For several months now (more like 3.5), I have trekked to Highland County to
assist in documenting Golden and Bald Eagle.
I would like to first extend a very appreciative "THANK YOU" to Sandy
Bratton, Sandy Hevener and Patti Reum for the countless hours spent in
tracking down and investigating "rumored" Bald Eagle nest sites.
It has long been assumed by many that Bald Eagle have been nesting in
Highland County. It was only a matter of time.....
The determined sleuthing efforts of Bratton, Hevener and Reum paid off.
Following up on a good prospect, last Sunday morning (April 9)I met up with
Sandy Bratton, Sandy Hevener, and Patti Reum. It was a cold, frosty start
at 7 a.m. Approximately 30 minutes later we had confirmed an active BAEA
nest.
Situated along the river set back at least 300 yards from the road it was
only with spotting scope we were able to confirm an adult down in the nest.
Digiscoped images were taken, confirming what I believe is Highland County's
first documented nesting BALD EAGLE.
The large yellow bill of a second adult was occasionally observed, possibly
hidden by branches and the nest structure. Later in the afternoon on a
quick check before heading back home, one adult was down in the nest and
again, only the large yellow bill could be observed in a different spot of
the nest. The nest is located in a sycamore along edge of forest within a
few short feet of river's edge and opens out to flat pasture land used for
grazing livestock.
Upon arrival this morning for a quick status check, the nest was not tended
by the adults. A few minutes passed before both adults came into view,
flying upstream toward the nest. One flew up to and landed in the nest and
proceeded to what appeared to be feeding young birds. We were unable to see
the young eaglets but suspect they are too small, concealed way down in the
large nest. The one adult was observed systemically tipping bill down,
raising of head and slightly turning to her right, tipping bill down,
repeating this several times. By watching this process I suspect there are
at least two, possible 3 young. The second adult BAEA flew up to the nest
and we couldn't quite tell what it was doing but it almost looked as if the
two adults were ripping up something, possibly a fish. We left the adults
tending to their young. (Due to privacy concerns, and at request of
property owner, the location is not being released.)
By 0815 nine individuals met in Monterey for an all morning eagle foray. We
formed two teams consisting of (in alphabetical order): Gordy Adamski,
Sandy Bratton, Tom Brody, Penn Goodall, Edmund Hevener, Sandy Hevener, Patti
Reum, Brenda Tekin and Rick Webb. Today's foray was targeted toward two
areas there BAEA have been consistently observed in recent years -- Rt. 220
north of Monterey in area of Ginseng Mountain and Rt. 220 South of Monterey
in the Vanderpool to Mustoe area.
Eagle I team (Adamski, Bratton, Hevener, Tekin, Webb) headed south and Eagle
II team (Brody, Goodall, E.Hevener, Reum) headed north.
South on Rt. 220 and south of VA 606 the Jackson River sets back several
hundred yards back from the road, backing up to forest and opened out to
flat river bottom used for livestock grazing. Gordy and I immediately
recognized this as very good potential nesting territory. During our
initial scans we were able to rule out possible nesting structures in the
distance only with spotting scopes. We were finally rewarded with not one
but two BAEA flying upstream -- an immature Basic II being chased by an
adult. The adult was in hot pursuit as they flew low over the river along
the forest's edge. The adult then veered, turning back and landing in top
of a tree and we could hear it's vocalization. The juvenile BAEA continued
in fast flight upstream and out-of-sight. For nearly an hour we kept a
vigil as the adult BAEL preened and gazed out over the open fields. During
this long wait the juvenile BAEA returned, flying low along the river and
the adult flew off giving great chase. Once again, the adult turned back as
the juvenile continued hightailing it upriver; the adult returned to another
tree in close proximity to the first one. We eventually decided to head
down Rt. 220 toward Bath County line but could not locate a nesting
structure. However, if there is one along the river, it could be well
concealed. Upon our return the adult BAEA was gone.
Eagle II team drove down and met up with us but we were unsuccessful in
relocating the two eagles. We departed with Eagle II team heading to
Sapling Ridge and Eagle I team checking out a few areas west around Rt. 84
before heading north up Rt. 220 to make a quick check of the trout raceway
north of Monterey just south of the Virginia trout farm and Ginseng
Mountain. There have been numerous sightings of adult eagle in this area
including and adult carrying nesting material on two different occasions
this past March. Over the waterways we observed an Osprey, most likely one
of the many observed earlier by Eagle II team. (They also reported a Golden
Eagle and a distant unidentified eagle>) The Osprey flew off toward the
north and veered back and over the ridge to the west an adult BAEA was
spotted cirdling and flying up and then back along the ridge before it
turned and continued in a more WSW direction back of the ridge.
There are more nesting Bald Eagle in Highland County, this I have no doubt.
It's only a matter of time.....
--------------------------------------------------------------
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
Digital Photography, including Birds of Virginia:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com
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