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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Another Bald Eagle nest near home

This Bald Eagle nest is only about one mile from our second home in North Aurora, Illinois. The nest tree is on private land, located in the middle of the athletic field parking lot on the campus of Mooseheart Child City and School. 

The marked parking spaces go right up to the trunk of the tree. This seems not to have bothered the eagles, as they have returned to the same nest for a second breeding season. This year there are three eaglets. The oldest appears to be about 4-5 weeks old.

Coincidentally, as is the case with the Pembroke Pines nest which was the first active nest recorded in Broward County (Florida), this nest is the first known active nest in Kane County (Illinois). 

Last year the pair relocated from their first nest, also on the Mooseheart campus about a half mile away. That nest, first occupied in 2009, was destroyed in a wind storm in 2012. Happily both eaglets were successfully rehabilitated and released to the wild. 

It is such a thrill to have these two "pioneer" nests so close to each of our homes.

Bald Eagle nest 20140521

The tree is leaning quite a bit. The Field House and stadium bleachers are at the far end of the parking lot. The adult is perched in the tree to the far right and can be seen in the enlarged view (click on photo).

Eagle Nest and Parking Lot pano 120140521

Here is a better view of the adult standing guard at the nest.

Bald Eagle standing guard Mooseheart 20140521

The nest tree is about 1/3 of the way from the left margin of the photo below. The athletic field is to the right. Click on the photo for a larger view. You can see the nest with the adult standing guard.

Eagle Nest and Field House pano 20140521

The Fox River runs along just to the east of this property. Here the oldest eaglet eyes its parent.

Bald Eagle and eaglet Mooseheart 20140521

All three eaglets are visible in this photo. The oldest is noticeably larger and more active.

Mooseheart three eaglets 20140521

The parent bird flew away for about 45 minutes, and then took a perch between me and the nest tree.

Bald Eagle Mooseheart 6-20140521

Bald Eagle Mooseheart 2-20140521

Bald Eagle Mooseheart 4-20140521


Newspaper articles: 

2010 was the second year the pair nested here.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-04-14/news/ct-met-0415-mooseheart-bald-eagles-20100414_1_eagles-and-other-fish-eating-mooseheart-bald-eagle

In 2012, following this article, the nest was destroyed in a storm and the two eaglets were grounded and found to be malnourished.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120623/news/706239931/

Story and video about recovery of the grounded nestlings, construction of an artificial nest (which failed) and their eventual rehabilitation and successful release.

If video does not display below this space, please visit this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbMKm6X-B0E

26 comments:

  1. A marvelous post! Very exciting to have an eagles nest nearby. Great photos, great video and now I am going to check out those links. Have a great weekend!

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  2. Those last 3 shots are awesome Ken! I've only seen a bald eagle once. You are so lucky to have two nests to watch!

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  3. Amazing shot! I would have thought they would have prefered a more remote spot to build a nest.

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  4. Oh my goodness...oh my goodness!!! How lucky to witness all this. Beautiful...extraordinary.

    Thanks for linking up at the Bird D'Pot this weekend.

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  5. Excellent images of the Bald Eagle, thanks Kenneth.

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  6. "Rosyfinch Ramblings" has been included in Sites To See #373. Be assured that I hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/05/sites-to-see-373.html

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  7. your a lucky man. Take good care of thoe eagles. :)

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  8. I am sooooo jealous! Would love nothing more to get even a bad shot of an eagle. Yours are breathtaking!

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  9. It's just great to hear a success story like that where folk just join in to help widlife out. I am somewhat surprised how the eagles have nested in such a public place. Having said that, the nest and the birds are remarkably well hidden and maybe many lay people just don't notice them.

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  10. HI Kenneth What a tremendous post with fantastic photos and video. You are so fortunate to have 2 nest so near your home.

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  11. Lucky you having them so close!! Great story!

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  12. Awesome post on the Eagles. You are lucky to have them so close. Great shots.

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  13. You caught some wonderful shots! Love the little ones waiting to be fed.

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  14. Truly magnificent photos and story of the eagles :D)

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  15. Fabulous shots of the eagles. How wonderful to have them so close, although the nest tree looks so vulnerable standing alone in the middle of that parking lot.

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  16. These are such magnificent birds, they remind me very much of our Fish Eagles in South Africa

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  17. Amazing series of amazing birds.

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  18. Oh, that's so amazing, a beauty of a Bald Eagle and the brilliant camera work, thanks Kenneth.

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  19. Eagles everywhere you live! You have good birding mojo! Interesting (but not surprising now that I think about weather and stuff) that this nest is so far behind the one we have near us in Ft M.
    Also interesting that the first bird is so much older. The two years I've watched "our" nest, the babies (two each time) were within a day of each other.

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  20. Nice wilderness location! Funny what birds do sometimes.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  21. Great series!! Boom, Bobbi and Gary.

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  22. Were these photos taken in 2014? I live in North Aurora on the river and see these Eagles often in winter. I was aware of 3 eaglets in 2012, but not a third round in 2014.

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  23. Yes, Michael, there were definitely three eaglets in the nest when I took that photo on May 21, 2014.

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