Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

To store all archived 'Nests in BC - with Ground Observers' topics
stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:44 pm

Welcome to this nest site. The nest tree is on private property on Chaster Beach on the Strait of Georgia in Gibsons, BC.
Just follow Gower Point Rd out of Gibsons until you drive onto Beach Esplanade. The nest tree is upside of the road about 2/3 of the way along The Esplanade.
This is a well established nest, over 25 years old according to people who live there.
We've been following nest activity here since 2011. Please feel free to submit pictures, or just drop in to say hi and tell us of any eagle activity you see if you visit this nest site.
We only saw 1 eaglet in the nest this year, a lovely big eaglet, and were told of a successful fledge on or around July 20.

History:

2011 not being used
2012 July, 2 eaglets seen fledged
2013 2 eaglets seen Prince & Abby
2014 Jan 5 one adult seen. Eaglets ? I met a neighbour who lives nearby who told me that the young are heard in the morning and evening.
2015 1 eaglet, 1 seen after fledging
2016 2 eaglets Pico and Elusive fledged
2017 1 eaglet seen flying on or around July 20

Pa is banded. Every year since 2011 we get confirmation he has returned by sighting the band and one day we hope to get the number for David H to check a bit of Pa's history.

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:45 pm

This was the nest as of Oct. 8. Both eagles have been back for about a week according to someone who walks there frequently. Taken from the beach.
021.jpg

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:49 pm

Reserved

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:57 pm

I visited our Chaster couple on a beautiful sunny Oct 8. I saw the first eagle whom I believe to be the female on a large rock at water's edge at low tide. Pa flew in, around over the water and disappeared in a tree along the beach according to a couple walking. A family of otters was cruising by. Apparently Ma and Pa were harassing them, perhaps even stealing food just before I arrived. The otters disappeared on down the shoreline toward 3 fishermen.
This is the rock near the nest tree.
In the last picture Ma had flown down the beach to join Pa but he had then left.
010.jpg
003.jpg
018.jpg

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:08 pm

I've been down to Chaster a few times without seeing any eagles. January 22 I walked in the sun looking for a white head somewhere in the trees with no luck. An eagle coasted by me over the road going east to west but disappeared toward the water, my view obscured by trees. I never did see him again. A friend and her walking partner assured me that eagles are there.

A view of the nest, which is getting harder to see as the green foliage grows higher around it. I had to back up from the Love Shack property until I could see enough of the nest to photograph.
370.jpg

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:11 pm

Back to the nest again March 10. I've been by it a few times without seeing any eagles.
No sign of brooding.

I noticed an eagle fly onto a large rock in the water so headed down to see him. I haven't seen an eagle feed there for years! This guy certainly enjoyed his crab meal! I was able to check for Pa's band and there wasn't one! For some reason this fellow was well into Pa's territory without being escorted out. It all felt wrong but I did enjoy watching him eat.
In the very last picture he has his head turned and then upside down to get every morsel.
701.jpg
737.jpg
741.jpg

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:21 pm

Still eating.
743.jpg
745.jpg
750.jpg
This is the picture with his head turned around and upside down!

User avatar
marg
Content Provider
Posts: 1232
Joined: Feb 19, 2018
Location: Davis Bay, Sechelt BC

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by marg » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:28 pm

Great captures Sandra! It must have been very interesting watching him eat. I wonder who this eagle is perhaps another nest nearby?
:D
Sunshinecoast Marg
Member since 2006

Image

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:28 pm

I have spoken with a friend and another HWF member who watches this nest and both have seen unusual activity here recently. We are questioning if the nest is being used this year and whether possibly even a new couple has taken over part of the territory. Eagles have been seen flying up Chaster Creek with sticks. Another couple has been seen flying into a stand of trees near the nest tree. I hope we can determine what is going on!

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:35 pm

Hi Marg! :bye 1: We were posting at the same time. I am suspicious that this male eagle might be new in the territory but how, we are not sure. Karen and I are both on the lookout for Pa's band.
Thank you for helping me get this far. Still some kinks to sort out but we're getting here, into the new forum thanks to your help yesterday.

User avatar
sassyk
Content Provider
Posts: 3165
Joined: Feb 20, 2018
Location: Victoria BC

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by sassyk » Thu Mar 22, 2018 4:51 pm

Sandra wonderful photos of the eagles. We are also experiencing territorial take-overs here. The female eagle at the Epicure nest at Pat Bay is definitely not our Ma Sidney :(
Member since 21 June 2006
Volunteer Nest Monitor for Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program (WiTS)
If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.

stim
Content Provider
Posts: 833
Joined: Mar 02, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by stim » Sat Mar 24, 2018 6:48 pm

I'm sorry to hear that Kay. Sad to see the Sydney couple get replaced.

Mushka
Posts: 230
Joined: Apr 01, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by Mushka » Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:39 pm

Things do seem quite different this year, I still haven't seen banded Pa and no adult in the tall skinny tree near the end of Ocean Beach Esplanade which always seemed to be a favourite perch. Also, no activity at the nest tree when I've been by.

I stopped by yesterday, and again did not see any activity at the nest tree but noticed an adult perched in one of the trees further back behind the houses. I took some pictures to try and show which tree the adult was perched in, which may be close to where a new nest is possibly ? When I was down that way a while ago I did see an adult fly in behind the houses into the trees but couldn't see where he or she went.
056.jpg
Taken from the pull out just down from the mail boxes closer to nest tree
063.jpg
Adult perched at the top of a tree behind the houses, picture taken standing on the road near the mail boxes
018-1.jpg
Taken with phone to try and show distance between where the adult was perched and the nest tree.
Last edited by Mushka on Wed Apr 04, 2018 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
marg
Content Provider
Posts: 1232
Joined: Feb 19, 2018
Location: Davis Bay, Sechelt BC

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by marg » Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:35 am

Hi Mushka, thanks for your information and pictures on this nest. :)
I have also seen an eagle in the past perched in a tree several houses along to the left of the nest tree.
Sunshinecoast Marg
Member since 2006

Image

Mushka
Posts: 230
Joined: Apr 01, 2018

Re: Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2017-18

Post by Mushka » Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:11 pm

.
Finally! Two adults perched in the nest tree :)

I was in the area with one of our dogs this afternoon and was surprised to see two eagles perched on the curved branch that comes out from underneath the nest and overhangs the road. Unfortunately the pair were facing the wrong direction and I was unable to get a picture of their legs to look for a band no matter which angle I tried. This is the first time I've seen any eagle activity at the nest tree so far this year and hoping this is a good sign.

051-1.jpg
Two adults perched on the curved branch that the nest sits on.
065-1.jpg
Taken from underneath the branch standing on the road.
079-1.jpg
Taken from another spot in front of the nest tree, both were calling as another adult flew by high overhead.

Locked

Return to “Archive - Nests in BC - with Ground Observers”