Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

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Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:26 pm

Welcome to our nest! Please drop in to post pictures or comments should you see this nest in person or on this forum. This is a new nest in The Sechelt Marsh in 2017. In 2016 our adults made a couple of attempts to rebuild a fallen nest but high winds took the placed sticks before they were secure. The only new nest found anywhere near was at the top of Porpoise Bay, seen off the Public Pier. We dubbed it the Porpoise Bay nest not knowing if it was by our Marsh couple or an older Porpoise Bay couple thought to be nesting deeper into the stand of trees. A native man who lives across the bay from the nest and who has a relationship with these birds told us that they were the Marsh couple nesting there.
Now with this new nest built back at The Marsh we are watching to see if this nest and our Porpoise Bay nest are used this season or just one.

The former Marsh nest was discovered by a HWF friend Larry who was visiting us and our nests in 2012. It was a successful nest despite coming down in 2014, rebuilt and blew down again July 2015. They have changed trees for the 2016 season and now have moved back to a new tree in The Marsh..

2012 - 2 eaglets seen in July
2013 - 2 eaglets seen named Sea and Shell
2014 -2 eaglets seen. Nest was blown down during a storm July 2, eaglets fledged as far as we know.
2015 -January 27, a new nest was spotted in the same spot in the nest tree by Marg, a local HWF member. Both eaglets branched then fledged even though the nest collapsed and they had to spend a couple of weeks branching in the nest tree without a nest. The eaglets were named by our member Aspen's children... Chase & Sky!
2016-Two attempts to start a new nest were noted early in the season but the placed twigs blew down in storms. Then no evidence of nest building as a new nest appeared on Porpoise Bay.
2017-This couple built in a new tree in the Marsh, hatched 2 eaglets who somehow ended up on the ground near the end of June and were revived at OWL. Aug 1 they were both returned and released within the nesting territory. Sadly we did not know this had happened until Karen heard about and shared the information after the fact.
No nesting took place at the Porpoise Bay nest so we have determined this must be the same couple who nested there 2015-2016.
The new Marsh nest is on the same side of the water as the old one, deeper into The Marsh. The old nest tree is at the top of the map near the street. Perhaps Karen, another HWF member will post her picture of it here with this year's eagle perched now that we are up and running. :roll:

In March it has been established that the couple has returned to this nest. Brooding signs are there on my visit March 20/18.
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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt BC, 2017-18

Post by stim » Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:29 pm

Reserved

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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt BC, 2017-18

Post by stim » Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:29 pm

Reserved

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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt BC, 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:02 pm

Posted by myself Jan 4/18

A happy 2018 to everyone who visits here! I have not seen eagle activity in the Marsh so far but have had reports that they were back in the area Nov 8. They have been seen in the nest but I don't know if they have been nestorating.

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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt BC, 2017-18

Post by stim » Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:10 pm

Posted by HWF member heatherj Jan. 12/18

I was down at the Marsh this morning and saw 2 adults chase away another eagle from the Marsh area. The chased eagle was silhouetted so I couldn't tell if it was a juvie or an adult. The 2 adults then sat for quite some time on the big tree just next to last years nest tree. I just had my cellphone with me and so my pictures aren't great :) but if they are reasonable I will add them later. Maybe feeling territorial???

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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by marg » Wed Mar 21, 2018 2:23 pm

Good to see the Marsh Nest up and running stim! Your last visit sounds promising! :)
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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Sat Mar 24, 2018 4:25 pm

Your sighting reinforces that these eagles are using this nest this year Heather. Thank you for that.

I took this picture of the nest from Osprey and Wharf March 7 and could find no sign of brooding.
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This one was shot from the opposite side of the water March 7. Again, no sign of brooding seen between the sticks.
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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Sat Mar 24, 2018 4:36 pm

I returned March 20 to find an adult sitting on a branch near the nest but could find no hint of an eagle brooding within. The whole time I was there 2 were "talking" with each other, one sounding like it was coming from low down in the nest. One was very quiet, the other much more vocal. I think the one in the nest was the louder one.

Taken from Osprey and Wharf on a very overcast day.
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I went around to the bench at the top of the Marsh to eat my lunch and watch, listen. No eagle activity except for the perching and talking sounds. No brooding could be seen within the nest from that perch either. I could not make out for sure if this was Ma or Pa.
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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Sat Mar 24, 2018 4:48 pm

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On turning around The eagle looked more like our male.
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Many mallards were swimming around with this lone teal wigeon following a male mallard. It actually blended in fairly well except that it is small in comparison. I looked but could not see a mate.
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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Sat Mar 24, 2018 4:57 pm

While I sat I looked down and this raccoon was extremely close by having a drink then feeling around in the water with its front paws. The raccoon looked as startled to see me as I it then continued its mission.
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Feeling around with its front paws.
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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:00 pm

On leaving I found the female wigeon eating at the mouth of the marsh.
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I feel confident saying that brooding is underway there.

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heatherj
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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by heatherj » Thu Mar 29, 2018 6:10 pm

Beautiful photos Sandra! I have visited the marsh a few times over the last few weeks and seen and/or heard the eagles on most visits. Seems like they might be picking this one this year maybe?
What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Jane Goodall

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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Sat Mar 31, 2018 3:34 pm

Yes Heather, I've locked the Porpoise Bay nest thread as nothing seems to be happening over there. I got to the area again Wed March 28 after checking on the PB nest, did not go into the Marsh. I checked perch trees though without seeing an eagle. My interest was concentrated more on Porpoise Bay where the heron are nesting on pilings again.
I loved spending time with this hooded merganser.
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While sitting visiting with him what looked to me like 2 male eagles flew over from the area of the new floatplane site directly toward the marsh. It looked like an escort out of territory to me, perhaps a male from the garden centre area escorting Pa Marsh home?
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This heron had a painstakingly slow time turning around on his piling. Once done he was facing his mate nesting on hers.
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What a great visit.

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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by heatherj » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:59 am

Great pictures Sandra! And so cool to see the herons nesting again in the same spot. I wish them another successful season

I was in the marsh yesterday morning and no adult eagles in sight. But a juvie flew overhead and I heard calling from inside the nest so someone was definitely at home :)
What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Jane Goodall

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Re: Marsh Nest, Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast BC 2017-18

Post by stim » Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:46 pm

Yep, someone is definitely home here. This time while sitting on my favourite bench I could see a bit of a white head in the nest which made me think a hatch had happened. Then movement seen by Ma in the nest at least 3 times, in perhaps half an hour, looking to be doing the initial feedings, turning egg(s) or perhaps chirps from a hatching eaglet were disturbing her. :woohoo:
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