WV NCTC Eagle nest is covered in snow

[Dumpsterkitty]

At least it's still early enough in the season for another clutch if the weather ever clears.  Blackwater & Norfolk are getting hit today too.

[valhalla]

Norfolk is not in the snow zone and Blackwater just might miss the worst of it - fingers crossed 

[Tokira]

Poor birds 
This is what he have today here:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
906 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-CHARLES-WARREN-CLARKE-LOUDOUN-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-KING GEORGE-
NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WASHINGTON...WALDORF...FRONT ROYAL...
LEESBURG...MANASSAS...MANASSAS PARK...FAIRFAX...ALEXANDRIA...
FALLS CHURCH...WARRENTON...MARTINSBURG...CHARLES TOWN
906 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 12 INCHES.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING. HEAVIEST
  SNOW IS EXPECTED THIS MORNING.

* TEMPERATURES...MID AND UPPER 20S.

* WINDS...WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWEST AND INCREASE TO 20 TO 30
  MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 45 MPH. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL
  REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BETWEEN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS
  AT TIMES...PRODUCING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND STRONG WINDS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

Carol
buried up in the beautiful Potomac Highlands  :

[valhalla]

Mom was just at the nest, doing some fixing, but now the egg is exposed.  Don't know ???

[Annette]

 

[Donna]

WV egg right now. Momma just left. Wondering if the egg is OK.

[Donna]

Winter Update #3 - February 12, 2010

The 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:

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.

[Donna]

From what I read on the site, the female has laid 2 more eggs and NO snow this time. Hope all goes well the 2nd time around.

This pic is from now.

[valhalla]

AMEN Donna!

[Donna]

I sure pray this one hatches. They've been through enough.

Winter Update #7 - March 11, 2010

Spring has sprung here in the eastern panhandle of WV. While there are still big snowdrifts to melt in the region, most of the surface snow has melted; the temps have warmed; and the red winged black birds are back--a sure sign of Spring. The eagles continue to keep their solitary egg warm and dry. They will be tested in the next few days as we have a rain event that promises to be a strong storm, but the temperatures will be in the fifties and sixties. In the event of heavy rain, watch how the eagles will extend their wings to "tent" the area of the nest with the egg. We are expecting that this egg will hatch in about ten days.

Winter Update #6 - March 4, 2010

Our eagles are tending to one egg. The other egg, which we felt had questionable viability, is now not seen, likely under the layers of grass that continues to be brought into the nest. The egg that is being incubated was layed on February 13th. This would put us into a hatching trajectory of on or around March 21. Let's hope the weather gets better and does not throw any more snowy obstacles in the way. Continue to keep an eye out for fish being brought into the nest -- March is the best time to catch big walleye on our vicinity of the river, and these birds can carry in some big fish when they are hungry.

[Dumpsterkitty]

Just read a report over on the Norfolk Eaglecam that the remaining egg hatched today!

[Donna]

Just read a report over on the Norfolk Eaglecam that the remaining egg hatched today!

OH great Ei....I've been keeping an eye on that cam...praying this last egg would hatch. Good news for them. THANKS!

[Kris G.]

Just read a report over on the Norfolk Eaglecam that the remaining egg hatched today!

                                                         

[MAK]

 

[valhalla]