The Daily Bucket is a place where we share our observations about the natural world. Whether we note the birds migrating through in fall or the appearance of a new bug, we are building a resource to learn more about the patterns of nature and how they may be changing. Everyone is welcome to contribute! Just tell us what you are seeing in your backyard or wherever you are roaming and approximately where your observations come from.
The Bald Eagles are back!
With the return of the eagle pair to their nest tree on our property, the two month window of time during which we can explore underneath their tree is over. We try not to bother the eagles while they are in residence at their nest in the Douglas Fir on the high bluff overlooking Discovery Bay.
The two eaglets fledged in early July and the family left for parts unknown around August 10th. By then, the youngsters had had plenty of practice flying, using the nest tree as their base camp.
Now the adults are back and will spend some time remodeling. They have also begun to announce their ownership of this territory to ravens, crows, and any other eagles flying by (including their kids). They are already carrying large sticks in their talons to add to their nest. I've seen them carrying cedar branches as long as 6 feet.
But while they were gone, we did explore underneath their nest to see what prey they'd brought back to the nest this spring and summer. The area underneath their nest is littered with bones and feathers. Our eagles seem to prefer birds. Gulls appear to be a favorite meal.
Gull wing
There was also an intact carcass of a Common Murre that must have been dropped before it could be consumed. I've seen an eagle plucking a Band-tailed Pigeon (they are slow, easy to catch, and meaty). The wind blowing off the bay sent the feathers toward our house, looking like a snowstorm. We've also seen fish skeletons and heads underneath the nest tree, but not as often as we thought we would.
Bird bones
And then, there was this.
It's a mystery!
The nest tree is on a bluff about 150 feet above the beach. There is no public trail to the place we found the little girl's shoe. I don't think whoever lost it walked here. Did a juvenile eagle carry this prize up to the nest tree and drop it? It was definitely brought here recently since it hasn't decayed.
The Bald eagles have returned to their nest tree on the NE corner of the Olympic Peninsula, WA.
What is happening in your neck of the woods?