic.php?p=627705#p627705

December 13, at 1:09pm Cam is back

viewtopic.php?p=627896#p627896
No nest visits

December 14 at 9a., Adult on the BSB
viewtopic.php?p=628100#p628100

From the DVR earlier this am Someone in with a Spruce Branch Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=628155#p628155

December 15 at 7:25 AM Dad Dufffer wit food,Mom Dimple takes it
viewtopic.php?p=628309#p628309

DECEMBER 16 at 1:06pm Both on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=628591#p628591

December 17.. No Nest Visits

December 18 Cam is down
viewtopic.php?p=628921#p628921

December 21 at2:41p Cam is Back !
viewtopic.php?p=629825#p629825


December 22 at 3:57pm Adult on nest with food ?Mpm Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=630044#p630044

DECEMBER 23 No nest visits
December 24 No Nest Visits

December 25 at 1:58pm Dad duffer with piece of Fish and juvie on later viewtopic.php?p=630600#p630600

December 26 at 9:56am Dad Duffer on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=630826#p630826

2:06 pm Mom Dimple with food
viewtopic.php?p=630892#p630892

December 27 . No nest visits

December 28 at 10":43 AM ./Mom Dimple on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=631435#p631435

2:33pm Some one eating on the nest ..Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=631470#p631470

December 29 at 11: 29AM Dad Duffer with food eating on the nest
viewtopic.php?p=631693#p631693
December 30...No nest visits
December 31 at 7:52am , Adult to the nest Dad Duffer ,, Then Mom Dimple
viewtopic.php?p=632111#p632111
Mote here
viewtopic.php?p=632161#p632161

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