Vicky,

I'm on Digest, so you've probably already had many reactions to your posting (since Kelly's).
But here goes anyway:

This is an amazing early date for fledged Bald Eagle chicks.
I know that back when I was keeping close tabs on urban eagles in Seattle chicks would typically fledge (after 35 days of incubation and some 70 - 75 days in the nest) in early-July.
Now we have chicks fledged May 1. That's an approximate hatching date of second or third week in February and laying dates around the middle of January!

According to the Birds of North America account on the Bald Eagle, that's comparable to Bald Eagles breeding in Mexico.(Buehler, David A. 2000. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/506<http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/506>)

A few years ago we had one peregrine nest in the Seattle area with extraordinary early dates as well, comparable to northern California dates. That same female, in the same location, bred on more 'normal' dates the year before and the year after that one early year. So perhaps you are also witnessing an anomalous event with your eagles as well.

It still remains, as Kelly so aptly quoted: inconceivable!

Martin Muller, Seattle
martinmuller at msn.com<mailto:martinmuller at msn.com>
----- Original Message -----
From: Vicki Biltz<mailto:vickibiltz at msn.com>
To: tweeters<mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 3:30 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Fledged Bald Eagles flying well!


Hi,
Just now, when I was outside attempting to repair an old birdbath, one adult Bald Eagled flew over, with two healthy looking and very impatient youngsters in tow. They appear equal in size, and screaming with enthusiasm. They are flying much earlier than the one from last year. Hopefully they will both survive their early months and grow into adults.
They nest a block from my house, just off of Lake Tapps. I should take my scope and a small step ladder over and see what photos I can get of them......but I gotta salvage this thing first!
The kids look good, not so sure the birdbath is going to make it however...........old and, full of cracks, and leaky! (I hope no one throws ME away when I am in this condition!!!)

Vicki Biltz
Bonney Lake Wa.
vickibiltz at msn.com
www.BirdsofEilat.com
http://sawwhetsnew.blogspot.com/