Surrey Reserve 2020-2021 Observation and Discussion

[joancm]

I'm in love! They are both so cute! Also I am on the West Coast, BC

[Realitia]

A couple images from a feeding in the early evening. SR5 seemed to get the lion's share, so to speak, bonking SR6 into submission every now and then. But SR6 got a few bites in and didn't seem cowed for long.


SR5 got some food on its head for a moment, before the adult scooped it up for another try:

SR6 getting some bites finally...

[Realitia]

A changing of the guard.

[nightowl]

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

[IrishEyes]

Good Morning SR and all,thank you nightowl for starting our day here

Weather Report

5:26a
Res is tucked in brooding the chicks
`

[gemini]

5:22 am Checked through the DVR: All has been peaceful during the night. The only activiy being Mom changing position and poking in the nest.

1:33 am "Hey Mom, how's a guy supposed to sleep when you keep getting up and digging!"

[JudyB]

Good morning, everyone, and thanks for the evening, night, and early morning reports.

6:10 am
Res was just up for a minute, did a bit of calling but Sur didn't come in, so she settled back down.

[JudyB]

Help Wanted

We are looking for people who might be interested in putting together a set of screenshots from each day (or every couple of days) from each of our HWF nests to create a visual growth chart, which we could feature on our website to assist other researchers.

To quote Myles Lamont who suggested this, "It would be great if there was a standard pose or two (laying down vs sitting up) for every couple of days that could be collected throughout the season across each nest site. Would be very good to know if there is much variation between pairs in the region."

I'm not sure what the best way to do this is - does anyone have suggestions?

I'm thinking high res full screen shots would provide the most flexibility - but know that's not always possible.

Thoughts?

And more importantly - any volunteers?





Surrey Reserve, April 5, SR6 - 22 hours, SR5 - 2 days

[JudyB]

6:22 am
Surrey North just went to black screen. I'll send a message to Ken, and I've logged into the cam so I can watch.

Res has called a few more times - I think she's ready for her break!


6:24 am
Up for another stretch and some calling.

I pulled the cam back to watch for Sur's arrival - so now she's starting a feeding.

[JudyB]

Pretty sure SR5 is being fed first.

It takes little SR6 a bit longer to focus on the feeding

But s/he got headed in the right direction, and is also getting some bites.

6:42 am
Ken has restarted the stream so the embedded cam is working, and I've logged out of the cam.

[JudyB]

6:43 am
Sur just arrived.

Surprisingly (at least to me), Res did not get up - and Sur flew off after a minute.

He may have brought more food - the red thing behind Res's tail may be new.

I just watched the South dvr, and I think he brought something - and he flew off with something, though I don't know if it was the same thing.


6:53 am
Res just flew off, leaving the chicks alone briefly, and was back in less than a minute. Definitely more food than chicks on the nest at the moment!

[JudyB]

Interesting....

Had to watch this a couple of times on the dvr. Sur came to the nest - and at 7:09 am he flew off with what appeared to be an unopened bird that had been on the nest

And I think he dropped it as soon as he got off the nest.

And then he fed the chicks from one of the other food items on the nest.

And at 7:19 he has settled in to brood the chicks.


I must admit I have been a bit concerned that having so much food lying around could encourage a hungry juvie to try to grab some - which could have risks to the chicks, the juvie and/or the adults. And I think the bird was some sort of pigeon, and in my possibly biased and non-professional opinion, they may not be the safest food source for the little ones - so I'm not sorry it's gone. I do sort of wonder what instinct caused him to remove it.

[JudyB]

11:50 am
Partly from the dvr....

Res had been on the nest and softly calling - and Sur arrived at 11:32 am

But she didn't get up, so he flew off.

He was back again at 11:37 am.

And he moved a large bird that had been on the nest for a day or two, and I thought he was going to fly off with that one as well.

[JudyB]

Continuing....

But instead he moved over to what looks to me like fish, and started eating.

Res had some thoughts about that...

...and he took the hint and flew off.

[JudyB]

continuing....

Res moved the fish closer to the nest cup, and offered some to the chicks. They weren't interested at first (I think they are being very well fed!), but eventually moved into a peaceful feeding, with both chicks getting some. Both these s'caps click much bigger.

I didn't get pictures, but both chicks did poop shots (usually abbreviated ps); 4-day-old S5 sent his/her over the edge like a big chick (aiming away from the living space is a strong instinct in even the youngest chicks, though they don't seem to have an instinct to look behind before the let go, which can result in adults or siblings with white stripes for a little while). And 3-day-old S6 couldn't quite get the bottom end high enough to send h/h output very far - but it was headed in the right direction!

[Realitia]

Judy, that's great that you caught Sur removing that dead bird; I also saw it and wondered why he was doing that. It's interesting that you raised the concern of eating the pigeon, and I am curious why you think it might not be safe for the eagles, potentially? I'm asking because I noticed what looked like a dead rat on the nest earlier, and I am concerned about raptors eating rats because of the common use of rodenticides. I have heard of several different eagles and owls here on Vancouver Island and other areas in southern B.C. that have been poisoned because of that, and I sometimes worry about the adults unwittingly bringing back a poisoned rat or other animal to feed to the babies.

[JudyB]

Judy, that's great that you caught Sur removing that dead bird; I also saw it and wondered why he was doing that. It's interesting that you raised the concern of eating the pigeon, and I am curious why you think it might not be safe for the eagles, potentially? I'm asking because I noticed what looked like a dead rat on the nest earlier, and I am concerned about raptors eating rats because of the common use of rodenticides. I have heard of several different eagles and owls here on Vancouver Island and other areas in southern B.C. that have been poisoned because of that, and I sometimes worry about the adults unwittingly bringing back a poisoned rat or other animal to feed to the babies.

I haven't done proper research so perhaps shouldn't have posted that. My thoughts were that I have read that there are diseases that can be transmitted to humans by pigeons (I think more by their droppings than by being near the birds themselves), and they are considered pests by those who have to clean up after them, which could lead some people to put out poison. I don't think it's common - but I'd rather see more fish on the nest.

[gemini]

6:21 pm Mom's been a busy girl today brooding her chicks all afternoon with feedings at 1:15 and 2:43 before she left at 4:44 pm.

[gemini]

Cont'd

In the interval between Dad taking over from Mom the kids had a wing wrestling match with SR5 pinning SR6 down twice before Dad arrived at 4:47 to begin yet another feeding!

[Realitia]

A couple images of the eaglets getting an evening snack. Initially, SR5 bonked SR6 into submission, but that one doesn't stay down for long, and actually seemed to get most of the bites in this little meal. Perhaps only because SR5 wasn't very hungry from all the feedings throughout the day!

The "winghold"! It's interesting to observe that SR5 often has h/h little wing over the younger one, which simultaneously serves to keep SR6 down and support SR5 to remain upright! On this occasion, SR6 was in a good position to get lots of bites.

[gemini]

Cont'd

Dad was up at 6:12 to begin yet another feeding. It was an amicable feeding with little to no bonking other than when they were jockeying for position at the beginning of the feed.

6:12 pm Jockeyng for position

6:16 pm Little angels!

6:18 pm Dinner's over

[gemini]

Cont'd

There was a nest exchange at 6:46 pm. As usual Dad is in no hurry to leave.

6:46 pm Mom arrives

6:46 pm Dad lingers

6:47 pm Dad Leaves

[nightowl]

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

[IrishEyes]

Good Morning SR family and everyone..thank you nightowl for starting our day here

Weather Report

3:24a
Very windy and Res is tucked in brooding the SE5 and SR6

[amandafrado]

Bon matin everyone! It's a windy day for Sur, Res, SR5 and SR6! Stay safe everyone

It was mentioned that maybe if one of the eaglets were looking for a name that perhaps our students could suggest one. Is there any chance that that could happen? Our kids are heading into spring break next week and it's looking like our schools might be closed after the break (Covid cases are crazy in our area) so I'm sure that would bring some joy to them. No pressure though! they're also just happy to watch the babies grow and learn about them!

[gemini]

6:31 am It's very windy - Res gets up to leave almost standing still mid air the wind is so strong! While she is gone the kids have a fighting good time with SR6 even getting in a bonk or two of h/h own. One thing is for sure SR6 is a fighter he/she doesn't give up easily!

Mom battles the wind and the kids battle each other

Mom back at 6:34 am

Begins a feed at 6:35 am

Feed over settles in to keep her chicks warm.

[gemini]

7:07 am Moms looking around a lot - looking for Sur likely!

7:08 am She leaves again

7:11am The kids are huddling together to keep warm

[gemini]

7:12 She's back

And still looking for Sur!

[Whovian]

I noticed what looks like a dark marking on one chick. I saw it a few days ago and thought it was dirt, but it’s still there. You can see it in the picture taken yesterday (21-04-07 11:47 am). It looks to be the shape of a sheriff’s badge/star off centre, lower back. Is it a stain, a bald spot, or pigmentation in the feathers/down? I can’t tell the difference between SR5 and SR6 so can’t say which one it is.

[JudyB]

I noticed what looks like a dark marking on one chick. I saw it a few days ago and thought it was dirt, but it’s still there. You can see it in the picture taken yesterday (21-04-07 11:47 am). It looks to be the shape of a sheriff’s badge/star off centre, lower back. Is it a stain, a bald spot, or pigmentation in the feathers/down? I can’t tell the difference between SR5 and SR6 so can’t say which one it is.

I've noticed that as well, Whovian - and my guess is that something sticky got spilled on the chick, possibly during a feeding - but it's hard to be sure. I'm pretty sure it's older chick SR5 who has the spot.

Here are a couple of pictures - the third one clicks much bigger, and the first one is taken directly from the cam, which has smaller images but often crisper images than the feed via YouTube that's on our website.

Good night, everyone!