NCTC - Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 2017-2018

[JudyB]

9:58 am
Just looked up, and there's an eagle in the nest. Appeared to land on both feet. Walked without difficulty to the nest cup area and wiggled in. And - poof - was gone. Visit was about 3 minutes.

Folks from the Facebook group think this is the adult female intruder, based on her neckline and tail feathers and a few other characteristics; that had been my thought as well.

[Darlene]

10:39 Someone just landed on the nest. Just standing there.

10:44 The eagle is now laying in the nest bowl.

[Darlene]

10:53 Eagle on the nest flew off.

[Pauljk]

Decorah North nest had a very similar attack last night. Adult came into the nest and challenged the mom sitting on an egg. She was able to hold her ground on the egg during the night. Both parents were at the nest this morning with dad on a branch. He was hit a couple of times by another eagle. Both appear to be OK. I wonder if there is more competition during this egg laying period.

[Darlene]

This is the eagle that was on the nest. I wonder if it was Belle? Too windy for me to tell but the eagle never really walked the whole time and had right leg extended a bit. Even when it took off it just up and flew!

[Pauljk]

Not to get anyone's hopes up, but Belle and Smitty may have been spotted on the nest chasing another eagle away. Check out the posts on Bald Eagles 101. Video may be posted there in future, but there are pics.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1690426617860075/

See Darlene Lewis post.

[Dino]

That date on the picture says January 14th. Am I looking at the picture you are referring to. In the picture it looks like they are mating or is this a picture for reference so they can be identified.

[Pauljk]

It's kind of buried in the posts. Look for the post that says

12:41 eagle on the nest, but I didn't see it come in and have no idea who it is.

and expand the comments. A little way down you will see Darlene Lewis post. Terri Bayles is getting the video ready.

[Dino]

Ok. Thanks for the information. Will give it a look.

[Pauljk]

Terri's video is posted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywhN-k2 ... e=youtu.be
Posters on BE101 say it's them. Belle on the post with an injured right leg and Smitty in the nest chasing the intruder.
Looks like they were both back again briefly around 6:20.

[WVEagles]

Hello Eagle watchers There has been a lot of visits to the nest today. The intruder(s) came and went. The visits started 6:15 am. Enjoy the videos I made through out the day.

https://youtu.be/uHpXteIkKiA

https://youtu.be/Yq5GODVUQHo

https://youtu.be/WyqjDXEEF_s

https://youtu.be/1dS0nviGpvw

https://youtu.be/LPLJ-VNGaY8 https://youtu.be/vY5gM71tBgU

[Pauljk]

Interesting action at the nest this morning around 7am. Adult (probably intruder) and sub adult.

[Debs]

March 5, 2018

Good Morning NCTC

The intrusion at the NCTC nest continues.
Thanks to everyone that has been posting here sharing observations, captures and video footage

We still do not know if Belle and Smitty will be able to maintain their nest and territory; the situation is ongoing.

There was an early morning mating at the nest (just after 6 am) and one adult is still on the nest.

[Debs]

I have not had time to catch up on all the posts here since i was away for several days but i will do that tonight after work.
Hope things settle down here at this nest.
I still remain hopeful for our resident pair; have a good day everyone


855 am
Adult seated in the nest ... looks so comfortable.

[Debs]

March 5, 2018

The adults were visiting the nest in the morning; incubating the non-viable egg or is it a new egg?
I was in and out and recorded some video footage so will include it below.
I never saw any egg laying behavior so that seems unlikely.

Adults Morning Visit - Incubating Behavior - NCTC Bald Eagles - March 5, 2018
https://youtu.be/YWlaniNzH8U

810 pm
Cams went off line.