Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Moderator: N Amer Eagle Cam TA's
Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Welcome to the Trio of Eagles thread!
First off I'd like to give a huge thank you to Debs for starting this thread in 2016. Most of the text below is all due to her hard work in putting this together. Thank you Debs!
Welcome to the observation thread devoted to a Fulton Trio of eagles ... yes three adult bald eagles, one female and two males that share a nest at Fulton, Illinois.
Apparently this trio have been together since 2013 although the Trio's activity has not been documented via live cam until 2016. Please see the Past Nest History for more details. These birds are not banded or wing blinged.
We look forward to your contributions and extend our warmest thanks to the members and viewers that contribute to our journal here ... its your observations, captures and videos that enhances the learning process, which makes our experience here much more enjoyable ... so warmest thanks to you all! There is a copyright requirement when sharing screen captures, video or any images so please read the posting guidelines below.
The nest is located on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Fulton, IL
Cam and Important Links
Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge with Cam Link:
http://stewardsumrr.org/webcams/bald-ea ... JAx_f0rnPo
Direct Link to the Stewards YouTube channel for access to the cam:
https://www.youtube.com/user/stewardsumrr?app=desktop
Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge - Facebook Link
https://www.facebook.com/stewardsoftheu ... CH&fref=nf
PAST HISTORY OF THE TRIO NEST
• 2004 – The nest and eggs were destroyed by high winds.
• 2005 – The nest and eggs were destroyed by high winds.
• 2006 – One mate died after flying into an electrical power line. The other mate abandoned the nest and eggs.
• 2007 – Two young fledged.
• 2008 – Three young fledged.
• 2009 – One chick fledged, but flew into an electrical power line and died.
• 2010 – Three chicks fledged.
• 2011 – The nest was relocated and webcam installed. Wooden supports were added to the old nest for stability.
• 2011 – Eggs were laid, but parents abandoned nest. The tree collapsed in June, due to wind.
• 2012 – Nest was rebuilt in old location, near Lock and Dam 13. Two eggs were laid and eventually hatched. Behavior of male (Valor) indicated that he was young and didn’t know exactly what to do. He had limited interest in incubation and feeding. Both eggs hatched, but each eaglet at 3 days old perished.
• 2013 – New nest location. Three adults were around nest. Behavior indicated that Valor I was replaced with Valor II. The pair successfully raised 2 eaglets.
• Working on moving camera to new location. We need to raise some money to purchase electrical wire.
• Camera was placed in mid November, 2013 at nest location. However, there are several new nests being built. We are waiting to see where they settle before proceeding with camera setup.
• 2014 – unable to see nest due to vegetation, saw three adults eagles around the nest.
• 2015 – Eagles worked on two different nest locations. Nest that was used in 2013 was the site they used at the last minute. Unable to get camera hooked up due to disturbance. 3 eaglets were fledged. Three adult eagle were seen around the nest site.
• 2016 – Trio of eagles (two males, one female) successfully fledged 3 young. Finally documented that indeed all three are sharing in all aspects of nesting. Video was taken of all three copulating, building the nest and raising the young.
Note: The cams went down in April of 2016 and unfortunately we missed quite a bit of the 2016 nesting season.
2017- Two eaglets hatched and one egg remained for the duration of the season. On March 24, 2017 Mom Hope went into battle with intruders. An extensive search was conducted the by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for her. She was never found. Both Dad’s stepped up and did an amazing job of successfully raising the 2 eaglets to fledge.
2018 - Starr would be a first time Eagle Mom this year. She had two eggs. Orion (as we named her on this thread only) hatched on March 20th. She is called E1 by the Stewards. Little Sirius (or E2) joined her in hatching on March 21st. Unfortunately we lost little Sirius on April 18th. It’s never easy to lose an eaglet. This was extremely hard to watch and it truly was heartbreaking.
We still had Orion and watched her grow with the loving care of her 3 parents. She truly is a big beautiful eaglet. Unfortunately the bugs on the nest got to be more than she could tolerate any more and she took the big leap on May 19th at the age of 8 ½ weeks. A bit too early to fledge. She was seen on several occasions at the refuge on the river where her parents continued to take care of her. Orion never returned to the nest.
Photo from SueB of the Orion just before she lept from the nest. Link to the thread for the 2018 nesting season
First off I'd like to give a huge thank you to Debs for starting this thread in 2016. Most of the text below is all due to her hard work in putting this together. Thank you Debs!
Welcome to the observation thread devoted to a Fulton Trio of eagles ... yes three adult bald eagles, one female and two males that share a nest at Fulton, Illinois.
Apparently this trio have been together since 2013 although the Trio's activity has not been documented via live cam until 2016. Please see the Past Nest History for more details. These birds are not banded or wing blinged.
We look forward to your contributions and extend our warmest thanks to the members and viewers that contribute to our journal here ... its your observations, captures and videos that enhances the learning process, which makes our experience here much more enjoyable ... so warmest thanks to you all! There is a copyright requirement when sharing screen captures, video or any images so please read the posting guidelines below.
The nest is located on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Fulton, IL
Cam and Important Links
Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge with Cam Link:
http://stewardsumrr.org/webcams/bald-ea ... JAx_f0rnPo
Direct Link to the Stewards YouTube channel for access to the cam:
https://www.youtube.com/user/stewardsumrr?app=desktop
Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge - Facebook Link
https://www.facebook.com/stewardsoftheu ... CH&fref=nf
PAST HISTORY OF THE TRIO NEST
• 2004 – The nest and eggs were destroyed by high winds.
• 2005 – The nest and eggs were destroyed by high winds.
• 2006 – One mate died after flying into an electrical power line. The other mate abandoned the nest and eggs.
• 2007 – Two young fledged.
• 2008 – Three young fledged.
• 2009 – One chick fledged, but flew into an electrical power line and died.
• 2010 – Three chicks fledged.
• 2011 – The nest was relocated and webcam installed. Wooden supports were added to the old nest for stability.
• 2011 – Eggs were laid, but parents abandoned nest. The tree collapsed in June, due to wind.
• 2012 – Nest was rebuilt in old location, near Lock and Dam 13. Two eggs were laid and eventually hatched. Behavior of male (Valor) indicated that he was young and didn’t know exactly what to do. He had limited interest in incubation and feeding. Both eggs hatched, but each eaglet at 3 days old perished.
• 2013 – New nest location. Three adults were around nest. Behavior indicated that Valor I was replaced with Valor II. The pair successfully raised 2 eaglets.
• Working on moving camera to new location. We need to raise some money to purchase electrical wire.
• Camera was placed in mid November, 2013 at nest location. However, there are several new nests being built. We are waiting to see where they settle before proceeding with camera setup.
• 2014 – unable to see nest due to vegetation, saw three adults eagles around the nest.
• 2015 – Eagles worked on two different nest locations. Nest that was used in 2013 was the site they used at the last minute. Unable to get camera hooked up due to disturbance. 3 eaglets were fledged. Three adult eagle were seen around the nest site.
• 2016 – Trio of eagles (two males, one female) successfully fledged 3 young. Finally documented that indeed all three are sharing in all aspects of nesting. Video was taken of all three copulating, building the nest and raising the young.
Note: The cams went down in April of 2016 and unfortunately we missed quite a bit of the 2016 nesting season.
2017- Two eaglets hatched and one egg remained for the duration of the season. On March 24, 2017 Mom Hope went into battle with intruders. An extensive search was conducted the by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for her. She was never found. Both Dad’s stepped up and did an amazing job of successfully raising the 2 eaglets to fledge.
2018 - Starr would be a first time Eagle Mom this year. She had two eggs. Orion (as we named her on this thread only) hatched on March 20th. She is called E1 by the Stewards. Little Sirius (or E2) joined her in hatching on March 21st. Unfortunately we lost little Sirius on April 18th. It’s never easy to lose an eaglet. This was extremely hard to watch and it truly was heartbreaking.
We still had Orion and watched her grow with the loving care of her 3 parents. She truly is a big beautiful eaglet. Unfortunately the bugs on the nest got to be more than she could tolerate any more and she took the big leap on May 19th at the age of 8 ½ weeks. A bit too early to fledge. She was seen on several occasions at the refuge on the river where her parents continued to take care of her. Orion never returned to the nest.
Photo from SueB of the Orion just before she lept from the nest. Link to the thread for the 2018 nesting season
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
A special thanks goes to SueB for creating this beautiful collage of the Trio eagles and their eaglets. The collage represents each weekly birthday starting at the top with the three eggs then working clockwise for each week with the most current in the center (May 2019).
COOPERATIVE BREEDING AMONG BALD EAGLES with credit to © elfruler 2018 - elfruler.com
http://www.elfruler.com/?page_id=910&fb ... DuTrOpToUA
Bald Eagle Trio Paired for Life? with credit to Birding News on February 27, 2019
https://otwtb.birdwatchersdigest.com/bi ... p9w2Vz47BI
Credit SueB
Our Trio eagles are mentioned in two articles providing information about cooperative breeding among eagles. History is provided, along with the history of the Trio, history of cooperative breeding at Catalina Island, California is provided. Truly a fascinating read. COOPERATIVE BREEDING AMONG BALD EAGLES with credit to © elfruler 2018 - elfruler.com
http://www.elfruler.com/?page_id=910&fb ... DuTrOpToUA
Bald Eagle Trio Paired for Life? with credit to Birding News on February 27, 2019
https://otwtb.birdwatchersdigest.com/bi ... p9w2Vz47BI
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Meet the Trio! Starr, Valor 1 and Valor 2.
ID Photo update - January, 2019 © 2019 StewardsUMRR, JCWiFi ~ s'cap credit SueB
ID Photo update - February, 2019 with description Please click to enlarge.
© 2019 StewardsUMRR, JCWiFi ~ s'cap credit SueB
ID Photo update - January, 2019 © 2019 StewardsUMRR, JCWiFi ~ s'cap credit SueB
ID Photo update - February, 2019 with description Please click to enlarge.
© 2019 StewardsUMRR, JCWiFi ~ s'cap credit SueB
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Summary of the 2019 Nesting Season
Eggs Laid:
1st egg (Harmony) laid Monday, February 18, 2019 at 8:35 am
2nd egg (Joy) laid Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 4:14 pm
3rd egg (Peace) laid Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 5:14 pm.
Hatch Dates:
Harmony - 1st egg hatched on March 27, 2019 (first sighting, March 28, 2019 at 5:23 am)
Joy - 2nd egg hatched (first sighting), March 29, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Peace - 3rd egg hatched (first sighting) April 1, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Branched:
Harmony: Monday, May 27, 2019 at 6:27 am to the upper (attic) branch - 60 days old
Joy: Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 1:31 pm to the upper (attic) branch - 69 days old
Peace: No branching was done before accidental fledge
Fledged:
Peace: Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 1:30 pm - accidental fledge - hit by Joy as Joy was trying to go to the attic, and accidentally flew into Peace, pushing h/h off the nest. 66 days old.
Harmony: Monday, June 17, 2019 at 5:42 am - 81 days old
Joy: Monday, June 17, 2019 at 7:38 am - 80 days old
Summary of 2018 Nesting Season: Starr's first nesting season with the Valors.
Eggs Laid:
1st egg (Orion) laid Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 3:44 pm
2nd egg (Sirius) laid Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 6:10 pm
The eaglets:
1st eaglet (Orion) hatched March 20, 2018 between 8 am and 9.30 am
2nd eaglet (Sirius) hatched March 21, 2018 between 5 pm and 6.30 pm
Branching and Fledging:
1st eaglet (Orion) didn’t branch but fledged May 19, 2018 at 6:29 pm. Orion was 8.5 weeks of age.
2nd eaglet (Sirius) passed away of unknown causes on April 19, 2018. Soar high and fly free little one. We will miss you.
Summary of 2017 Nesting Season
Eggs Laid:
1st egg (Stormy) laid January 26, 2017
2nd egg (Sunny) laid January 29, 2017
3rd egg laid February 1, 2017 (egg wasn't viable)
The eaglets:
1st eaglet (Stormy) hatched - March 7, 2017 - fledged on May 30, 2017
2nd eaglet (Sunny) hatched - March 9, 2017 - fledged on May 30, 2017
Please note that the eaglets do not have official names in keeping with the policy of those managing the Upper Mississippi River Refuge; we have chosen to use nicknames on this thread to help us identify them as they grow. Please do not use our forum nicknames anywhere except on this forum. Thanks.
Eggs Laid:
1st egg (Harmony) laid Monday, February 18, 2019 at 8:35 am
2nd egg (Joy) laid Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 4:14 pm
3rd egg (Peace) laid Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 5:14 pm.
Hatch Dates:
Harmony - 1st egg hatched on March 27, 2019 (first sighting, March 28, 2019 at 5:23 am)
Joy - 2nd egg hatched (first sighting), March 29, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Peace - 3rd egg hatched (first sighting) April 1, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Branched:
Harmony: Monday, May 27, 2019 at 6:27 am to the upper (attic) branch - 60 days old
Joy: Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 1:31 pm to the upper (attic) branch - 69 days old
Peace: No branching was done before accidental fledge
Fledged:
Peace: Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 1:30 pm - accidental fledge - hit by Joy as Joy was trying to go to the attic, and accidentally flew into Peace, pushing h/h off the nest. 66 days old.
Harmony: Monday, June 17, 2019 at 5:42 am - 81 days old
Joy: Monday, June 17, 2019 at 7:38 am - 80 days old
Summary of 2018 Nesting Season: Starr's first nesting season with the Valors.
Eggs Laid:
1st egg (Orion) laid Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 3:44 pm
2nd egg (Sirius) laid Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 6:10 pm
The eaglets:
1st eaglet (Orion) hatched March 20, 2018 between 8 am and 9.30 am
2nd eaglet (Sirius) hatched March 21, 2018 between 5 pm and 6.30 pm
Branching and Fledging:
1st eaglet (Orion) didn’t branch but fledged May 19, 2018 at 6:29 pm. Orion was 8.5 weeks of age.
2nd eaglet (Sirius) passed away of unknown causes on April 19, 2018. Soar high and fly free little one. We will miss you.
Summary of 2017 Nesting Season
Eggs Laid:
1st egg (Stormy) laid January 26, 2017
2nd egg (Sunny) laid January 29, 2017
3rd egg laid February 1, 2017 (egg wasn't viable)
The eaglets:
1st eaglet (Stormy) hatched - March 7, 2017 - fledged on May 30, 2017
2nd eaglet (Sunny) hatched - March 9, 2017 - fledged on May 30, 2017
Please note that the eaglets do not have official names in keeping with the policy of those managing the Upper Mississippi River Refuge; we have chosen to use nicknames on this thread to help us identify them as they grow. Please do not use our forum nicknames anywhere except on this forum. Thanks.
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
In Memory of Mom Hope
Even though Mom Hope is no longer a part of the Trio she deserves a special section. She lost her life protecting her babies, defending the nest from intruders. Mom Hope may you fly free and soar high.
Mom Hope feeding the little Trio in 2016. Mom Hope is standing. She truly was a very beautiful eagle. Mom Hope feeding Stormy and Sunny in 2017. You will not be forgotten Mom Hope. We still miss you.
Even though Mom Hope is no longer a part of the Trio she deserves a special section. She lost her life protecting her babies, defending the nest from intruders. Mom Hope may you fly free and soar high.
Mom Hope feeding the little Trio in 2016. Mom Hope is standing. She truly was a very beautiful eagle. Mom Hope feeding Stormy and Sunny in 2017. You will not be forgotten Mom Hope. We still miss you.
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Last year the Valor's found a new mate. In January the Stewards announced her name.
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Thanks RitaR for the amazing introduction
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Thank you, Rita, for opening the forum for the 2018-19 season.
4:24 pm Valor 2 at the nest having a meal. Looks handsome as always.
4:24 pm Valor 2 at the nest having a meal. Looks handsome as always.
“Eagles: When they walk, they stumble. They are not what one would call graceful. They were not designed to walk. They fly. And when they fly, oh, how they fly, so free, so graceful. They see from the sky what we never see.” – Unknown
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
4:24 pm Valor 2 flies after his meal.
“Eagles: When they walk, they stumble. They are not what one would call graceful. They were not designed to walk. They fly. And when they fly, oh, how they fly, so free, so graceful. They see from the sky what we never see.” – Unknown
- Philjo56France
- Posts: 53087
- Joined: Feb 23, 2018
- Location: France
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
i that, for her RitaR, like you wrote Mom Hope deserves very much our thoughts.RitaR wrote: ↑Fri Oct 12, 2018 1:43 pmIn Memory of Mom Hope
Even though Mom Hope is no longer a part of the Trio she deserves a special section. She lost her life protecting her babies, defending the nest from intruders. Mom Hope may you fly free and soar high.
You will not be forgotten Mom Hope. We still miss you.
Good luck to the Trio and their followers for the new season !
Last edited by Philjo56France on Mon Jun 17, 2019 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
E9: 7 yo / † E14 †
One day in the wild is worth a lifetime in a cage. B.Shofstall
RIP 2017 to 2023-2024
One day in the wild is worth a lifetime in a cage. B.Shofstall
RIP 2017 to 2023-2024
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
10:35 am caught Valor 2 and Starr at the nest this morning. Valor 2 flew shortly and then Starr hung around for about 10 minutes before she flew. I didn't catch her leaving.
“Eagles: When they walk, they stumble. They are not what one would call graceful. They were not designed to walk. They fly. And when they fly, oh, how they fly, so free, so graceful. They see from the sky what we never see.” – Unknown
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
10:35 am Starr at the nest this morning just watching. She stayed for about 10 minutes after Valor 2 flew.
“Eagles: When they walk, they stumble. They are not what one would call graceful. They were not designed to walk. They fly. And when they fly, oh, how they fly, so free, so graceful. They see from the sky what we never see.” – Unknown
- Philjo56France
- Posts: 53087
- Joined: Feb 23, 2018
- Location: France
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Good Morning all, bonjour Sandy_W
The cam seem to be 6 min late
01h08 Empty nest
The cam seem to be 6 min late
01h08 Empty nest
E9: 7 yo / † E14 †
One day in the wild is worth a lifetime in a cage. B.Shofstall
RIP 2017 to 2023-2024
One day in the wild is worth a lifetime in a cage. B.Shofstall
RIP 2017 to 2023-2024
- Philjo56France
- Posts: 53087
- Joined: Feb 23, 2018
- Location: France
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
04h00 an eagle in the nest !
Sorry, i have to go, have a good Sunday (11h08am at home) E9: 7 yo / † E14 †
One day in the wild is worth a lifetime in a cage. B.Shofstall
RIP 2017 to 2023-2024
One day in the wild is worth a lifetime in a cage. B.Shofstall
RIP 2017 to 2023-2024
Re: Trio of Eagles 2018-2019
Sunday - October 14, 2018
Good morning Philjo. Thanks so much for checking in on the Trio. Wow, we do have an eagle in the nest. What a wonderful surprise to see one of our Trio sleeping in the nest.
Good morning Philjo. Thanks so much for checking in on the Trio. Wow, we do have an eagle in the nest. What a wonderful surprise to see one of our Trio sleeping in the nest.
“Eagles: When they walk, they stumble. They are not what one would call graceful. They were not designed to walk. They fly. And when they fly, oh, how they fly, so free, so graceful. They see from the sky what we never see.” – Unknown