http://www.fws.gov/nctc/cam/stillimage.html Winter Update #3 - February 12,
2010The winter weather has been a major hindrance for the successful nesting of our eagle pair this year. With snow amounts approaching or exceeding 40 inches in the last week, this has served to overwhelm our birds and quite likely result in the first three eggs being non-viable.
Here's a history of the eggs laid thus far:
1. 2/2 10:15pm--First egg laid.
2/6 2:12pm--Second egg laid.
2/9 6:00pm--Third egg laid.
Within hours of the second egg being laid, it became apparent that by their behavior that the eagles had lost their eggs in the deep snow that filled the nest.
A third egg was laid during the second storm on Feb. 9th, but the eagles have not been attentive to keeping the egg warm, and it seems likely that this clutch is no longer viable.
Time will tell if the eagles will lay more eggs. The odds are typically 50/50 for a second clutch. With this problem happening early this year, we are hoping that there will be additional eggs produced.
The 4th egg was the survivor and fledged!
