The Wildlife Corner

[laniebelle]

Losing B12 is so very upsetting. My heart is so sore for her wonderful parents, Mom and Dad Berry, who did everything they could. Philjo, Pascale, and Chris - thanks for expressing your disappointment regarding the actions (or non-actions) of the authorities. I know they were monitoring the situation, but it seems like any response they were considering would have been way too slow. All the viewers knew early yesterday that something was definitely wrong and that B12 was in distress and could not move; then she stopped eating. Those should have been enough clues for immediate action. I am feeling sad and depressed, and angry, too.

Pascale, I was remembering Honor having her leg stuck in the nest, and the quick rescue that happened. Why wasn't anything done here? It was certainly a crisis situation that needed immediate intervention. Not a wait and see situation. Deeply disappointed in Berry.

[laniebelle]

Berry just released this:

We've received many questions about the recent heartbreaking deaths of our two eaglets. At 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 27th, we will live stream a Q&A at https://www.berry.edu/eaglecam/ with Berry Associate Professor of Biology Renee Carleton and Berry College Elementary School teacher Lewis Byrne. The session will be recorded and posted later for those who cannot tune in live. Please comment with your question on this post only. We will get to as many as we can, but will not be able to answer all. Thank you.

[NestFriend]

I join all of you who are disgusted by the lack of action at Berry. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[Philjo56France]

Second egg for Decorah Mom yesterday

First egg for Liberty and Freedom at Hanover nest


Mimi, Lanie, ChrisH

[Pascale]

everyone...

[jwin36]

I am so sad about the loss at the Berry nest.. It is never easy to watch young animals pass. But I would like to add that we do not know why either of the chicks died. They both passed quickly and were not really visible. If we knew ahead of time what would happen then I am sure there would have been an intervention. I cannot blame anyone for this now. We really don't know why. There may not have been anything to be done and if the chick was removed and then died I think that Mom and Dad Berry would have been much more traumatized. I will imagine in my own mind that what happened is a part of a natural process.
The eagles will move forward and continue life as they must.
I hope that all the followers of Berry will heal as well.

[NestFriend]

Have you ever seen an eagle pick up an egg with his talons?
https://youtu.be/492rJq49WMU

[laniebelle]

I have heard that it may have been fishing line in the nest bowl that little B12 got tied up in. If so, that is a real shame since that was human caused and could have been prevented if someone had not been careless in disposing of their fishing line.

Here is the recorded livestream interview with Dr. Renee Carlton of Berry College, answering many of the questions posed about the eaglets death. I have not had a chance to watch it yet myself.
https://tinyurl.com/y4772kyo

[laniebelle]

Here is a beautiful poem that I think may bring some comfort. It was shared on Facebook to the B3 Branch Buddies group. The author, Jim Hightower, gave me permission to share his poem.Laniebelle

Jim Hightower‎ to B3 Branch Buddies - Berry College Eagles

Years ago, I put this little piece together just from memories of things I had witnessed in my life (up until then). As you read this, you will notice that it deals with "nature" in its entirety. For the recent events at Berry college, I would think that if everyone commits their memory to the Good Times we've witnessed at that nest, the last verse would be so appropriate.

Good Times

By Jim Hightower

Did you ever hear a meadowlark whose song was full of cheer?
Did you ever see a mountain stream flowing fast and clear?
Or see a rainbow ‘cross the sky so bright and full of hue?
Or the beauty of a newborn dawn still moist with last night’s dew?

Have you seen a rosebud ‘tween the thorns so tight but anxious to bloom?
Or watched a spider weave his web in the corner of a room?
Or seen the clouds go gliding by on breezes, oh, so soft?
Or played in hay, fresh cut that day, now stored in the barn’s giant loft?

And what about the cry you hear from a babe who breathes his first?
And the joyful face of the infant’s mom as she gives to quench his thirst?
Have you seen the tide come rushing in to wash the shoreline clean?
Have you felt the raindrops, soft and cool? They’re sure to change the scene!

Have you ever felt the fluffy snow, so cold to your warm touch?
Or tasted melons from the patch . . . the kind you like so much?
Or felt the thundering, rumbling sound from lightning’s nearby strike?
Or seen the stars, so far but bright, on a dark and cloudless night?

Have you tasted honey from the hive where the bees have labored long?
Or heard the woodpecker’s rat-tat-tat? Surely, his favorite song!
Or walked along a forest path and heard those strange, strange sounds
Of creatures lurking, hiding there? Prob’ly just playing around.

Have you smelled the blossoms Spring has brought, so nice and new and sweet?
Maybe picked a few, or one or two, to make her day complete?
Or the best thing yet: Her secret smile? The one that’s just for you!
Her hint of pleasure that’s on the way to be enjoyed by two.

So think of these and other things - just let your mind run free
About the way things were today, and re-runs you WILL see
Of Mother Nature and her ways of brightening up your day.
Just memorize these fresh, good times. And in your mind, they’ll stay

[NestFriend]

This is a beautiful poem Laniebelle, thanks for sharing it.

[Pascale]

this interview made me feel even mad. this biologist said maybe it was respiratory infection. how could have b12 cried for despair during 8 hours with a respiratory tract infection??? point submitted by lady hawk. did the biologist even watch videos?
with maybes... maybe if they had helped he will still be alive. that's all I have to say. maybe he'll be alive.

yes I'm still angry.

[Philjo56France]

this interview made me feel even mad. this biologist said maybe it was respiratory infection. how could have b12 cried for despair during 8 hours with a respiratory tract infection??? point submitted by lady hawk. did the biologist even watch videos?
with maybes... maybe if they had helped he will still be alive. that's all I have to say. maybe he'll be alive.
yes I'm still angry.

I noticed also she was very sad too, and may be it's not veident for her too to make something
even if i'm angry (but only against what happened) i understand they couldn't use a truck to go there with a so wet ground after all the rain they had. At the end, notice her face, Pascale, she was very close to cry and many things they said have sense too … but without the body, impossible to know why S12 stayed stuck and died like s/he did. and it is what we do not admit.

Thanks Lanie for the poem from Jim Hightower.

[laniebelle]

Dr. Renee Carlton kind of discounted the idea of fishing line, but I'm not so sure about that. I think they need to send someone up to the tree when Mom and Dad are no longer around, and go through that nest bowl to make sure there is nothing (fish line or other things that could cause harm) to any future eaglets. If it was fish line, it was a senseless death that was human caused, and that is a damn shame. That makes me mad, too.

Dr. Carlton did seem to have emotional feelings for the eaglets and Mom and Dad Berry. We'll never know what Berry's conversations were with Dept of Natural Resources and federal Fish & Wildlife. I know we all are still trying to come to terms with this and of course we all wish it had ended differently.

Peace and Love, My Friends

[eagleslanding]

So it is back to the cold again. Minus 30 below windchills for the decorah eagles. This is really hard on the eagles.when you look at the cam you can't feel their cold.
Thank goodness for their feathers to keep their eggs warm.
As for where I am it is only getting to -30F. Today I noticed a little bit of melting and a hope of spring. I saw bunny tracks and squirrel tracks. Even a hoof track, a deer maybe in the back yard. In the snow. So recently the snow was all glazed over with ice and the animals hid. But with the short warmup today. Lots of animal tracks. Tomorrow sub freezing and snow. Good day to sit by a fireplace and read.

[Philjo56France]

Dr. Renee Carlton kind of discounted the idea of fishing line, but I'm not so sure about that. I think they need to send someone up to the tree when Mom and Dad are no longer around, and go through that nest bowl to make sure there is nothing (fish line or other things that could cause harm) to any future eaglets. If it was fish line, it was a senseless death that was human caused, and that is a damn shame. That makes me mad, too.
Dr. Carlton did seem to have emotional feelings for the eaglets and Mom and Dad Berry. We'll never know what Berry's conversations were with Dept of Natural Resources and federal Fish & Wildlife. I know we all are still trying to come to terms with this and of course we all wish it had ended differently.
Peace and Love, My Friends

Hi Lanie, 1h00 ago 03/02/2019 07h03 Berry nest time Ma Berry decided, as a last gesture of love , that it was time for B12 to fly with her now … like she did some days ago with B13 .

[monieagl11]

Thank you Lanie for posting the Poem. We are not really prepared for our animals life. Mostly it's been hidden from our view, its hard. Advance Technology show the Wonders and the Heartaches. All we Humans can do is learn, make sure that we don't add anything that Injures even accidentally. Worse causes Extinction! This is Their World, But Their World just happens to be Our World too. When we destroy theirs, We Are Destroying Ours too!

[NestFriend]

[Philjo56France]

Welcome Egg #3 Congratulation Mom Decorah and DM2 !
Decorah Eagles ~ Mom Decorah Lays 3rd Egg Tonight 7:05 PM 3.2.19
Lady Hawk
Tonight at approximately 7:05 PM Mom Decorah lays her third egg of the 2019 season!! Congratulations Mom & DM-2!! What awesome news! Time of delivery to be confirmed by Raptor Resource Project RRP. Thank you for watching!
Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgyAtE4wBbo
Merci Lady Hawk !

[Pascale]

congratulations mom Decorah and DM2, some smile finally!!

I've been so sad with what happening in all these nests... NEFL, Berry... we need hope. so much...

Smola eagles are in full preparation of their nest. we'll be on egg watch in 10 days or so.

DC nest ? I don't know what to think. TFL was very late last year.

[NestFriend]

Terrific news from Decorah! Best wishes for those three eggs Thanks Phil. I may start watching this nest since our “super eaglets” at Ft Myers are so advanced for their age, I don’t think they will be around too long for us to enjoy. i’ve never followed a nest with 3 eaglets, so i’m not so sure if I’m up to having that experience.

Pascal. I hope the Baron and Baroness at Smola don’t cover the camera with sticks as they did last year

[laniebelle]

Eggcellent news at Decorah! Thanks, Phil, for posting the video. Mom had her usual 3. I don't know if it's just me, but it has seemed that Mom D has been in rather a bad mood for awhile; it just seems that she has not been very relaxed. Now that she has her 3, hopefully she will settle in to relaxed brooding.

Pascale, yes, it has been tough so far with the tragedies at NEFL and Berry. I didn't realize egg watch will be coming right up at Smola; I can't wait! You and LadyHawk do a fantastic job moderating and posting for the Smola nest.

Nestfriend, I highly recommend Decorah. It was my first ever eagle nest, and it has been such an interesting one. Only 4% of eagles lay 3 eggs. 3 of the nests that I watch currently have 3 eggs - Decorah, Fort St. Vrain (Platteville, CO), and Trio nest. The Trio nest in Illinois is so interesting with 2 males and Starr, the female, and now they have 3 eggs; if all 3 hatch, it will be a full house!

Monieagle, I so agree with your comments about humans and nature.

Eagleslanding, hang in there with the cold.

Happy Sunday, everyone!

[laniebelle]

Interesting article about eagles at Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee; the article also mentions the Decorah nest.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/opin ... -lake.html

[eagleslanding]

The Duke nest is back with eggs. Hope all goes well this time. Its on a lovely estate in New Jersey around an hour out of New York City. They give tours of the estate. You know one of the great estates of America.

Yes it is not just cold here where I am. But most of the northern part of the United States is in the deep freeze. Montana where I watch my Montana eagles is minus 54F. Decorah Eagles nest is minus 29-30F. now. And we are getting Monday - 15 degrees F. And it will go on east of here to Pennsylvania. And on. Pretty much most of the northern half of the country has been and is or will be in the deep freeze. Not just me. So much for global warming. My Montana eagles please wait to lay your eggs. It will be much warmer soon.

[laniebelle]

Hope all goes well this year at the Duke Nest. You know, I grew up in NJ, but we never visited the Duke estate.

Here's an interesting article that summarizes the history of the Trio nest:
https://tinyurl.com/y6on6gcq

[eagleslanding]

You know I lived in NYC for 5 or 6 years. And before I moved there I thought New Jersey and New York were busy and industrial complex states. But New Jersey is truly a beautiful state. I can see why they call it the garden state there along the Atlantic ocean.
Also much of New York is very beautiful along the Hudson Valley and throughout. But yes alot of time where we live we don't visit or go see the nice places to visit. I visited the empire state builing and world trade center only once and that was when a family member visited me.

[Philjo56France]

From yesterday at Dale Hollow around 13h38

DH6 !

[NestFriend]

I just saw this picture Desiree Deliz took on Saturday (03/02) and just knew I had to share it

Credit Desiree Deliz

[Philjo56France]

Mimi !

Last news from Pot Plant Owl

https://www.facebook.com/potplantowl/

[laniebelle]

Thanks, Mimi, for posting Desiree's photo. It's a beauty, as all of hers are. Love the expressions on our two E's and Mom up there on the branch supervising.

Phil, good to see the positive report on Pappa.

[laniebelle]

Interesting story about a rescue of an eagle stuck high in a tree in Illinois.

https://tinyurl.com/y45wlsmy