Subject: [Tweeters] update on Eaglets,
Date: May 3 18:36:18 2009
From: Kelly McAllister - mcallisters4 at comcast.net


Over the years, I've heard from quite a few "eagle nest neighbors" who reported what they believed to be a prior year's youngster returning to be around the nest where he or she hatched and spent some formative weeks eating whatever mom and dad brought in. I don't know that I ever saw any results of banding or radio telemetry that verified this behavior but it doesn't seem unreasonable that a young eagle might return to home ground. Do the adults recognize their offspring, perhaps tolerating them a bit more than they would if it wasn't their offspring? I don't know but that's been the suggestion of some. On the other hand, the juveniles from a prior year may well come back expecting to hunt and loaf quite contentedly on familiar home ground only to find out that mom and/or dad chases them with evil intent. It sounded like Vicki's initial observation of these birds was suggestive of this latter behavior.

Kelly McAllister
----- Original Message -----
From: Vicki Biltz
To: tweeters
Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2009 12:24 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] update on Eaglets, apparently last years young???? Evening Grosbeaks calling again


Hi,
I went down to the nest site yesterday, after the storm, and saw no fledged young. Today I went down again, and found the neighbor outside. It seems to them that last years young have returned, and caused quite a stir at the nest. (They actually think they started showing up about 3 weeks ago) Friday was a big show-down at the nest site with the ones who have returned, and they have not been seen by the neighbors since late Friday.
I did see the adults exchange food, this morning and also feeding young, whose head(s) has/have not appeared yet. The neighbors also think there are two in the nest again. (hope I am doing all my spelling and such correctly, as I do not wish to offend anyone at this point)


So this is the summary of what I thought was going on. How often, do the young from last year return as a pair to the nest they fledged from???? Or would these just be someone else's young looking for a handout????
I am curious now, since I am still new at watching the Eagles nest activity, and don't know a lot about their natural history.

It also seems that a few more Evening Grosbeaks were calling today. My cherry tree is really taking over the back yard, so I am wondering if they just have not noticed the feeders or what. Usually they come in and land right away.
Hopefully they will be feeding by the end of the week.

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




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----- Original Message -----
From: Vicki Biltz
To: tweeters
Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2009 12:24 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] update on Eaglets, apparently last years young???? Evening Grosbeaks calling again


Hi,
I went down to the nest site yesterday, after the storm, and saw no fledged young. Today I went down again, and found the neighbor outside. It seems to them that last years young have returned, and caused quite a stir at the nest. (They actually think they started showing up about 3 weeks ago) Friday was a big show-down at the nest site with the ones who have returned, and they have not been seen by the neighbors since late Friday.
I did see the adults exchange food, this morning and also feeding young, whose head(s) has/have not appeared yet. The neighbors also think there are two in the nest again. (hope I am doing all my spelling and such correctly, as I do not wish to offend anyone at this point)


So this is the summary of what I thought was going on. How often, do the young from last year return as a pair to the nest they fledged from???? Or would these just be someone else's young looking for a handout????
I am curious now, since I am still new at watching the Eagles nest activity, and don't know a lot about their natural history.

It also seems that a few more Evening Grosbeaks were calling today. My cherry tree is really taking over the back yard, so I am wondering if they just have not noticed the feeders or what. Usually they come in and land right away.
Hopefully they will be feeding by the end of the week.

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




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