Swan Lake Eagles, Saanich BC - 2019-2022 Seasons

Post by **sassyk** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 1:10 pm

I visited the nest area on July 14th and saw the lone eaglet sitting up in the nest. I took photos from a few different vantage points along the road. However, I did not see or hear the adults anywhere in the area.

My birding partner also visited the nest on July 14th and the eaglet sitting in the nest.

Post by **sassyk** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 2:01 pm

I visited the Swan Lake nest on July 19th. I chatted with a neighbour who did confirm what we had heard that there were originally 2 eaglets in the nest. The neighbours watched the eaglets interacting with each other then one day they saw it lying on the side of the nest. It was not breathing or moving and it was obviously deceased

The eaglet was wandering around the nest looking very lonely. This nest is in the shade most of the time therefore I have had to lighten the photos.

Post by **sassyk** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 2:04 pm

July 19th cont'd.

One of the adults was perched in the old nest tree and the other adult was perched in a tree close to Swan Lake. I managed to get a photo of it through the street wires.

Post by **sassyk** » Wed Jul 21, 2021 2:09 pm

July 19th cont'd.

I wandered down to the main road where I could get a few closeups of the adult in the old nest tree.

The eaglet was sitting on the edge of the nest looking out towards the parents when I got back to the nest site. Sorry for the poor quality of the photo.

Post by **JudyB** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 7:21 pm

2021 Cam Maintenance
Matching Drive

A little over 17 weeks ago, we met Tiku from our Surrey Reserve nest; this is just before he or maybe she made it all the way out of the shell:

And now Tiku and Tucca from Surrey Reserve and Hope and Chase from Delta 2 have all set out to explore the world.

We do still have one young eagle to watch - this is Romeo from our White Rock nest, who hatched 6 weeks later than Tiku:

At 11 weeks, he (or maybe she) is practicing perching on the nest supports and exercising those big wings. Eaglets generally fledge (take their first flight) between 10 and 14 weeks, and it's my guess that will happen in the next week or so.

And you know - I haven't really thought about this before - but our little window to access the nests and clean the cams and do any other necessary work isn't always that much longer than the 35-40 days it takes an egg to hatch. Last year the Surrey Reserve adults didn't leave until August 14 (though they weren't visiting very often after Thor left in mid-July) - and Dad Sur was back on September 26. Different pairs have different schedules - and it can vary from year to year - so it would be great if we could get ready now.

With that in mind....

We will be posting more details about our Adopt-a-Nest program, the new option to adopt one of our eagles with a tracker (details soon), the Monthly Donor program - and the work we need to do on the 10 cameras we now have at five different nests.

The important thing to know is that at least the first $1000 in donations toward our cam maintenance fund drive will be matched by long-time supporters of Hancock Wildlife - so the time to donate is now!

Details about How to Donate

If you have questions, please contact judyb@hancockwildlife.org or gemini@hancockwildlife.org

Thank You!

Post by **sassyk** » Sat Aug 07, 2021 1:10 pm

Thank you JudyB for your time & effort to support and keep the HWF forum and cams running. The efforts of you and the rest of the admin. team are greatly appreciated

There has been a bit of a mystery at the nest the past week. A week ago this past Wed. my birding partner visited the nest area and saw the eaglet sleeping in the nest and was sure she saw the head move. Last Sunday she visited the nest area and saw what looked like something large and brown and dead in the nest. She wandered around the area and didn't see the eaglet but one of the adults was perched in the old nest tree the entire time. The property owner's wife said she saw the eaglet flapping at the top of the nest tree earlier last week. She took a photo of the nest with a lot of different feathers in it and couldn't tell if they were eagle/eaglet/goose feathers or from some other large bird. The property owner had a look around the nest tree and under the nest but did not see anything.

All of the neighbours we have spoken to said they saw the eaglet up on branches above the nest flapping its wings occasionally. However, it is still a mystery as to what has happened. We both visited the nest area this past Thurs. and took more photos but things definitely looked different in the nest. This is my photo. There were considerably less feathers showing.

It is still a mystery as to what happened and we may never know. We are hoping that what was in the nest was not the eaglet

Post by **sassyk** » Sun Sep 12, 2021 2:45 pm

I have locked this thread with a sad heart as it seems certain that the 2nd eaglet passed away in the nest

I hope to see the adults return to the nest area healthy and well fed within the next month

When the eagles return I will start a new thread for the 2021/2022 season.

Post by **sassyk** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:44 am

This is the opening post for the 2021-2022 nesting season.

Good News!! The eagles have returned

I have unlocked this thread to include the 2021-2022 nesting season. You are welcome to post your observations and photos if you see the eagles in their territory.

The eagles have returned looking healthy & well fed. They have been seen for the past few days by some of the residents who live in the area of the nest. I saw both of them perched in their old nest tree yesterday when I drove by but unfortunately I did not have time to stop and take any photos. I'm looking forward to seeing some fuzzy eaglets in the nest in the spring

Post by **sassyk** » Fri Mar 11, 2022 2:47 pm

Although I haven't been out to Swan Lake or the nest site yet after my hip surgery, a few people have posted photos of the eagles on Facebook. I drove by yesterday and spotted both eagles perched in their old nest tree, looking out over Swan Lake

I had a passenger and didn't have my camera so unfortunately couldn't stop to take any photos. I'm hoping to visit Swan Lake and the nest site in the next few days

Post by **sassyk** » Sun Apr 10, 2022 3:24 pm

My birding partner has confirmed the nest has been active so far this season

I will try to visit the nest area soon, when the weather here gets better. It has been very unsettled lately with rain, wind & hail :holdon:

Post by **sassyk** » Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:04 pm

I visited the nest area on Apr. 19th and saw an adult in the nest. It was standing at the side of the nest looking like it was rolling eggs when I first arrived. I wandered down the road and snapped a photo of the eagle lying down in the nest; hopefully the eagles will have better luck this season with fledging an eaglet

Post by **sassyk** » Thu May 19, 2022 10:04 am

I visited the nest area on May 17th. The female was standing on the side of the nest looking back towards the old nest tree where the male was perched.

As I was walking down the lane the male flew by heading towards the nest. He delivered prey then perched beside the nest.

After the male flew off towards the old nest tree, the female started feeding the 2 eaglets

Post by **sassyk** » Thu May 19, 2022 10:07 am

I was thrilled to be able to see the nest from the lane.

Both eaglets are visible in this photo

I walked down to the road where the male was perched in the old nest tree. He was half hidden right at the top of the tree.

Post by **sassyk** » Thu May 19, 2022 10:17 am

Back at the street side of the nest the female was feeding the eaglets.

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:33 am

I visited the nest site yesterday and both eaglets were visible. One was standing up at the front of the nest and the 2nd one was moving around behind. I didn't see or hear either of the adults.

Post by **sassyk** » Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:49 am

I was informed that one of the eaglets fell from the nest since my last visit and was taken to the WildARC facility in Metchosin. I called to get an update but was informed I would have to fill out a request form and email it to them. I don't have all of the information required but will try to obtain it.

I visited the nest site yesterday morning and the remaining eaglet was lying down in the nest. It called a few times but I did not see or hear the adults in the area.

This photo was taken from the front of the nest.

This photo was taken from the lane down the road.

I went back later in the afternoon and was pleased to see the eaglet perched above the nest. The neighbour
across the road said the eaglet has been branching and exercising its wings for approx. a week.

Post by **sassyk** » Sat Jul 09, 2022 4:57 pm

I made a quick stop at the nest site on my way out to check on some other nests. The eaglet was perched above the nest calling.

Post by **sassyk** » Tue Jul 12, 2022 5:09 pm

My birding partner contacted the property owner regarding the eaglet that fell from the nest, and she got a reply from him today. The good news is that the eaglet is still at WildARC and is doing well

I don't know when or where it will be released but will post further updates as I reeceive them.

Post by **sassyk** » Thu Jul 21, 2022 9:36 pm

I received an email from WildARC tonight with some sad news about the eaglet that fell from the nest.
The eaglet was severely debilitated, and despite the rehabilitation team’s best efforts, the eaglet succumbed to its condition. Very sad news indeed

I was at the nest site yesterday and the remaining eaglet had not yet fledged. It has been up on the branches exercising its wings for a couple of weeks. I received news today that the eaglet was sitting on the lower roof at the back of the property owner's house. A short while later it flew towards the old nest tree and was seen perched in that tree. Earlier tonight it was still perched there. I will be visiting the nest site tomorrow morning. The eaglet has fledged

Photos of the eaglet yesterday. The eaglet was wandering around the nest looking for something to eat.

Post by **sassyk** » Thu Jul 21, 2022 10:35 pm

July 20th cont'd.

The eaglet was thinking about climbing up the tree.

The eaglet was on the move up the tree. I took these photos from across the road.

The eaglet jumped back down into the nest.

Post by **sassyk** » Thu Jul 21, 2022 10:39 pm

July 20th cont'd.

Both adults were perched in the old nest tree when I left.

The adult was looking back towards the nest tree as the eaglet was calling.

Philjo56France · Post by **Philjo56France** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:54 am

Bonjour Sassyk, so sorry to read the bad news about the little one

I can't understand what happened between the 07-12 when all was good for the eaglet and the 07-21 its last day.

I used your pics and put the little eaglet in our "In Memorial" thread

viewtopic.php?p=599673#p599673

Post by **sassyk** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 10:44 am

Thank you so much Philjo56France

Beautiful tribute to all of the precious eagles & birds we have lost

Post by **sassyk** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 4:53 pm

I went to the nest site this morning to see what the fledgling eaglet was up to. It was standing in the nest eating

It disappeared at the back of the nest as I was walking up the road.

Post by **sassyk** » Thu Aug 04, 2022 2:16 pm

My friend who lives across the road from the nest tree has been keeping me updated on the activities of the eaglet. It has been flying back and forth from the current nest tree to the old nest tree a short distance away and has been landing on the chimney and roof of the property owner's house.

I finally made it to the nest site on Aug. 2nd and didn't see or hear the eaglet or either adult while I was wandering up and down the street. As I was walking back to my car I heard the eaglet screeching and saw it flying from somewhere behind the nest tree, circled around the backyards of the houses and landed with a crash in the old nest tree. I walked up the lane and heard it calling a few times but couldn't see it. I walked down to the main road then up the side road behind the old nest tree and saw the eaglet perched at the top. Since I knew where to look then, I walked back to the main road and waited until the eaglet called again and focused my camera on that spot for quite awhile. The eaglet eventually flapped over to the next branch and I got a much better view of it. After watching it for 20 minutes I decided to walk up the lane again and this time I had a fantastic view of the eaglet. It perched there calling and calling but no adults appeared with food. After another 20 minutes and dozens of pictures later I decided to head for home.

My first glimpse from the main road.