Subject: Re: Marymoor Park Report (King Co. WA) 10/9/97
Date: Oct 10 18:11:19 1997
From: "Martin Muller" - MartinMuller at classic.msn.com


Michael,

You wrote:

>Bald Eagle ADULT at the nest ?!? Why, I don't know.<

October has been the normal time for other Bald Eagles I've watched in the
Seattle-area to start showing interest in their nest.
The typical calendar (roughly) for Discovery Park (which I've observed most
extensively):
October - December: Frequently pair near or on nest, some light nest
construction.
January: Low activity near nest. Both adults frequently together in home
range.
February: Intensive nest construction / courtship / copulations
Early March - mid-to-late August: Nesting. From egg-laying to independence of
young (I expect Bald Eagles in this area to lay their eggs around the first
week of March).
Mid April: Eggs hatch.
Early July: eaglets fledge.
Mid-to-middle August: Eaglets take off on their own. One, outfitted with a
transmitter left Discovery Park on August 19. Located at Deception Pass (north
end Whidbey Island) 24 hours later.
August - October: After dispersal of young adults infrequently seen in home
range or at nest. This is the time of year when it is notoriously difficult to
find Bald Eagles in their home range in the Seattle area.

In other words I'm not surprised you saw an adult eagle at the nest in
Marymoore Park.

Good birding!
Martin Muller, Seattle
martinmuller at msn.com