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HE'S BACK!!!! It was a long lonely day watching for the eagles and finally that evening we saw the mother eagle fly by! Maybe the baby is nearby we hoped? Then the dad showed up and perched himself on top of the tree that held the nest! He called and called. It was a strange unfamiliar call this time. We thought we could hear the baby answer back. The reply sounded very weak. We were sure the baby was somewhere down below eye shot, down the cliff somewhere below. The father called to him for hours and baby would answer back. Back and forth the calls went until the evening got very dark. Poppa eagle finally left for the evening and mom was no where to be seen. We looked out every time we walked by the window hoping to see one of them but they were gone for now. It was quiet. Maybe the baby was sleeping on a limb down the cliff below too afraid or too tired to try and make it back to his old roost. The last impression of that evening as darkness finally fell was an amazing view of orange colored crescent shaped moon dropping over the hills of Vancouver Island. What a day! HEY LOOK AT ME!
He was magnificent just like his parents. He glided through the air with grace and ease. He's such an impressive guy, so big and powerful. I can't really explain the excitement I felt of seeing him free and flying so brilliantly. Mom and pop were in the neighborhood too. We heard them talking back and forth to each other, maybe they too were admiring their off spring as we were. It was so heart warming to know that they hadn't left our neck of the woods. Maybe we will see our baby eagle grow to a mature eagle now! Maybe we'll be lucky to see the parents teach him the next step of survival. I hope so! A GREAT DAY! Forget those lonely sad thoughts of
yesterday...this is a great day! We went to town and back and when we
returned we heard the eagles again. We went out on the deck to see what
was up. Low and behold the baby eagle was back on his nest perch
again!!! He'd come back again! We watched for a long time looking at him in his old place. He was tired and looked a bit disheveled. Wonder what his first adventure was like, where did he go, what did he do? Did his first landing go well? How did he get back? Did he have a crash landing or land on the limb? All these questions were going through our minds. He's trying to sleep now and has curled up his one claw below his tummy tucked under his feathers. I wonder, is he just sleeping or did he injure himself? He seems a bit wobbly and every once in awhile stretches his neck in a strange way. Maybe he has some bruises or strains from his first outing. We'll watch and let you know.....
We could here the eagle but couldn't
see him so decided to get in the boat and see if we could find him. Larry
spotted him right away. Baby eagle had picked the highest spot for the
best view.
He spent the night there or close by.
(click on small photos)
NEXT MORNING... Daylight had just barely arrived and
Zig and I bolted out of bed as we both heard the baby eagle! Sure enough
it was him again. He was crying. This morning he was no longer in the
nest but on top of the tree that held the nest.
Finally, dad arrived on a tree nearby and low and behold he brought breakfast! It was a big fish clutched beneath his claw draped over the branch! The minute dad arrived, the baby got quiet. Dad sat on the limb for a few minutes, just long enough for me to get a picture and then took his bounty up to the old nest, just a few feet below the baby eagle. The baby eagle watched him intently. Hmm food! But how do I get down to that nest again he wondered? Dad munched away on this delicious fish in front of the starving baby. We could now see mom nearby. She was perched on a tree about 1/8 of a mile away. Dad finally getting his fill but leaving some for the baby, flew away.
He ate the left over scraps and then rested for awhile. But he didn't stay long this time as it was time to go... as mom and dad were waiting for him.
He moved to the edge of the nest and flapped his wings several times getting ready for take off and then off he flew out of the nest down Haro Strait following mom and dad. What a happy sight!
Well, forget all the sadness we felt
the other day as we were so happy to see him again, the three of them
again, together. When he left for the first time we weren't sure if he
was alone or what, but now we know for sure he's in good hands and
that they are showing him the ropes.
They didn't come back again after that and I'm sure it's because they are going to places where the food is easier and more plentiful right now. So we're not so obsessed with looking for them now. Maybe they are heading to Frazier River for the salmon, who knows, but I'm convinced that they'll come back again. Just thought we'd let you know!
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Early the next morning, again we saw
nothing and heard nothing...but later that morning we heard an eagle
sound. I walked out on the deck to see who it was...and low and behold
our baby eagle flew right by the deck at eye level and only a few yards
away. As he went by he glanced over as if to say "Hey, look at me!" 
It
took the baby a long time to maneuver his way down to the nest. He
was still clumsy and awkward but finally managed after a few bad landings
on the lower branches. 
