As I sit here and write this, it's with Joy and Heartbreak. Harriet and PB had their first "bonding" this morning at 7:05 am. The joy of knowing there could be eggs this season and the heartbreak that to Me ,finally this really shows that Harriet has moved on and so far has accepted PB as her mate. I do realize that anything can still happen. There are so many possible scenarios.
But for now PB has stepped up to the plate and has shown he can do this. No more practicing on the branch and flashing Harriet ...LOL
Donna just got done saying that PB better show Harriet what he can do or she just might replace him. Maybe he heard her??? In my excitement ,I did not get a photo but Donna did.
So now we move on from here. Hopefully more nestoration more "bonding" then of course the mating will start. Should be around the end of October when they will be getting serious about mating. Remember Harriet has laid eggs within the middle to 3rd week of Nov the past 2 seasons. First season was in Dec for January hatches.
Good information at the link below:
http://www.hancockwildlife.org/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=694449#694449
Hopefully bonding will continue between Harriet and PB. Nothing is "permanent " nothing is "cemented" even if they raise a clutch. Look at what we are seeing right now. Ozzie and Harriet a well bonded pair for over 20 yrs and at this point in time , the bond is broken.
I truly with all my heart thought I wouldn't see this between Harriet and PB. Everything we have been told and read didn't really prepare us ..ME for this. I look back at all that has happened and the way Harriet and PB were, I missed what was really happening . They had already begun the "getting to know you" way back when Ozzie was first missing and at CROW and PB came in and chased away all the other Eagles. He won.. if you want to say at that point in time Harriet and the territory. PB freed up Harriet to finish raising E6. I didn't see it. I knew where Ozzie was and knew he was going to come home one day soon. So my eyes were clouded over to what was really going on.
In my mind,if Harriet didn't want PB around she would have gotten rid of him after E6 left. Or maybe even before. She didn't leave the area which had me concerned that she might without Ozzie around. Harriet made it clear that this is HER territory and nest and she planned on staying. PB also helped make this possible by being with her and doing what the male does , patrolling, protecting the territory.Now it's PB's territory and nest too. So much I see now that I really didn't see at the being of their"relationship." There was always the thought and hope of Ozzie coming back.
Now, I know we still have to be cautious, prepared , understand that things could change at any moment. A stronger more mature Male or another Female could come in and change the whole game plan. Ozzie could possible come home. But I'll worry with that IF and when it happens right now I'm watching and learning about the here and now. All that matters is that they are working on the nest, "bonding" and moving forward as a new pair and we are just along for the ride no matter where it takes us. Hopefully it will be with eggs, hatches, and successful fledglings. What a great time to be witnessing this all come about. A young Male on his journey to be a first time Dad. A mature Female showing him the way and continuing her legacy. How totally awesome is this that we get to see it first hand !? I'm thrilled ! Are you ? I hope so .....
Link to Donna McMurrer's photo of the "bonding" this morning.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207555738471237&set=o.432568663467061&type=1&theater
Monday, September 14, 2015
Friday, September 11, 2015
Harriet and PB work the nest together. Teamwork
As I head to the nest this morning I'm watching the lighting light up the sky to the south and hope it doesn't rain. I also think to myself.. I would love to capture that in a photo one day. Ahhh someday I'll work on that. There's a lot to learn and equipment to buy. Someday .
I arrive at the nest and I see Harriet and PB on the old cam 2 tree. Harriet on a lower branch and PB above her. I get all set up and take a few pics. I sit looking up into the sky and the stars are just beautiful. No clouds in the way so I could see a lot more of them this morning. What a great day it's going to be I think to myself. I also think of all the lives we lost on this day 14 yrs ago and where I was. I remember it like it was yesterday....
I talk to Harriet and PB like I always do. I ask them what will they be doing today and of course I never get an answer ..LOL Go figure.
Soon I'm joined by Donna. Harriet has turned around on her branch,PB stretches his wing. Harriet flies into the nest and PB is still on OCT. Harriet is aerating the nest and I think she was also making a list . PB flies from the OCT and to the outer branch left where he tries to get a pine branch and ends up hanging upside down. He finally lets go ,flies out and around back into the nest with Harriet.LOL I thought I had the video going but didn't and missed the whole thing. NO video ,No photo. Donna did get a photo tho. Jeff made it but didn't see PB in his attempt to get the pine branch.
PB hops up to the attic branch while Harriet stays in the nest. PB then leaves the attic branch and then I see he come from the other side of the big tree. Not sure where he went to but heads back up into the nest. Jeff said it looked like he had a small stick. Good job PB. Your on the ball this morning.
Of course Harriet always helpful , helps PB try to place his stick. A bit of beaking breaks out and Harriet gives up...LOL Harriet hops up to the attic branch,PB then goes to the front pine doesn't stay long then heads for the nest tree then tries for some pine on the upper right of the tree missed it and heads off towards the west pasture tree line.PB lands in the tall pine and stays there for awhile. Harriet still in the nest tree on the attic branch now. Preening and vocalizing off and on.PB preening and ignoring Harriet. Funny watching them do this. Maybe she was really giving PB more of a Honey Do list and he was taking it all in ? PB after sitting and preening finally heads back to the nest with a small stick tucked in close to his tail. I guess he did listen to Harriet..lol
After placing his stick PB heads to the attic branch and I really thought this time there would be whoopee but nooo,PB still doesn't have it down right. PB ...you have to get off the branch and onto Harriet next time. Maybe he is still a bit leery of our Harriet. You know,not sure if she will go after him or not. Ahh Harriet you're such a Cougar you scare the young guy.
Harriet then leaves for the front pine and is looking for a stick or maybe even some pine. Yep she has a little bitty stick and a small bit of moss hanging from it. PB drops down into the nest to help Harriet out. Beaking is just apart of stick laying I think..lol Something they have to do. Harriet lets PB do his thing and walks up on the veranda.PB don with placement of the small stick ,hops up to the attic branch again then Harriet joins him. Harriet vocalizes and PB answers her back. They vocalize a few times then Harriet is looking for branch of pine she wants above her. She hops up a branch and keeps looking. She moves to her left ,nope nothing there looks to the right higher up ,nope then she sits and looks around a bit.Then she moves further out to her left looking around there. Nope nothing to her liking there. Does a PS then flies to the right ,just above PB and got her a branch with pine on it. I big one too. Down she glides past PB past the nest down she goes then swoops up and out towards the OCT and past a bit comes back around and headed for the nest tree coming in from the porch branch side with a perfect landing in the nest. Awesome to watch. Amazing how she ,when just before reaching the nest she adjusts the branch just right so she can land in the nest.
PB gives Harriet time to get the branch in the nest then hops down to "help" her out...lol
This time I think Harriet just gets out of the way and lets him do what he has to do. Well it turned out PB left it where Harriet put it but was picking some of the pine needles off . Maybe he thought it was good right where Harriet had put it.
Harriet taking a timeout PB hops back up to the attic branch. It seems like he likes that spot. PB takes off again and of course I was not ready for the close fly-by PB did. But I did get a lot of butt shots as he headed back to the nest. From what I could see ,PB had him another small stick in his talons. Your on fire today PB ! Good job!
He lands next to Harriet. While PB is placing his stick Harriet moves some of the pine . Both take a break. Harriet is standing by the edge of the nest facing us. Beautiful ! PB is by the spike branch.
Once again ,PB heads up to the attic branch and Harriet stays in the nest and preening her tail feathers. PB watches her from time to time. Then PB takes off again this time back towards the pond area. Flies under and around one tree then another ,then over the pond and around back towards another tree and under the branches and I'm trying to keep up with him. Then finally the landing gear is deployed and I'm thinking OK good , nope he flies a little further then he lands in the tall grass. He walks around just a bit then off he goes again. Back towards the pond again this time on the left then over the fence and off towards the NE treeline then back towards the west. Where in the hell are you going I'm thinking to myself and still trying to keep up with him. PB is flying low then swoops up to the pine tree he was in earlier. Phew ! Thank you ! Now to get a few shots of him before he decides to leave again which he did and I lost him. The next thing Jeff and I know ,we hear Harriet vocalizing and there's PB in the nest again. I have no idea where he came from . All I know is I lost him in the west pasture treeline some where.LOL
It looks like he brought in another branch. Done with that again PB heads up to the attic branch while Harriet stays in the nest. Harriet has been vocalizing off and on the whole morning but this time something about the vocals this time makes PB take off across the road. At first it looked like he was going to the pond but he turned left and when up into the tall pine. Harriet by now has gone up to the veranda and vocalizing. Not like there was something around , just vocalizing.
This is how I left them around 9:24 am. PB across the road in the pine and Harriet on the veranda.
It was a great morning. It really made mine and Jeff's day to see them working together on the nest. It may not be an Ozzie nest but it's a PB nest for now. He's young and will learn as they go.
I arrive at the nest and I see Harriet and PB on the old cam 2 tree. Harriet on a lower branch and PB above her. I get all set up and take a few pics. I sit looking up into the sky and the stars are just beautiful. No clouds in the way so I could see a lot more of them this morning. What a great day it's going to be I think to myself. I also think of all the lives we lost on this day 14 yrs ago and where I was. I remember it like it was yesterday....
I talk to Harriet and PB like I always do. I ask them what will they be doing today and of course I never get an answer ..LOL Go figure.
Soon I'm joined by Donna. Harriet has turned around on her branch,PB stretches his wing. Harriet flies into the nest and PB is still on OCT. Harriet is aerating the nest and I think she was also making a list . PB flies from the OCT and to the outer branch left where he tries to get a pine branch and ends up hanging upside down. He finally lets go ,flies out and around back into the nest with Harriet.LOL I thought I had the video going but didn't and missed the whole thing. NO video ,No photo. Donna did get a photo tho. Jeff made it but didn't see PB in his attempt to get the pine branch.
PB hops up to the attic branch while Harriet stays in the nest. PB then leaves the attic branch and then I see he come from the other side of the big tree. Not sure where he went to but heads back up into the nest. Jeff said it looked like he had a small stick. Good job PB. Your on the ball this morning.
Of course Harriet always helpful , helps PB try to place his stick. A bit of beaking breaks out and Harriet gives up...LOL Harriet hops up to the attic branch,PB then goes to the front pine doesn't stay long then heads for the nest tree then tries for some pine on the upper right of the tree missed it and heads off towards the west pasture tree line.PB lands in the tall pine and stays there for awhile. Harriet still in the nest tree on the attic branch now. Preening and vocalizing off and on.PB preening and ignoring Harriet. Funny watching them do this. Maybe she was really giving PB more of a Honey Do list and he was taking it all in ? PB after sitting and preening finally heads back to the nest with a small stick tucked in close to his tail. I guess he did listen to Harriet..lol
After placing his stick PB heads to the attic branch and I really thought this time there would be whoopee but nooo,PB still doesn't have it down right. PB ...you have to get off the branch and onto Harriet next time. Maybe he is still a bit leery of our Harriet. You know,not sure if she will go after him or not. Ahh Harriet you're such a Cougar you scare the young guy.
Harriet then leaves for the front pine and is looking for a stick or maybe even some pine. Yep she has a little bitty stick and a small bit of moss hanging from it. PB drops down into the nest to help Harriet out. Beaking is just apart of stick laying I think..lol Something they have to do. Harriet lets PB do his thing and walks up on the veranda.PB don with placement of the small stick ,hops up to the attic branch again then Harriet joins him. Harriet vocalizes and PB answers her back. They vocalize a few times then Harriet is looking for branch of pine she wants above her. She hops up a branch and keeps looking. She moves to her left ,nope nothing there looks to the right higher up ,nope then she sits and looks around a bit.Then she moves further out to her left looking around there. Nope nothing to her liking there. Does a PS then flies to the right ,just above PB and got her a branch with pine on it. I big one too. Down she glides past PB past the nest down she goes then swoops up and out towards the OCT and past a bit comes back around and headed for the nest tree coming in from the porch branch side with a perfect landing in the nest. Awesome to watch. Amazing how she ,when just before reaching the nest she adjusts the branch just right so she can land in the nest.
PB gives Harriet time to get the branch in the nest then hops down to "help" her out...lol
This time I think Harriet just gets out of the way and lets him do what he has to do. Well it turned out PB left it where Harriet put it but was picking some of the pine needles off . Maybe he thought it was good right where Harriet had put it.
Harriet taking a timeout PB hops back up to the attic branch. It seems like he likes that spot. PB takes off again and of course I was not ready for the close fly-by PB did. But I did get a lot of butt shots as he headed back to the nest. From what I could see ,PB had him another small stick in his talons. Your on fire today PB ! Good job!
He lands next to Harriet. While PB is placing his stick Harriet moves some of the pine . Both take a break. Harriet is standing by the edge of the nest facing us. Beautiful ! PB is by the spike branch.
Once again ,PB heads up to the attic branch and Harriet stays in the nest and preening her tail feathers. PB watches her from time to time. Then PB takes off again this time back towards the pond area. Flies under and around one tree then another ,then over the pond and around back towards another tree and under the branches and I'm trying to keep up with him. Then finally the landing gear is deployed and I'm thinking OK good , nope he flies a little further then he lands in the tall grass. He walks around just a bit then off he goes again. Back towards the pond again this time on the left then over the fence and off towards the NE treeline then back towards the west. Where in the hell are you going I'm thinking to myself and still trying to keep up with him. PB is flying low then swoops up to the pine tree he was in earlier. Phew ! Thank you ! Now to get a few shots of him before he decides to leave again which he did and I lost him. The next thing Jeff and I know ,we hear Harriet vocalizing and there's PB in the nest again. I have no idea where he came from . All I know is I lost him in the west pasture treeline some where.LOL
It looks like he brought in another branch. Done with that again PB heads up to the attic branch while Harriet stays in the nest. Harriet has been vocalizing off and on the whole morning but this time something about the vocals this time makes PB take off across the road. At first it looked like he was going to the pond but he turned left and when up into the tall pine. Harriet by now has gone up to the veranda and vocalizing. Not like there was something around , just vocalizing.
This is how I left them around 9:24 am. PB across the road in the pine and Harriet on the veranda.
It was a great morning. It really made mine and Jeff's day to see them working together on the nest. It may not be an Ozzie nest but it's a PB nest for now. He's young and will learn as they go.
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| Harriet bottom branch ,PB above her and no there's nothing on my lens those are blurred stars..lol |
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| Harriet after she got the pine branch |
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| Harriet |
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| Harriet |
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| Harriet |
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| PB |
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| Harriet left,PB right |
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| Harriet see's PB coming |
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| PB |
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| PB |
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| Harriet |
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| Harriet in the nest PB above |
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| PB |
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| PB |
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| PB |
Thursday, September 10, 2015
I wanted to start a new blog and thought I could just change the photo I had on the old one and keep everything the way it was . You know the lazy way . Well as it turned out the blog I was doing while Ozzie was gone ,well it's still this one with a different photo and title . It does go better with this new title and photo any way. So.. sorry if it confuses anyone. I can always change it if Ozzie comes back.........
I see only one Eagle on the OCT . It's PB so I'm hoping Harriet is in the front pine tree only because PB keeps looking that way. As the daylight breaks with all it's beautiful colors , there's still just PB. Hmmm I wonder where Harriet is? No vocals at all so that tells me she's not home. PB has turned around and is preening. Still looking towards the front pine then moves up one branch and is looking towards the NW. Ahh maybe he spots Harriet on Bob's pole ? 6:54 am off he goes heading right for the pole over by Bob's. I finish talking to Donna and Jeff and head my way home. Sure enough ,there are 2 Eagles ,one on each pole . So I pull in and get a few photo's. Yep It's Harriet on one and PB/FV on the other one. The nice gentleman that lives there told me that Harriet has been there since earlier in morning. PB vocalized once when I got out of my truck and Harriet vocalized a couple of times while I was still there.
I didn't stay too long I don't want to wear out my welcome with the nice fellow so I left around 8:10am .
I see only one Eagle on the OCT . It's PB so I'm hoping Harriet is in the front pine tree only because PB keeps looking that way. As the daylight breaks with all it's beautiful colors , there's still just PB. Hmmm I wonder where Harriet is? No vocals at all so that tells me she's not home. PB has turned around and is preening. Still looking towards the front pine then moves up one branch and is looking towards the NW. Ahh maybe he spots Harriet on Bob's pole ? 6:54 am off he goes heading right for the pole over by Bob's. I finish talking to Donna and Jeff and head my way home. Sure enough ,there are 2 Eagles ,one on each pole . So I pull in and get a few photo's. Yep It's Harriet on one and PB/FV on the other one. The nice gentleman that lives there told me that Harriet has been there since earlier in morning. PB vocalized once when I got out of my truck and Harriet vocalized a couple of times while I was still there.
I didn't stay too long I don't want to wear out my welcome with the nice fellow so I left around 8:10am .
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| PB |
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| PB on the pole |
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| Hello Harriet |
Friday, August 21, 2015
Feeling better today. I guess I just needed some more sleep. Window works in the truck again too. So I head off to the nest my usual time this morning. I find Harriet and PB in the nest tree. Harriet on the outer branch left and PB way up on the right. Harriet preening a bit and PB still has his head tucked in behind him. Around 6:00 am PB is awake. I think he was awake before that because Harriet was looking that way in one of the photo's I took. Harriet says good morning a couple of times and more preening. Harriet moves out further on her branch then flies off towards the driveway around the cam 2 tree and around the old cam 2 tree and heads up next to PB. Wow....I find this interesting to say the least. Harriet flying to PB/FV.. Of course there are vocals from both of them and some beaking. I think maybe PB was a bit surprised by Harriet. PB is itching his feet then Harriet does it. Then they look at each other ..lol
They are sitting very close to each other , looking around. At one point PB is looking at Harriet. I am wondering what he is thinking ? Could it be "Boy what a lucky guy I am to have Harriet"? Or " Man she's one Beautiful Eagle "? Ohh if only they could talk. We would find out sooo much about them.
The sun is coming up more and adding a reddish glow to the nest tree and them as they sit there preening , looking around taking in the view of all that is there before them.Just an awesomely beautiful sight.PB stretches and Harriet titles her head towards him as if to say "Are you ok"? They continue to sit there. Then the quiet is broken by Harriet vocalizing at the Hawk that flies by. PB sits for a few more seconds then flies off to the NE. Harriet turns around and stretches and watches PB as he is leaving the nest area.
Harriet is looking NE to NW then NE again . Harriet goes from preening to looking NE to NW for a bit.She then turns back around and there is more preening to be done. First the feet are itched , then she preens the inside of her right wing. Done with her morning preening Harriet looks behind her to the NE then looks to the SE. Harriet leaves the nest tree flying right towards us and past us. Over the road and to the SE past the neighbourhood where the 2 norfolk pines are and dips down out of sight. Maybe she saw PB over that way. Who knows.
Donna M and Jeff are with me. We talk a bit then Jeff leaves. Donna and I continue to talk and then we see an Eagle fly past over by Publix's . Then we see another one that was way ahead of the last one . Both look to be heading SW direction over Circle K and beyond. Well both Donna and I decided it's a good time to leave . It was already 8:45 am and it's getting warmer out.
I do not see any Eagles on the cell tower nor Bob's pole as I go home.
Be safe Ozzie ,Harriet and PB/FV. Ozzie I'll see you when you're ready to come home.
They are sitting very close to each other , looking around. At one point PB is looking at Harriet. I am wondering what he is thinking ? Could it be "Boy what a lucky guy I am to have Harriet"? Or " Man she's one Beautiful Eagle "? Ohh if only they could talk. We would find out sooo much about them.
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| PB looking at Harriet |
The sun is coming up more and adding a reddish glow to the nest tree and them as they sit there preening , looking around taking in the view of all that is there before them.Just an awesomely beautiful sight.PB stretches and Harriet titles her head towards him as if to say "Are you ok"? They continue to sit there. Then the quiet is broken by Harriet vocalizing at the Hawk that flies by. PB sits for a few more seconds then flies off to the NE. Harriet turns around and stretches and watches PB as he is leaving the nest area.
Harriet is looking NE to NW then NE again . Harriet goes from preening to looking NE to NW for a bit.She then turns back around and there is more preening to be done. First the feet are itched , then she preens the inside of her right wing. Done with her morning preening Harriet looks behind her to the NE then looks to the SE. Harriet leaves the nest tree flying right towards us and past us. Over the road and to the SE past the neighbourhood where the 2 norfolk pines are and dips down out of sight. Maybe she saw PB over that way. Who knows.
Donna M and Jeff are with me. We talk a bit then Jeff leaves. Donna and I continue to talk and then we see an Eagle fly past over by Publix's . Then we see another one that was way ahead of the last one . Both look to be heading SW direction over Circle K and beyond. Well both Donna and I decided it's a good time to leave . It was already 8:45 am and it's getting warmer out.
I do not see any Eagles on the cell tower nor Bob's pole as I go home.
Be safe Ozzie ,Harriet and PB/FV. Ozzie I'll see you when you're ready to come home.
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| PB/FV left ,Harriet right |
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| Harriet always has something to say..LOL |
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| Dude you ok ? |
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| Harriet vocalizing at the Hawk |
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| PB/FV leaving |
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| Harriet flying past leaving for the day |
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