First Eagle Sighting in ‘08

January 8, 2008 9:57 am Tami Wildlife

Once upon a time, we had a pair of ospreys. Their nest was at the tip top of a tree, on a little island just off our point. I had campers who returned year after year to watch those osprey raise their young and send them off into the world.

Then one spring, five years ago we found eagles in the nest! They’d chased off our osprey, which is common I hear. Ready made nest . . . a quiet lake full of fish . . . who could blame them really?

We were sad for a bit, until we realized what a rare treat we had! With good binoculars, we watched as first one little eaglet head, and then another, poked up out of the nest. We watched Mom and Dad bring them fish. Watched as the eaglets first perched nest-side and unfolded their wings to practice catching the breezes. Some of us were lucky to see them fly for the first time.

We’ve all been converted to eagle lovers! And we watch for them eagerly year after year.

My first eagle sighting for 2008 was this past Sunday! Driving home from Portland, we crossed the causeway between our lake and Middle Range. There he was . . . sitting high in a dead tree.

I took this photo this past Fall, after we’d closed the camp. He was sitting on our point looking over the swimming area, where the game wardens had just released a truckload of brown trout.

photo by Tamra Wight ‘07

You’ll find more photos on our website.

I’ll keep you all posted on future eagle sightings!

5 Responses

  1. Terry Says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    I remember the Osprey in the nest for years. Then at the end of a year several years ago the Eagles were lurking around and kept flying over the Osprey nest. Well evidently in the bird world and eagle can take an Osprey nest.

    I enjoy watching the Eagles so much more than the Osprey. It is so interesting to watch the mother and father fish for their young and bring it back to the nest. The first flight of the baby is such an accomplishment to all of us who have been watching all spring and part of the Summer months.

    We are so lucky to witness this sight year after year…I am glad you have spotted the eagle nearing the lake again this year. We noticed last year that the nest had been reinforced some what and appeared larger than the year before.

    Keep an eye out for some repairs if you can. Keep us posted!

  2. Tami Says:
    January 9th, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    Last winter, there were quite a few regulars who e-mailed on and off through the winter to ask about the eagles . . . had they nested yet? Would they come back? How many had I seen? It’s going to be fun to post their progress here!

  3. Terry Says:
    January 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    Yes, I remember some come down to the lake and are looking to see if the eagles have returned again. I also remember a couple sitting at the picnic bench that faces the nest..but they had their backs to the nest. I asked if they had sen the any of the eagles? Well they had no clue what I was talking about! After I told them about it they were glad to have known..but it also answered what everyone had been looking for in that direction all after noon.! LOL

  4. jchamp9 Says:
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    I’m really glad to see that the eagles are back! I’m looking forward to watching them this spring. Everyone that came to visit us we took to the lake to see them last year. It’s very exciting that we can see them so well and yet they feel safe enough to raise their family! Janine

  5. Tami Says:
    January 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    Janine! Good to hear from you! ;0)

    I saw the eagle again Tuesday, as I went over the causeway between the lakes. I’ll have to get out the snow shoes again and see if there’s one on the nest yet. It’s probably a little too early, but I can use the exercise anyway.