Lauren, tweeters,

As far as I know there's only the one Bald Eagle nest across the street from
Salty's.
The branch which supported the nest for years broke off this winter. A new
(small) nest was built in the tree to the north of the original tree, but
the birds failed early on. I didn't see incubation behavior (except during a
field trip in mid-February but I don't think they were really incubating on
that early date, probably just "trying it on for size").
There have been up to five eagles "hanging out" in the general area at the
same time, which is not surprising. The Duwamish Head / Alki area is a good
hunting spot for eagles and without a pair actively defending a territory
many non-breeding birds will use the area.

If the Alki Community Council wants to make a difference for the eagles they
should do an inventory of all the trees the eagles use year-round to perch
in and hunt from. We should not only be concerned with nest trees. You can
have the perfect nest tree, if there's no appropriate "infrastructure" of
other perch & roost trees nearby, it's not going to work (consider the
situation with the "perfect" eagle nest tree in the Broadmoore Golf Course
that has never produced young. That tree stands alone in the middle of an
open expanse. The eagles are nesting successfyully in a dense stand of trees
1/3 mile north of there).
If such an inventory is attempted I'd be happy to come out some time and
help someone put the trees I've seen eagles in on a map.

Sincerely,
Martin Muller, Seattle


----- Original Message -----
From: "Lauren Braden" <LaurenB at seattleaudubon.org>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Cc: "Martin Muller (E-mail)" <MartinMuller at email.msn.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 10:19 AM
Subject: eagles on Alki


> Hi,
>
> I am hoping that some of you eagle experts might be able to help me out
with
> this one. The Alki Community Council is interested in what the current
> "eagle situation" is in West Seattle - how many nests, and perhaps where
the
> nests are located (just approximately). Does anyone know of this
> information or who would have it?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Lauren
>
> Lauren Braden
> Advocate for Wildlife Habitat
> Seattle Audubon Society
> 8050 35th Ave NE
> Seattle, WA 98115
> 206-523-8243 x14
> laurenb at seattleaudubon.org
>
>