Going It Alone 😪 - Decorah, Iowa eagles nest - April 21, 2018
Вставка
- Опубліковано 20 кві 2018
- Dad Decorah was last seen April 18. Observers are out searching for him in the nearby area with plans to widen the search area tomorrow. Meanwhile, Mom has to perform all duties: protecting the eaglets 24/7, hunting for food and feeding. This season has been so difficult for so many nests.
Courtesy of Explore/Raptor Resource Project - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
*VIEWERS TAKE NOTE - THIS NOTICE FROM RAPTOR RESOURCE PROJECT REGARDING MISSING DAD* - It has been eight days since we last saw Dad Decorah - eight days of searching, observing, communicating, worrying, and shedding tears. Eight days of talking to our board, our volunteers, and our eagle panel, coordinating activities, planning for Dad’s loss or recovery, and thinking back on Bob and the wonderful educational and research adventure that he created. Eight days of desperately wishing that Dad would return and make the world of the Decorah Eagles right again. In the words of Sherri Elliott, Dad was a masterful architect, skilled hunter, proficient prey purveyor, loving and perfect partner, defender of all things that go bump in the night, and devoted Dad to 31 eaglets. And now we have to accept that we - and Mom - will have to go on without him.
We still don't know why Dad is missing, although our panel of eagle experts suggested that a fight with the unidentified male eagle (UME) was the most likely reason for his disappearance. Given the high density of the surrounding eagle population and number of floaters, or non-breeding adults, intra-species fighting has become a major source of natural mortality for bald eagles. While the panel didn't entirely reject hypothermia or illness, they felt it was not very likely given that Dad didn't appear sick, didn't have green mute stains on his tail, and had previously gone through bad weather, including wet April snow storms, with no problem. They also mentioned electrocution and car collisions as potential sources of mortality, and rejected the idea that Dad simply gave up and left. We found no evidence at all of Dad being shot or kidnapped.
People have been searching the Decorah area since Thursday, April 19 on foot, by car, and with regular and thermal-imaging drones. So why haven’t we been able to find Dad? It is possible that he was carried away by a scavenger or hid himself before succumbing to his injuries - a natural defense instinct to lay low and avoid predators. We've responded to many injured bald eagle reports and we've always found it amazing and frustrating to see how well they can hide in even very open landscapes. Given the sheer number of bald eagles, finding a dead or injured bald eagle is the exception, not the rule. In some ways, it seems fitting that we will never truly know what happened to him. Dad remained his very own self until the end.
RRP director John Howe pointed out yesterday that we are seeing something that is hard for us, but very normal in eagle life - and something that most people didn’t understand or know about until we started watching eagles in their nests. Death and the succession of eagles is part of the natural order, but that doesn't make it any less sad when it happens. We watch the Decorah eagles and love them, but they belong to no one but themselves. Their lives are a gift we are privileged to share and learn from.
We extend a huge and heartfelt thanks to our board, our eagle experts, our volunteers, the Decorah Fire Department, and the people of Decorah for all their help, care, and concern during a difficult time. Another huge and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have joined us on this journey. Some of the most heartwarming questions and comments have come from our young student eagle followers and we extend a special thanks to them and to their teachers for the honest, open, and very touching discussions they have had about our eagle family. We have come to the end of the first chapter of the Decorah Eagle family, the story that began so many years ago with Bob Anderson, Neil Rettig, and American Eagle. But more stories remain to be told, and after all these years, much remains to be learned.
Banksy Girl ahhh... I was really hoping he’d have been found by now. Maybe he did get into a fight and simply doesn’t want to return just yet- it’s sad knowing that this is just regular life in the bird world
This is very sad.i been watching the nest since last season. Love this eagle family so much. Hurts my heart so bad. God bless this eagle family ❤❤❤
This can’t be happening. We’ve had our share of mishaps this year with the bad weather all around. Now dad is missing? I’m praying they find him. Poor mom. Praying for good news soon. Ty B.
She’s a beautiful bird, a very good Mom, too. Hope she gets her mate back soon.
what a phenominal amazing mom....if anyone can do this alone....its this majestic eagle....love and prayers for fledglings
Thanks for keeping us informed. I started watching this year. A lot of snowfall, these birds are amazing.
How true about this year and all the problems on the nests. Hope dad misses his family and if possible will return to them soon.
so sad....intervene so they dont die....their doing so well😥
This so sad . I am in tears over this. Love those Eagles ,
They’ve come so far, please don’t let anything happen now.
Its been a tough year all the way around...especially for this nest...i have all the confidence in momma. She is experienced. Food is right below her...all around her...she will get the job done... Hopefully dad will be found...
💞
Oh my I had not had a chance to catch up till now to see what was going on. 2018 has been a bad year for eagles 🦅 sending them lots of love and prayers!
Dad has been absent before. He was gone for two days last year before showing up back at the nest. Where did he go? We don't know - we only know that he came back. Mom has plenty of food - the eaglets were fed to the point of bulging this morning - and the weather is forecast to be warm and pleasant. Mom and the eaglets are safe in the nest, and Mom can care for them in Dad's absence.
Mom and 3 little babies.tears.Thanks
Oh I am so heartbroken; loved watching these two...ike a fine oiled machine...we could all learn from these eagles. God speed, Dad...may you find your way Home...we love you
Very well said Jenny. Thank you.
I remember this last year how all of us was so worry. How is she going to do this along. and what's going to happen to the eaglets when she's out FISHING. Mom of the year.
I was watching today...mom was alerting dad..busy watching, I was so upset dad didnt return :((
So so heartbreaking!💔 I believe with the work done to bring back the population, it brings more eagles, less nests, territory and food...unfortunately with all the cams we are seeing it more often 😔
Unbelievably sad😭😭😭😭😭
What a shame. Dad Decorah was a great hunter and provider. The nest often resembled a cornucopia.
omg!! how sad, hope they find daddy Decorah........i just started watching them.. :(
Aww poor mama. I can't bare to watch. The eaglets are at so much risk. I've watched other nest and I can't handle anymore heartbreak . I pray the babies will be safe. Hope dad is safe and will return.
Dad please come back safely...mom and the kids need you and so do we
Awe, so sorry! I hope he returns 🙏
I am so upset. Such bad news from many nests. If any mom can give her best its this one. Shes a matron and what ever happens i salute her.😔❣🦅
Awwwwwww...... that’s so sad
Last year, a female Osprey disappeared (later found dead) and the dad raised the chicks for weeks, only to have them taken by a GHO. That''s nature. It's heartbreaking, but we are privileged to be able to observe it. I wonder why he disappeared for two days last year. Perhaps it's best she find a more reliable partner.
Please find Dad!!!😭😭😭
I wish these things wouldn’t happen, it’s hard on the heart , and I know it’s part of their life but it still hurts me.🦅
Det är helt fantastiskt.
Heartbreaking😭
So sad.
How can you help mom? W This is truly would she accept fish or food from the ground? This is truly heartbreaking.
Hi Bansky, I have been watching this nest for about a month and was sad to hear about daddy. Is there any update on the search for Daddy eagle?
No sign of him yet. The Decorah Fire Department Search and Rescue joined in the search. Amazing to me how all the "locals" are pulling together to find Dad. I still have hope he'll be found.
thank you for the update.
Oh gosh, do I want to ask why she is going it alone?
I've been watching since they hatched. Did the snowy and frigidly cold weather get dad?
Please see my new pinned post PL. It may answer your question re. Dad.
Why can't you help her out a little, like have some food available so it's easy to get, so she can feed her family.
ja wierze, ze wroci. myslmy pozytywnie. moze jest leczony w klinice gdzies? pozdrowienia z Polski, ogladam dzien w dzien👍🏵️💓
Cześć Krystyna! Tak się cieszę, że oglądasz z Polski. Ja też mam nadzieję, że wkrótce wróci. Miłego dnia i dziękuję za oglądanie. ❤️
Will mom be able to keep up with the demands of caring for the eaglets alone as they grow bigger? I hope and pray dad returns to his family otherwise the eaglets might have to be rescued when it becomes difficult for mom to care for them. So sad.😥
Isabelle Rudolf It is individual. Depending on how much untainted food is easily available, weather, etc. I am new here so I don't know if she is an experienced mom which will be another factor. We can pray the male is found healthy and whole.
Mom 😥 only Dad , new mate 😑
Can the service take one or two of the babies and raise them? This would seem logical as this season has been tragic all over the states. The eagle population will done significantly.
...is it even possible for her to raise without him? I’m guessing that the intruder might be a possibility of a new mate (I hate the thought, but might it be the only way to ensure the eaglets would fledge?) Any thoughts?
Jayme, in most cases it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for one parent to successfully fledge three eaglets. It is my understanding, though, that this nest is close to a river and a fish hatchery (sources of food). However it is exhausting for the remaining parent even in the best of circumstances. We can only wait and see. If any Mom can do it, I believe this one can. We will just have to wait and see.
Thank you, banksygirl. They have been extraordinary parents & a privilege to have watched the last few years. They have a lot of people rooting for the entire family & I believe that you’re right about mama (if anyone can do it, she can!) Bless her heart!
...and he went missing on that last snowstorm, right?
I’m hoping they don’t get another snowstorm!
Caramba só os forte sobrevive 😭😩
Is one eaglet gone? I saw 3 and then just two. ☹️
There are three eaglets in this nest.
Not. Good. If she has to leave the nest at night it’s over.
It's so sad😂😂😂😂