New Eagle Nest at American Camp

Here’s something from today’s Short Wave Newsletter from SJIHNP…

Eagle in nest – Click for larger version – Sue Ryan photo

Once again a resident bald eagle pair at American Camp are constructing new living quarters in the visitor center parking area. This will be the third nest built in the general vicinity of the center since 1995, according to park records. The nest is conveniently located near the employee parking area and within easy viewing from the visitor center porch.

A bird scope points to the location of the eagles’ nest [near the visitor center].

The initial nest was constructed in 1995 near the top of a Douglas Fir located just south of the entrance road about 50 feet from the American Camp parking area, according to Mike Vouri, park chief of interpretation (who arrived the same year).

The eagles have been spotted removing limbs from that nest and reseting them into the new one, according to visitor center staff.

One of the nesting pair perching in an adjoining tree – Click for larger version – Sue Ryan photo

The first young (two eaglets) were hatched and fledged from the entrance road nest in 1996, and save for 1997 and 1999, the nesting pair had young every year through 2007, totaling 15 eaglets. The banner year was 2003 when three eaglets fledged, one prematurely, Vouri said.

“Then-maintenance foreman Jerry McElyea and I were on the porch and saw one of the eaglets fall from the nest,” Vouri said. “They were close to fledging so it flew, awkwardly, into the stand of trees that divides the parking area from the parade ground.”

The adults were on it in a flash and soon guided the eaglet back to the nest without further incident, Vouri said. The bird eventually fledged, but long after the others.

“At the risk of sounding anthropomorphic, we thought he was gun shy,” Vouri said.

The same thing happened to a lone eaglet in 2007. That bird landed in the old winged elm thicket just east of the parking area bulletin board. Staff from the park and Wolf Hollow lined up and, much as an Indian tiger hunt without the horns and tin pans, eased the eaglet out of the thicket and into the meadow behind the center.

“It jumped onto a boulder and sprang into flight, joining its parents who were circling and calling,” Vouri said. “If we have eaglets this year, let’s hope it’s incident free.”

In 2008, the large female of the pair (called Big Bertha and Little Bob by the staff) returned to American Camp with a new, and much younger, mate. Although they occasionally appeared at the old nest, it was soon established that a new nest had been constructed about a quarter mile north of the visitor center, along the Frazer Homestead Trail. Young have been observed fledging from that nest for the past five seasons.

It cannot be verified whether or not the new nest is the work of the pair that established the previous two nests. However, it is not uncommon for the same pair to return to the same nest or nesting area each year.

According to the Audubon Society’s Field Guide to the Bald Eagle, it is not unusual for eagle pairs to build multiple nests. One theory is that it helps the pair claim their territory. Another is that it allows any parasite infestation to die off at each site. Also according to the Field Guide, the pair are on schedule by beginning their nest building in January.

The nest off the Homestead trail appeared to be inactive at last report.

Eagles have a life span in the wild of between 20 and 30 years. Although they mate for life, the birds usually seek new partners after a death. They do not mate with other eagle species.

The American Camp visitor center is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Ask a ranger or volunteer to show you the nest location, and please keep your distance. Call 360-378-2240, ext. 2227 or 2233 for information.

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