Chaster Beach Eagle Nest on the Strait of Georgia, Gibsons BC on the Sunshine Coast 2019-2020

[stim]

Welcome to this nest site. The nest tree is on private property on Chaster Beach on the Strait of Georgia in Gibsons, BC. There is a claim out there that it is 400 years old.
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. Apparently the tree is 400 years old.
We've been following nest activity here since 2011. At that time we noticed that Pa is banded on his right leg. We've been unsuccessful getting all the numbers off the band to trace his history but keep trying. A friend who has followed this nest for 19 years says Pa has had the band from her beginning with him! On his return from the fishing fields each fall we look for his band to make sure it is our Pa.
Youngsters here tend to be about a month behind the norm for local eaglets since Pa found a new mate after Ma disappeared in 2014.
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.

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
2018 2 eaglets confirmed fledged Aug 5, still there August 16, both heard talking to each other but not seen.
2019 2 eaglets confirmed in the nest, 1 confirmed fledged. We hope the second one got out of the nest and away from us before we could claim its fledge status.

[stim]

Reserved

[stim]

Reserved

[stim]

I checked on this nest Sept 27 looking for 1 or both of our eagles. None to be seen nor heard at the time. These are pics of the nest as it was then, first from the front, then from beyond the Love Shack. It looks like some sticks have been added at the front compared to how it looked in August.

[Mushka]

Thank you for opening this thread Sandra. I was along OBE walking our dog on October 3rd and noticed an eagle on the beach, eating. I was able to take a couple of pictures from the roadway before the eagle flew off and after downloading the pictures was able to clearly see a band on the right leg, Pa !

After putting Yogi back into the vehicle I walked down to the water to see what was being eaten, it was an octopus, maybe they are too tough or not very interesting, but for some reason Pa did not eat much before flying off.

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

Eagle, which turned out to be Pa, eating on the beach. If you look closely you can see the octopus he is standing on.

The octopus!

The band on the right leg is clearly visible when the eagle flies away

[stim]

I was hoping you'd post these Karen! Marvellous pictures! I love that you caught Pa's band first thing this fall. We know it's him! Lots of octopus to share. Unique discovery.

[Mushka]

Thank you Sandra! Yesterday I was back walking along OBE with Yogi and saw Pa eating again. Not an octopus this time Will post some pictures I took from the roadway soon, this was closer to the larger pullout with the little outhouse.

[Mushka]

I was back along Ocean Beach Esplanade again on Tuesday with our dog (Yogi) and while driving to the end of the road noticed Pa Chaster perched on a rock eating. Again ! This time he had apparently just stolen a fish from a river otter, I missed the fish swap but did see the otter just as it left the rock, leaving the fish behind. I took a few pictures from the roadway while Pa ate and a small contingent of crows flew in and waited patiently.

I don't know if he left them anything because I then drove to the end of the road and started walking with Yogi.

While we were on our walk, heading back along the road, I noticed a family of otters playing / swimming just off shore, and then one coming up with a rather large flounder!

Shortly after an adult eagle few in and perched in a tree, watching. There is no band, so maybe Ma Chaster ? Or another eagle passing by ?

But the otters were wise to eagles now after just losing a fish to Pa Chaster so quickly came in to shore and all ran as fast as they could towards the bank (and probably their den), the otter with the fish in the lead

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

I arrived just after Pa Chaster had stolen a fish from the otter, who quickly disappeared back into the water

Enjoying his free meal

Crows patiently waiting for scraps

[Mushka]

A few more pictures from Tuesday further down Ocean Beach Esplanade.

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

Otter family on a rock partically submerged, one with the flounder

Adult watching, no band, maybe Ma Chaster ?

Running as fast as they can back to their den, with the fish

[stim]

Wow, you did see a lot going on Karen! Otters aren't something I've seen there recently. How cool if we have them to observe now along with eagles!
I don't feel I know Ma Chaster but we can hope that she has now returned too!
Thank you for the great sightings, photos and reporting!

[stim]

This visit to the nest site was Oct 27. I arrived to find Pa perched on his bouncy branch, then discovered Ma was hidden in the greenery by the nest, possibly in the nest as she flew out, up the roadway toward Roberts Creek and up to the right into the evergreens, to return with a branch for the nest. Pa departed as well, returned with a branch and so they did a few times while I watched, snapped pictures, talked with people walking by. Lots going on during the time I was there but apparently 2-3 hours after I left both humpbacks and then orcas swam by!
What was missing was Pa's band in any of the photos I took. The behaviour of choosing his bouncy branch to land and depart from is like our Pa's. A week prior to this visit Karen got pics of Pa wearing his band.

The first people I met was this couple joking about getting their picture taken, so I did and they gave me permission to post it. Very near the nest tree.

Ma was the first to fly away for a stick. Pics can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Next Pa followed Ma to the same spot she headed.

Pa returning with a small stick.

Pa going in for a landing without a stick. I love how gracefully they land.

Front of the nest with more sticks than on my last visit.

A group of gulls having a feeding fest the whole time I was there. No wonder the whales arrived.

Heron on the feeding rock also looking for food.

It proved to be a busy visit with over 100 pics snapped.

[Mushka]

Lots of action during your visit Sandra, wonderful pictures and nice to know that the nest is being built up. Funny about the couple having their picture taken Sounds like it was very busy along OBE with the orcas and humpbacks going by later too!

I was down that way on December 15th with Yogi and as we drove towards the end of OBE to walk from that end I noticed a couple of people standing on the roadway looking down at the beach, so of course stopped to see what they were looking at. It was Pa standing in the creek getting a drink. I didn't see any activity at the nest tree or Ma but was nice to see the band and know that it was Pa Chaster having a drink.

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

[stim]

Nice photos of our Pa Karen. And good that Pa flashed his bling for you, which he did not do for me in my last photos! I figured it was gone. Will keep checking it again now!

[Marg]

Thanks for the collection of pictures you two!

[Mushka]

I've been by the nest a few times while walking our dog but haven't seen much in the way of eagle activity lately, then on Sunday (Feb. 2nd) while driving along Ocean Beach Esplanade I saw the shape of an eagle perched on the curved branch beside the nest so thought it might be Pa Chaster. After I pulled over to take some pictures and zoomed in with the camera I realized that it wasn't an adult eagle at all.

Wondering if this may be a previous years youngster back for a visit ? Certainly seemed quite at home

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

Curious, watching a woman and her dog walk underneath the branch.

[stim]

Lovely shots and a great catch Karen. Looking old enough to possibly be starting to have a few of those mating hormones happening?
I may as well add pics I took of the nest last week, Jan 29. Looks like they've been adding to what was left last season.

Front.

Back.

[Mushka]

I was down at Chaster Park / Ocean Beach Esplanade today walking our dog and noticed an eagle at the edge of the water just past the creek eating, zoomed in with my camera and saw the band so knew it was Pa Chaster. Because I was with Yogi I couldn't go down onto the beach so pictures are taken from the road and I also couldn't make out what he was eating. But, he seemed to be enjoying whatever it was even if two pesky crows kept flying at him trying to get him to move along, which he didn't until he was finished

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

[stim]

Wow Karen, you do get some excellent shots! In the first it almost looks like the crow landed on Pa! Marvellous photos. You should frame some to sell for Gibsons Rehab!
I always like to see our couple eating a good meal.

[Mushka]

Thank you Sandra! While I was watching it looked like the crow might have actually been hitting Pa's back with its feet to get him to move, not sure if a crow is that brave though. I'm a bit late posting this update, the pictures were taken February 22nd while I was walking our dog along OBE. I spotted two adults perched at the top of a tree by Camp Road, wasn't sure if they were the Chaster couple at first until they flew off and I managed to capture Pa's band in a picture.

About a half hour later after our walk I drove back towards the nest to see if there was any activity there, when I arrived I could see an adult in the nest who flew out soon after I arrived and landed on the curved branch beside the nest, the band on the leg showed it was Pa!

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge.

Chaster couple perched at the corner of OBE and Camp Road

Pa Chaster landing on the curved perch branch after leaving the nest

[stim]

Years ago I witnessed a crow dive bombing a perched Pa Stalashen close enough to move feathers on the side of his body. Your crow was a bit more cautious attacking his back. Pa couldn't really fight back quickly enough to retaliate. Pa Stalashen waited for his moment and after many dive bombs flew up after the crow and caught it in midair while it was flying away then floated right down into the nest where there was a youngster. Nice fresh meal.
Lovely shot of them both and once again, reinforcement that our Pa Chaster still rules there. We must ask Angela his age. He's definitely getting on! Thanks Karen!

[JudyB]

Fund Drive for Hard Drives

Good afternoon, everyone! I have just learned that we do not have the hard drives we need to record our cams as we approach little chick time - and we do not have the funds necessary to buy them.

These are the high resolution drives that are connected directly to the cams at the site, making it possible to record high quality videos of events at the nests - and we usually have them up and running before the eggs are laid. As you know, we already have eggs at three of our four nests, and they are likely any day now at the fourth nest - so time is of the essence.

Our tech person Ken is estimating that it will cost about $7000 to buy the high quality, high capacity drives needed for our 9 cams, and while we are keeping up with our regular monthly expenses, we don't have the extra money needed to buy and install the hard drives.

I know this is a hard time financially for many of us, with many businesses closed - but it may also be a time when some of us are staying home and watching the eagles after cancelling planned trips or dinners out - and I'd like to ask those who can to contribute towards these hard drives.

Details about How to Donate

If you have questions, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Thank You!

[Mushka]

I always wonder if crows push it just a little too far, haven't seen what you saw yet Sandra not sure I want too but I'm sure one day it'll happen.

Have only been for a walk with our dogs along Bonniebrook a couple of times since social distancing came into effect, but was there yesterday. Zoomed in on the nest as we walked underneath and past the tree, looking back while heading towards the large pullout. Could see a head in the nest, possible brooding maybe ?

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

Looking back at the nest after we'd walked by

Head peeking out from the nest

Another picture of the head seen in the nest

[stim]

I suspect you caught one of our adults brooding, sitting high enough that eggs have likely hatched. Looks like Pa to me. A little early for this couple but we'll see when the youngsters fledge. Well done! I was doing a finger count yesterday thinking eggs should be hatching in the area. What a great view the adults have facing out over the Strait as they are. Thanks Karen!

[stim]

Interesting in that I returned to the nest site yesterday around 3:00 pm to find no eagle sightings, no eagle sounds. No head in the nest. I did hear a loud seal bark though but by the time I got to an area where I could see it it was out quite a way. It looked to be interacting with a couple of paddle boarders. I'm not sure who approached whom! Too far out for photos.
I wish we could find a perch tree Ma or Pa might use relatively close to the nest tree.

[Mushka]

I must just hit it lucky sometimes when I'm by that way Sandra, stopped by and checked the nest a couple of days ago (Friday) and again could see an adult in the nest. Pictures were taken from the down side, just past the large pullout / parking area, looking towards the nest tree. I did go onto the beach to try for better pictures but couldn't see as well. This was about 3:50 pm.

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

[stim]

Glad you saw someone in the nest. I like the second photo with parent looking down as they often do on cam, at youngster(s) in the nest. As much as I love seeing our eagles I am glad you know how to time your visits and share your findings.

[Mushka]

It's been a while since I've really seen any activity at the nest, I walk past there a couple of times a week with our dogs and have only see an adult perched on the curved branch beside the nest, but no head peeking out from the nest or any youngsters so far. On June 9th though I did see an adult in the nest so hoping that's good news or that someone else has seen something more than I have.

Karen H

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge

June 2nd

June 9th

June 13th

[stim]

Is that a mossy tree limb that has come down on the nest? Remember last year debris was in the nest likely from some dead branches above? I have thought that 1 of the youngsters was injured and didn't make it then. Hopefully if this is a fallen part of a branch it didn't cause injury!

[Mushka]

It does appear to be a mossy branch Sandra, here's a closely cropped picture showing it better. This was taken on the up side of the nest, by the mail boxes / "Love Shack". I do remember last year and though of the same thing this time, maybe why no youngsters have been spotted yet ? Or could just be timing that none have been seen yet.

I was back that way with the dogs yesterday and again only saw an adult on the curved perch branch.

Karen H

[stim]

How concerning. Thanks for the enlarged photo. I meant to get down yesterday but was too worn out by errands.