Day 83, Monday, 3/31/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles

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Hello Eagle Friends,

Today we had a wintery mix of rain turning to sleet, that later turned to snow, then sleet, then the rain again, and by the time we left the valley the temperature tonight it had dropped to 31 degrees and was sleeting again.

There was a semi that crashed, just miles away from us, luckily we avoided that. Many schools were closing early today due to the weather. There was a van in the ditch with two high school kids, we stopped to help them, but they had help on the way. The winter weather just won't leave us Minnesotans alone.

Em and me started our day at the Creatures of the Deep Exhibit at Quarry Hill Nature Center. I had hoped if we waited long enough the snow and sleet would turn to rain. My plan worked. It did, but then we hit the snow and sleet storm down in the valley, same storm, an hour later.

While at the exhibit, I ran into an old friend, Deb. We talked for a long time while our kids dug out the dinosaur fossil with their paint brushes. Deb is an 8th grade science teacher now and how it seems like it was just yesterday we ourselves were our kids ages now, discovering, learning, and exploring.

Em and me hiked out to our White Wolf post at nest one. We got caught in a downpour, so we sat under my coat until it let up. It was day 28 incubation, but there was no way we were going to see eaglets today, on any nest, in this weather. We moved on to nest 2, thankful we had hiked our mud critters out yesterday, or they would have all returned to the earth by the time we arrived today.

The pussy willows were blooming, Larry told me that the other day, and I guess I forgot to look closer until today. They were so pretty in the rain and snow. I couldn't see which eagle was up on nest 2, but there was an eagle. This is day 39 for them.
We must have an eaglet by now. I'm hoping in the next three days I'll get a shot of them.

We moved on to nest 6, there was nothing going on there at all. Hardly even a duck around. Linda or Dick was up on their nest for day 23 incubation.

Further along I found several dozen common mergansers swimming together and a few geese. The snow and sleet made those back country roads slick, and I only drove another 100 feet when I looked at an upright brown tubular object sticking straight up out of the ice.

I pulled over and grabbed for my lens as I was 100% sure that brown object had not been there these past 83 days. The object turned his head towards me watching me watch him. Then he dropped down under the ice. I got four shots. First one was blurry, the second one was blurry, the third one I had my exposure right but was really blurry, and the fourth, well, it was a good documentary photo, a shot that only recorded "river otter was here."

"Em, look, the otter!"

I'd only waited four years for this shot, nothing to get excited about. Four years, one shot for each year. None of them any good. I watched, and watched; waited and waited, but no otter returned. The snow-sleet mixture was coming down harshly and I hated to think of my drive for the next 6 miles.

Then he came back up, popping up through the ice and looking at me with his head barely above water. He was curious about me and he came in for a closer look. Then he dove down again and popped up through the ice fifty feet to the north. This time he had a bluegill fish in his mouth and he tossed it around, chewing it up and swallowed it.

I photographed him using up my first 2 gig flash card. He must have eaten at least 8 fish in my presence. I couldn't tell you how many he ate under the water. I don't even know how he could fit all those fist-sized fish in his three foot body. I wish the lighting could have been better, I was shooting at 1/40th to 1/60th of a second pushing between ASA 800 and ASA 1600.

Sometimes it's better to get a shot and put up with the "noise" or grain than to not have any shot at all. After all, this is a documentary, not Lisa's Fine Art Photography class.

We moved on to get the last three nests covered before it was dark.

Nest 3, 4, and 5 were all on their nests. I couldn't see much as the fog had set in on the back valley and the dark shadows had already consumed the light of the nests. I could see the eagles on their nests. I'm anxious for some sunny spring weather, just
like everyone else is.

Then again I will go to my grave saying my best opportunities come on the snowy-sleet-thunderstorm weather. As I headed back I found an immature eagle up in a tree. He was rain-soaked and then he flew over and joined an adult eagle in a nearby tree. The adult lifted and flew off to the river, and the eaglet followed him.

As I doubled back we found the otter still popping up and down in the ice, trying to crawl across it without falling through, and then I found the second otter. As it swam by me it lifted its head up and the first otter got up on the ice and stretched looking at the second otter. I hoped to see them together, but they were more interested in gobbling up bluegills.

I don't know how these otters have survived all the eagles above them either. I would think they would be an easy target for an eagle. Most of all I hope I don't have to wait four more years to get more shots of them in the wild. It would be nice to get them with some sunshine on their fur and highlights in their eyes, but then nothing says Minnesota river otter more than this character today with the ice all around him, chomping down fish.

Em wanted me to include the shot of the blandings turtle from Quarry Hill today. She loves this shot. So, I hope you find it just
as appealing.

I'm looking forward to day 84.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Day 82, Sunday, 3/30/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles

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Hello Eagle Friends,

Today was a shorter field day as we doubled it up with a road trip to Wisconsin to check out some marshes there. It was 44 degrees when we arrived in the valley and overcast. The skies were holding back a heavy amount of rain, but only a few sprinkles fell the entire day.

When Em and me arrived at nest 1, our White Wolf post we held up there for a bit to watch what was going on from a distance in the nest area. There was a lone eaglet that was diving down in the nest area and Dancer was called in by Daedee the female eagle on their nest.

I couldn't get any good shots of Dancer, due to heavy branch cover where he was sitting. His eyes never left that eaglet until it had left the nest area. As Dancer flew off the tree I was able to grab a couple shots of him flying to the south.

Em and me read from our Beatrix Potter Treasury, today's story was The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck. Em just loves these stories. Then as we sat a song sparrow came in and sang a lovely chorus for us. That was cut short by three teenagers out by
the eagle nest tree. You bet I watched them close.

Two of them went up to the tree, and maybe they saw me and left, or maybe they just left on their own, but there is no reason that they should have been that close to the tree; almost touching it, if they were fishing.

We left after this and Em wanted to bring her mud critters home, so we had to carefully hike out carrying these dried gems to save and revisit often in our memory box of nature's gifts. I remember having my collection of feathers, and insects, and a nuts and galls--it was all a part of learning about nature. I sometimes wonder if any of my old one gallon pickle jars remain lodged somewhere in my moms garage or basement?

We moved on to nest 2 and found Judy up on the nest. I'm hoping that by Wednesday I'll get a peek at an eaglet. I am still not sure if any have hatched, but I'm still optimistic that we will have one this week.

Nest 6 eagle was sitting on their nest, nothing else going on in the ponds so we moved on.

That's when we ran into a flock of ringed bill gulls. I loved listening to their calls and watching them dive with such precision
they made the eagles look like poor hunters. They would snap up their sunfish, fly it to the ice and stab it and then swallow it head first. There were several fights over the fish gathered and it appeared that one must be quick to ensure his morsel remain his and his only.

That's when I pulled out the tuna sandwich crusts from our lunch. I tossed them out the window and they landed on the gravel road. I wished I had thrown them into the swampy ditch, but the didn't make it with my throw. It didn't matter though. Within three seconds of the bread landing the gulls arrived, descended and had swallowed the long four inch crusts.

That was so much fun I asked Dave if we had anything else in the truck and all we had were Wendy's saltine crackers, from chili that was eaten so quickly we never used the crackers. I threw them out on the road, and once again the gulls came following my hands falling back to my side and snapped them up.

We moved on to nest 5 and found the eagle sitting on their egg or eaglet(s). By the end of this week I'm hoping to see little eaglets peeking up by the parent brooding them.

I found some red-winged blackbirds, three males hanging out by nest 3. I only had time to grab a couple shots because one of those ringed bill gulls arrived in front of me and began diving down into the deep marsh before me, but came up with a n empty-beak.

Nest 3 and nest 4 eagles were content on their nests. I don't expect activity at either of these, at least viewable eaglets, for at least another 10-14 days.

As we headed to Wisconsin I pulled over at the Weaver Bottoms and photographed a few of the hundreds of migrating trumpeter swans. At first glance I thought they were the white pelicans but as they swam around they finally lifted their heads and I noticed their long necks.

I'm looking forward to day 83.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Day 81, Saturday, 3/29/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles

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Hello Eagle Friends,

Today was a gorgeous spring day in the valley. It was sunny most of the day, clouding up late in the afternoon. It was 46 degrees when Em and me arrived for our mom-daughter eagle study day.

We hiked out to nest 1 and found Dancer up on the nest. We hung out, reading Beatrix Potter stories from her treasury and then Em wanted to make mud critters again. We left and moved on to cover nest 2, and as I got unpacked our friend Larry found us. He was driving his hot rod, a '47 business coupe, and a fine car it is.

I could not see anything that indicated an eaglet had hatched, but then again, it may be a week before we know for sure.

We went scouting for aquatic bugs, which reminds me, I better go get Em's snails out of my truck that are temporarily living in
a Wendy's coffee cup until I could get them here to the studio and give them a new home in our Betta fish tanks.

As we walked along hundred of tiny five and six spotted fishing spiders dotted the gravel and grasses. I haven't seen this many spiders since I started my marsh project in 2005. No, I don't think this is global warming. I think it's spring and we have lots of spiders that survived under the thick snow cover.

Nest 6 was on their nest, nothing exciting going on in the ponds below.

Nest 5 was on their nest, day 31 incubation and we should be seeing some hatching going on there in the next few days too.

As we headed to nest 3 I had a mink run out and gallop along side my truck and he was cruising at a speed of at least 15 mph.
Then he jumped into the marsh and I grabbed my lens and jumped out and grabbed just a couple shots before he reached the other side and shook off the water from his dense coat.

"Do you have a permit to shoot?" A man asked.

I turned laughing to find Greg Munson and Jim Peterson in a car that had pulled up. We talked about the wildlife around they valley and of course the eagles. I told them about nest 7, Jim is with Audubon, so I'm sure having several scouts will hopefully bring some news whether it is active or not.

He told me how the bald eagle nest have increased on the Mississippi from like 165 nests to 180 or more I can't remember what the exact number was.

I shot my pictures of nest 3 and nest 4, nothing new to report. The eagles are sitting patiently.

They moved on, but we caught up again as I was shooting my return trip through the valley. The Mayor was perched and he turned to look at us, then after they left he flew off. As I watched him flying off, I saw Judy fly in and take a perch in a tree next to the one The Mayor was on.

She began preening and combing through her tail feathers. I had no doubt the The Mayor would be on the nest when I passed again, and sure enough there he was.

I hope tomorrow I'll have some news on eaglets. We just have to be patient. They'll be here soon.

I'm looking forward to day 82.

See you on the journey.

Lisa

Day 80, Friday, 3/28/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles

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Hello Eagle Friends,

Today was an excellent field day. The weather was almost spring-perfect. It was 36 degrees when I arrived with some wind, but nothing more than 10-20 mph.

I hiked out to nest 1 and found Dancer sitting on the nest peaking out at me. While there a male ringneck pheasant called out and
flew in to the underbrush by me. There were several songbirds that had arrived, too. I tried finding the bird making the beautiful
chorus but I never located it.

Dancer got up once and flew around, and I expected to see Daedee, but didn't. Dancer flew back to his nest and looked back down on me, like he was giving me a second glance to acknowledge I was still where I had been all morning. There is a knowingness a message in his glance, in his stares and maybe one day I'll understand what he is saying to me in thought.

When I hiked out back to my truck there was another vehicle north of mine. Whoever it was could very well have been the reason Dancer flew off the nest while I was there. Someone must have been out there on the north side.

I moved on to nest 2 where I spent about an hour. I hiked past the slough and to the river and The Mayor flew in only once to scan the nest area. Judy was dipping down in the nest, and there was one peep that I heard that could pass for an eaglet cry, but I'm not convinced.

I sat so long that a nuthatch came down and checked me out and went back to foraging. I also found an illegal deer stand up on the bluff where I have seen some good sized bucks. Hmm.

I moved on to nest 6 but there wasn't much activity going on. Linda was on the nest for day 20 incubation and she kept calling out, but I couldn't see any reason for it. There was no immature eagles that I could find, and Dick was no where around, so I didn't understand her vocalizing but I am sure there was some purpose for it.

Two male hooded mergansers flew up just as I focused in on them, and I missed the best shot of the season, until tomorrow anyway.

I moved on and found the sandhill cranes when I stopped to photograph a pair of wood ducks on a stump in the swamp. They flew up sending the cranes into a calling spree, but that invited two other cranes in from the north and all four sandhill cranes
spent the next hour walking around a little grassy island.

While sitting in the shore brush I watched a pair of shovelers fly over me. These are the first ones I have seen this year. The birds of spring are finally arriving, two pair by two.

Nest 3, nest 4, and nest 5 eagles were on their nests nothing new to report on any of these.

I'm looking forward to day 81.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Day 79, Thursday, 3/27/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles

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Hello Eagle Friends,

Today, like every day, was a gift from above. The end of March snow storm was down graded from 8 inches to a 1-3 inch prediction, however; even that storm missed us. It was 35 degrees when we arrived in the valley and the sun barely
penetrated the thick cloud cover.

Today Meghan Sparks, a KTTC reporter accompanied me. She didn't think she had ever seen an eagle, at least not up close. She mentioned she was from the Twin Cities before moving to Rochester. I said an extra prayer that she would get that opportunity today.

We hiked out to nest 1, and Dancer was up on the nest. We weren't there long before the afternoon nest exchange took place.
Dancer flew off the nest and circled landing in a nearby tree. Then Daedee came in. Daedee flew to tree trying to entice Dancer to mate her. I told Meghan to keep her camera on the female eagle, the male will follow her.

He did, following her to two different trees, she would rub up against him, they would call out, he would lift his leg as if he was going to climb on her but then she flew off and took over her nest shift.

My prayer was answered, Meghan saw her eagles and was able to get some wonderful footage of eagle behavior, and the eagles, well, I think Meghan said it best, "I think they want to be television stars."

I added, "They were acting almost as if trained to come in and pose for you." The pair of eagles I love so dearly will soon be a part of your broadcast world, too in the greater Rochester, Minnesota area that is.

Meghan had a story back in Rochester, so we said parted, and I moved on to finish my project. I enjoyed working with her today, she is full of energy and has a zest for life. Mostly though, I enjoyed watching her get to see and experience the eagles up close.

I moved on to nest 2. Judy was sitting contently, and while I had my lens on her she got up. I watched every detail of her rise, and then her turn, I was hoping to hear an eaglet as she stood, or see her dip her beak down into the nest feeding an eaglet, but she simply repositioned herself and laid back down. Maybe tomorrow.

Nest 6 was on her nest watching all the ducks and goose courtships below. From 100 wood ducks, to blue bills, and hooded mergansers the ponds and flooded field was full of migrating waterfowl.

The goose that was on the nest box yesterday, was not there today. Nesting hasn't begun, it just appeared that way.

I moved on to a back pool and spent a good hour back there. I found a pile of bluebird feathers, who was obviously a snack for some raptor. I found a dying blue gill who swam in just inches of water and I felt so bad for him. His back and fins were white, colorless, and his eyes clouded over with a blue haze.

I watched two small brook trout dart in and out under a log in the bottom of the stream-fed pond, and then I saw the chipmunk. He was foraging through every leaf on the ground. I took a couple dozen pictures but the one I liked best was the one I included in today's blog. I think this shot is the one that captured his personality best.

As I moved on to nest 5 I found four sandhill cranes calling out. I spent an hour just watching them call out every time a gull flew overhead they threw their heads back and called up. Then two immature eagles dashed past and that sent them into a calling spree.

Nest 5 was on their nest for day 29 incubation. I know that this day, next week we'll have at least two new eaglets in the valley. I hope.

I photographed nest 3 and nest 4 and that's when I saw two large sandhill cranes flying in just above me. The lighting was dull, flat, with a fleeting splash of sun peeking through the clouds. The cranes dropped their legs, turned and literally floated down landing into the tall grasses with so much grace that they appeared to be moving in slow motion.

I thought that would be my last shots of the day. However, a wayward opossum proved me wrong. I shot video of him, and grabbed for two shots as he disappeared under a log. All I had was two shots of an opossum tail straight up in the air, which was hard to tell apart from the grasses and dried marsh foilage.

The seagulls, at least two dozen were flying above and landing below the sandhill cranes causing them to vocalize their opinion of their sudden appearance.

I found a goose banded with an aluminum band on his left leg, number 988. I wonder where this one is from.

On my drive out I discovered a seventh nest, and I could only shoot a few images because I'd used both of my flash cards to their capacity today. I was going home with over 4 gigabytes of new images. 98% of those to be discarded, 1% to be further considered, a 1/2 % selected for use in my blog and book, with the remaining half to be selected for the book. Give or take a few images.

I'm looking forward to day 80.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Day 78, Wednesday, 3/26/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles

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Hello Eagle Friends,

I had a super day in the valley. The temperature was 45 when we arrived. While looking up at the bright blue sky I hardly could convince myself that in 24 hours or less, there would be a snow dropping from the approaching storm.

We hiked out to our second post at nest 1, the Wildlife Study, and waited for the eagles. I could see Dancer or Daedee peering at us through the sticks on their nest. This was day 23 incubation for them, and I'm sure they are becoming anxious to see their eaglet(s).

I didn't see any other immature eagles in the nest area, and so while we waited Em wanted to make mud critters, it was her mud-craft. The catch was we had to pick up the globs of mud with a stick, we couldn't touch the mud at all, and we had to form animal shapes from the globs we dropped onto our sitting log.

Then she made up a story about the mud critters. I think that is the best footage I have of her ever telling a story. It was so good, I told her to write it down. Even the eagle on the nest appeared interested in her tiny voice sharing the story of Mudsie, Sudsie, and I can't remember the other two names.

The first goose nest box had a serious occupant today, and I'm convinced she is sitting on at least one egg.

We moved on to nest 2 and I was eagerly anticipating the look of a proud mother eagle sitting on an eaglet, but I just couldn't tell what was on her mind today. I don't think their eaglet has hatched, maybe tomorrow?

Nest 6 eagle was content just watching the activity below. A second goose pair had claimed their box and the female goose was laying in the box, just as if she had an egg or two underneath. They will lay average 5-6 eggs, of course, I've seen more, but on average that is what I have recorded. All hatch on or about the same time too. They usually stay in the nest box until all have hatched. Again, just my observations.

There were five hooded merganser males pursuing the solo female. I could hear them calling all the way across the pond. They were too far away for any good photos, but I did enjoy just watching them court her.

I found five blue bills courting their female, too. Not much else going on so I moved on.

We checked for the woodchuck, but he either checked out early, was selected quickly (by the red-tailed hawk, or barred owl that perch above his tunnel), or he was sleeping in.

As I began photographing the five wood ducks in pursuit of the female wood duck, the first female I've documented this season, a large shadow flew over me. I called out, "Em, look, a great blue heron!" I followed this beauty to the edge of a marsh where he landed across from another great blue heron on the other side.

Both were too far away for any serious shots, but we enjoyed seeing them interact and fish.

I checked for any immature eagles in the area I had found them yesterday, but found none.

We moved on to nest 3 and one eagle was sitting peacefully on their nest, day 18.

Nest 4 was on their nest, day 15.

Then we made a trip to Nelson Wisconsin. I promised my grandfather some cheese. I asked the clerk if they remain open all year? How was business during the off season. She said, "We only close four days a year. . . Christmas and --"

"Easter!" I finished for her. "I was here on Easter, but you were closed." I thanked her for her help and off we went with our gift cheese bag for my grandfather.

Tonight Dave took the truck in for a oil change, air filter, lube job, and check up while Em and me went to my grandparents.
Grandpa was thankful for the cheese, and then shared several stories from when he served in WW11. He told me about being captured, he told me about the time they prayed, he told me about his purple heart, bronze star, and the time he felt a tug under his arm and at night as he undressed found a hole in and out of his coat, shirt, undershirt, and the red mark that could have pierced his heart.

I told him, "Well, you know God knew I was going to need my grandfather to keep me company late at night, and he picked you."

"Yeah, sure." He replied.

I worked on my Paper Wasp Documentary book cover tonight. This is just a mock cover, I think I have another idea, but let me know your thoughts on this one. This is the mother wasp that I spent over 6 months with documenting her life raising her offspring. It's the documentary that ended my 590 days in the valley. I'm hoping to have this available late fall/ early winter.

I'm looking forward to day 79.

See you on the journey--

Lisa

Day 77, Tuesday, 3/25/08, Year Four Dancer & Daedee: Snow Falling on Eagles

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Hello Eagle Friends,

It was a marvelous Tuesday in the valley. The temperature was 46 when we arrived, but had dropped down to 41 when we left late this afternoon. My daughter wanted to come with me today and see the trumpeter swans, the eagles, and the wildlife we
always seem to find waiting for our arrival.

We hiked out to our first post at nest 1. Daedee was up on the nest for day 22 incubation. I can't believe how fast the weeks have gone by. Here we are just days away from the borning eaglet cries, and yet with all the snow, and more coming this week--oh yes--another 8-9 inches; I feel winter is still holding and spring isn't getting her chance to bloom.

We saw Dancer the nest 1 male flying above us with to eaglets, probably the 2007 twins. We sat planning out our book series laughing at chapters we could write. I hope to have at least one of these titles out by fall. I'll give more details when the time is right.

We moved on to nest 2 and found Judy laying deep in the nest. There were no signs whatsoever indicating that an eaglet had been born. I've stared at a lot of sitting eagles, and she surely had a look that still said, "Eggs on board". Their expressions change, their actions, their persona all becomes edge-of-the-nest, once an eaglet comes out of their shell.

I have a good feeling about tomorrow. Day 33 has been a popular birth day for a few eaglets I know. We'll see if that proves true for tomorrow.

If he hatches on Thursday, I'll name him Blizzard, that is if we get all that snow they are predicting.

We moved on to nest 6 and found one eagle watching down at all the lesser scaup, blue bills swimming around. There were a few hooded mergansers, a couple common merganser, several geese and that is all. Em kept prompting me to leave, but I had to trust that instinct to remain. I kept telling her, "Just a few more minutes."

I really wasn't sure what I was waiting for, I only knew those strong stay or go feelings I get usually are important for me to follow. There I was waiting when I heard him, John Weiss, the Post-Bulletin Outdoor writer asking if I fell asleep?"
I laughed, and said, "Sleep, no, how can I my daughter keeps sticking her video game in my face asking me what one screen or another means."

He was shooting some pictures for the paper and we were talking about his book cover for the book we are publishing and as we were discussing adding wildlife, a perfect vertical or a black cover with a horizontal image our thoughts were broken by two sandhill cranes drifting above us and landing in the field next to us.

"There's your cover--go shoot it and I'll catch up with you in a bit."

He got a good shot too a perfectly tack-sharp picture of one of the sandhill cranes flying back over to the other pond they with a dark background. It was breath-taking. He was off to Preston, MN so we parted, but I wish he had followed me just two miles up the road because we found eight eaglets and one adult on a half melted marsh.

Nest 5 was on their nest, no eaglet news, but tomorrow is day 28 incubation for them so it's possible we could have an eaglet back there.

Then we found a big, rusty brown colored woodchuck. He was the fattest one I've seen in this valley. He was checking out a tunnel and go in and out of it to the call of a barred owl. I looked at Em and asked, "Should we tell him the reason that tunnel is vacant is because it's not prime real estate, but rather a tunnel below a red-tail hawk and barred owl perch, depending on whether he prefers coming out day or night?"

"Is that what happened to the last one mom?"
"I think so. Those woodchucks have a lot of predators out here, coyote, fox, eagle, hawks, owls and people. Last year three of them were hit just on this small stretch of road."

This woodchuck had so much personality I shot fifty or sixty pictures of him. He was chewing on the rocks, probably grinding his teeth down, then he must have had an itch so he walked down three feet and rubbed his neck up and down a forked branch on a tree, then he turned and I swear he smiled at us with those big yellow teeth, then he jumped back in his tunnel and kicked dirt out ten feet behind him.

We watched him for over a half hour and then we moved on.

Nest 3 was sitting peacefully and nest 4 was sitting quietly.

Then we headed back to Rochester.

I'm looking forward to day 78.

See you on the journey--

Lisa