Greetings tweeters,

With the recent postings about the dissemination of information in mind...

I've been watching Bald Eagles around town closely. Based on when the adults
start spending prolonged periods on the nest, occasionally getting up and
poking below themselves, settling down with sideways settling movements, the
first egg went down on March 4 in Discovery Park. Early for the Pacific
Northwest but not for this territory (now in its eighth season). West Seattle
followed on March 9 and South Mercer Island on March 10. As far as I know this
is the second year West Seattle across from Salty's is active (Gene Hunn, you
wrote earlier it was active the last two years, do you have more information
on the 1994 nesting season, I thought they constructed the nest that year but
didn't raise any young...). It's the second year for the south Mercer Island
year also.

Laying dates were determined by visiting every day and observing for at least
twenty minutes (in past years the longest period eggs were left unattended
during incubation). Since I have no way of looking in the nests it's the best
I can do. But in the past it's always been reliable. Only in 1989 did the
Discovery Park eagles present us with two weeks of pseudo-incubation. I'm
hoping my luck will hold.

No word on other nests yet, simply due to lack of time. Anybody out there have
more info on other nests and laying dates in the Seattle area (including
Marrymoore Park, O.O. Denny Park, Lincoln Park???)

With the downtown Peregrine Falcons it is possible to look in the nest. And
how! The Falcon Research Group is again monitoring the birds thanks to the
hospitality of Wright Runstad & Co. (building managers), Allied Security
(especially Jim Gibbard has donated many hours of his free time to get the
video system up and running) and Washington Mutual.

The bird's daily activities have been scrutinized since March first. The video
camera aimed at nest has been spitting out time lapse tapes which were
reviewed and the information made public on the Seattle Peregrine Project
hotline (206/654-4423).

Last night Roger Orness and I were present when the female (Bell -if you are a
purist, she was named after the downtown street; Belle- if you feel this is
more appropriate) laid her first egg of the season. Up until the second half
of this week, Stewart (her mate) spent far more time within view of the camera
(covers the nest box and about four feet of the 30 feet long ledge). But
recently Bell had started spending more time in and around the box.

She had been lethargic for the past few days, but tonight she had that
telltale football shape and was leaning forward at a 45 degree angle. She
tried to trick us by leaving at about 21:30. But we were not fooled (like last
year when we missed laying of the second egg by ten minutes because she acted
like she wasn't going to do anything...) and stayed put. Sure enough she came
back at about 21:50. Again she stood in her scrape (it's very deep and big
this year), looking as if meditating. Her eyes were open but her attention was
focused inward, not on the outside world. I know, very unscientific, but
that's what it looks like to me. I know I'm going to get some flack for this
from mothers who will assure me this probably was nothing like meditating.....

Anyway, at 22:23 she started breathing rapidly and shivers/contractions
started going through her whole body. She then turned to face the camera so we
didn't actually see the egg pop out, but the last time her whole body
contracted at 22:26 is when we assume she laid the egg. Last year she showed
this in profile at least once. Like now she stood very erect, closed her eyes
and partly opened her bill, then forcefully rocked forward, lifting her tail
briefly while laying the egg.

Last night she took a breather and at 22:32 appeared to arrange something in
the nest, but it wasn't until 22:42 when she allowed us the first glimpse of
the beautiful brick-red egg. Forty-five minutes later she first laid down on
the egg and fell soundly asleep. Exhausted I'm sure. How completely different
this is from the casual way a Pied-billed grebe on Green Lake will take a
break from foraging, lay and egg and go back out to feed some more.

Last year's Peregrine eggs were produced at roughly 50+ hour intervals, so it
won't be until very late on Sunday or early on Monday that we expect the
second egg. I think this is one of the neatest projects to be involved in
imaginable.

I'm sure the monitors in the lobby of The Washington Mutual Bank at the corner
of 3rd & University will be turned on Monday morning. After hours a monitor in
the window facing 3rd Avenue will be on. Both with sound. If you're in the
neighborhood stop by and take a look.

Sleepless in Seattle, and loving it
Martin Muller
MartinMuller at msn.com