NCTC Bald Eagles - Shepherdstown, WVA - Seasons 2020 - 2024
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NCTC Bald Eagles - Shepherdstown, WVA - Seasons 2020 - 2023
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2022-2023 Nesting Season Starts Here
2022-2023 Nesting Season Starts Here
2023 Eaglet Info ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Helpful Hints
Re: NCTC Bald Eagles - Shepherdstown, WVA - Seasons 2020 - 2023
2023 Summary
Smitty and Bella laid two eggs, on February 15 and 18.
One of them hatched on March 26 at 2:14 pm - observers think the second one, though either is possible based on the dates (36 days if the second, 39 days if the first).
Chick E7 was named Jefferson, and fledged on June 15 at 81 days old. He or she remained in the area until July 23 (119 days old).
There are a lot more details in the 2023 Daily Journal prepared by Deb Stecyk.
Smitty and Bella laid two eggs, on February 15 and 18.
One of them hatched on March 26 at 2:14 pm - observers think the second one, though either is possible based on the dates (36 days if the second, 39 days if the first).
Chick E7 was named Jefferson, and fledged on June 15 at 81 days old. He or she remained in the area until July 23 (119 days old).
There are a lot more details in the 2023 Daily Journal prepared by Deb Stecyk.
2023 Eaglet Info ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Helpful Hints
Re: NCTC Bald Eagles - Shepherdstown, WVA - Seasons 2020 - 2024
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2023-2024 Nesting Season Starts Here
2023-2024 Nesting Season Starts Here
2023 Eaglet Info ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Helpful Hints
Re: NCTC Bald Eagles - Shepherdstown, WVA - Seasons 2020 - 2024
On a personal note, this nest has one of the first cams I discovered after Hornby and Sidney back in 2006, and I regret that I no longer have time to follow it - there's always that "hours in the day" thing.
2023-24 was an unusual nesting season, with an outcome the is fortunately rare and unfortunately very sad. Because we do try to document unusual occurrences, I'm going to put a summary here. Thanks to the great team on the Bald Eagles 101 Facebook group for providing much of the information included here.
Per the 2023 Daily Journal, there were other eagles in the area last fall, and Smitty was not seen much after September 21st; there apparently is now a new male, and he has been named Scout; I haven't found a journal for 2024, but got the impression from Facebook that Scout is a young male, possibly less than 5 years old - he still has some dark feathers on his head.
Bella accepted the new mate, and they produced three eggs, on February 27, March 1 and March 4.
Sad news - the first egg broke on March 19; it was not incubated during some cold weather so may have been non-viable.
Amazing then tragic news - in spite of being left uncovered a lot in bad weather, the second egg hatched the morning of April 8, and Bella gave her new chick a tiny meal around 5pm; at 7:30 pm, she flew off and young first-time dad Scout came to the nest. Quoting from NCTC's message for teachers about what happened next: "He seemed somewhat confused at seeing the eaglet. He appeared restless and flew to the post for a brief time. After coming back to the egg cup he nipped at the eaglet a few times, but started to brood. Then he started nipping again, was rough with the eaglet and likely wounded the hatchling. After tasting blood, he pulled the eaglet out of the nest cup and consumed the chick." Rest in peace, tiny one.
April 10 - the last egg began to hatch; observers were all keeping their fingers crossed.
April 12 - the second egg hatched the morning of April 11, with hatch confirmed a little before noon; Scout poked at it briefly then put a bit of straw on top of it the first time he was alone with it, then mostly ignored it the rest of the day; Bella brought back a large fish, which Scout took from her and flew off with (I think in "young eagle grabbing what he can get" mode, rather than the "Dad" mode we'd hoped would come). Bella was able to give the chick a few bites this morning from leftovers on the nest around 7:36 am, then she flew off, probably at least partly in search of food. Scout arrived on the nest, removed the chick from the nest bowl, and seeing it as food, killed and ate the tiny one.
Rest in peace, tiny one, and fly high with your sibling, far beyond the sky.
2023-24 was an unusual nesting season, with an outcome the is fortunately rare and unfortunately very sad. Because we do try to document unusual occurrences, I'm going to put a summary here. Thanks to the great team on the Bald Eagles 101 Facebook group for providing much of the information included here.
Per the 2023 Daily Journal, there were other eagles in the area last fall, and Smitty was not seen much after September 21st; there apparently is now a new male, and he has been named Scout; I haven't found a journal for 2024, but got the impression from Facebook that Scout is a young male, possibly less than 5 years old - he still has some dark feathers on his head.
Bella accepted the new mate, and they produced three eggs, on February 27, March 1 and March 4.
Sad news - the first egg broke on March 19; it was not incubated during some cold weather so may have been non-viable.
Amazing then tragic news - in spite of being left uncovered a lot in bad weather, the second egg hatched the morning of April 8, and Bella gave her new chick a tiny meal around 5pm; at 7:30 pm, she flew off and young first-time dad Scout came to the nest. Quoting from NCTC's message for teachers about what happened next: "He seemed somewhat confused at seeing the eaglet. He appeared restless and flew to the post for a brief time. After coming back to the egg cup he nipped at the eaglet a few times, but started to brood. Then he started nipping again, was rough with the eaglet and likely wounded the hatchling. After tasting blood, he pulled the eaglet out of the nest cup and consumed the chick." Rest in peace, tiny one.
April 10 - the last egg began to hatch; observers were all keeping their fingers crossed.
April 12 - the second egg hatched the morning of April 11, with hatch confirmed a little before noon; Scout poked at it briefly then put a bit of straw on top of it the first time he was alone with it, then mostly ignored it the rest of the day; Bella brought back a large fish, which Scout took from her and flew off with (I think in "young eagle grabbing what he can get" mode, rather than the "Dad" mode we'd hoped would come). Bella was able to give the chick a few bites this morning from leftovers on the nest around 7:36 am, then she flew off, probably at least partly in search of food. Scout arrived on the nest, removed the chick from the nest bowl, and seeing it as food, killed and ate the tiny one.
Rest in peace, tiny one, and fly high with your sibling, far beyond the sky.
2023 Eaglet Info ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Helpful Hints
Re: NCTC Bald Eagles - Shepherdstown, WVA - Seasons 2020 - 2024
I have read posts by Debs on Facebook and this is very sad news indeed 
It was joyous news when the first chick hatched but ended in tragedy. I'm very sad for the people who have been watching this nest Sending hugs to all of you 
It was joyous news when the first chick hatched but ended in tragedy. I'm very sad for the people who have been watching this nest Sending hugs to all of you 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.
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.