RIP D25

9/27 post per RRP: D25 passed away yesterday due to car accident. D24 is ok.

We are sorry to let everyone know that Brett and his assistants found D25 yesterday dead alongside a road between Maynard and Westgate, IA. He was likely scavenging a raccoon carcass when he was struck and killed by a vehicle. His body will be sent to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI for a necropsy. All of us find it heartbreaking to lose another eagle. It is one thing to know that first-year bald eagles have high mortality rates and another to see it reflected in the lives of eagles we have come to know and love.

We have tracked six eagles to date: D1, D14, Four, Indy, D24, and D25. All six grew up in a world heavily impacted by human beings. The fish hatchery provided an excellent source of food, shredded cornstalks provided insulation for the nest, and light and electrical poles provided perches for fledgling eagles just learning their wings. But poles also present electrocution hazards; powerlines, cars, and buildings present collision hazards, and everything from gutpiles to landfills to confined feedlots present a route for potential toxins that can maim or kill scavengers. I want to believe that we are making headway in reducing electrocution, poisoning, and collision deaths. Certainly, bald eagles as a species are thriving. But it still hurts to lose an eagle we know.

How did Brett know there was a problem? Sensor data was static, D25's location hadn't changed significantly, and the area was not one in which Brett expected an eagle to stay for an extended period of time. After finding D25's body, which he was able to locate because the transmitter was still working, Brett decided to check on D24, who was about 40 minutes away near New Delhi, Iowa. We are pleased to report that D24 is doing well.

As one of our Decorah Mods, Pyrmum1 said, "May D25 fly high with the other offspring from Mom & Dad Decorah taken too soon".

The photo of D25 making early morning takeoff was taken by David Lynch at 5:40AM on June 28, 2016. Thank you to David Lynch for sharing his lovely photo and to Brett Mandernack and his staff for sharing their data. Through Brett's study, we have learned that power infrastructure, agriculture practices, collisions, and habitat change/loss all contribute directly to deaths of Bald Eagles. These lessons can be terribly painful, but they also enable us to preserve and protect raptors. Whether it is by driving slowly, picking up trash, reporting collisions and electrocutions, advocating for safeguards on power lines and poles, using lead-free ammo and tackle, preserving habitat, or sharing information with family and friends, thank you for doing what you can for birds of prey.

Let's Go Dodgers!

The Dodgers have clinched their 4th consecutive National League West title today defeating the Rockies in 10 innings.  Postseason play will be against the Washington Nationals on October 7th.  Congratulations, way to go!

The Egg

WOWOWOW the egg is still there <3 span="">

Raptor Resource Project

15 hrs · 

Work Updates, Camera Installs & Unhatched Bald Eagle Egg Retrieval

2016 Decorah Camera Crew: John Howe, Dave Kester, David Lynch, Ann Lynch, Kike Arnal

Decorah Eagle camera maintenance began last Sunday, September 18, 2016, with the crew starting at N1. The recent flooding in Decorah and surrounding areas have changed the landscape around both of the Decorah Eagles nests. Trout Creek/Trout Run Stream has lost about 20 feet of stream bank at the base of N1, making work a bit difficult around the nest tree, but a new PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera was mounted, along with a new microphone and IR illuminator (providing “night vision” for the nest and “Y” branch). The work at N1 was completely finished by Tuesday afternoon, and the crew then focused on N2B.

Work at the Decorah Eagles new man-made nest (N2B) began in earnest on Wednesday morning. Before camera work began, John Howe and Kike Arnal retrieved the non-viable egg from the nest. The egg was buried under approximately 6-8 inches of nest material and was in perfect shape (picture provided with this post). Working with the Iowa DNR, the egg will be sent to Iowa State University for analysis. As a note, Amy Ries worked very hard to obtain the proper permits for the crew to retrieve the egg. Thanks, Amy! After egg retrieval, the work of mounting of a new PTZ camera, microphone, and IR illuminator began up at the nest. While the camera at N1 was replaced, at N2B, the new camera is in addition to the old PTZ and stationary cameras, so as to provide a different view of the nest! On Thursday morning, work was slowed at N2B by a 3-4 inch rainfall overnight, which caused Trout Creek/Trout Run Stream to rise right to the base of the nest tree. The crew worked slowly and methodically to promote safety, and finished up the job by late Thursday evening!

As a side note, Raptor Resource Project welcomed an Iowa Public TV crew to the work site for the week. The crew documented all of the camera work and what goes into replacing and maintaining the cameras, as well as the egg retrieval. The crew also interviewed all of the cam team for use in a documentary about Raptor Resource Project and the legacy of our founder Bob Anderson. They still have much work to do, and we do not know when the film will be finished, but we anxiously await the final product!

Currently, work is ongoing at the Decorah North nest, with an additional, new PTZ camera system being mounted. The new camera will record video in 4K high definition and should provide a spectacular picture!

Also, Amy Ries has been working in Platteville, CO at the Fort St. Vrain Bald Eagle nest for the last week to mount a brand new camera system with our partners at Xcel Energy. We know Amy would love to be in Decorah helping with the eagle cam work, but she is working VERY hard in Colorado (while still helping us in Decorah!!) to provide a much-needed update to the cameras and infrastructure so we can continue to help bring you the live stream of the FSV nest!

Thanks for your support of Raptor Resource Project, and stay tuned for updates on camera maintenance and dates when our live streams will resume broadcasting. We are all excited for another season of raptor watching!

~ David Lynch, Board of Directors

Fall

Fall or Autumn starts later today.  It means the days get shorter, flowers and garden starts to slow production.  The migrating birds are fueling up to leave, the leaves are slowly turning colors and falling from the trees.  The grass has slowed down a bit in needing to be mowed.  I am not a fan of Fall because I have allergies to ragweed and mold.  I don't like the shorter days, I don't like losing my hummingbirds, and I don't like my flowers dying.  I do enjoy the vibrant red colors on some of my trees (btw the pictures are from a past year), Halloween,  and I enjoy my winter birds coming back such as the Juncos.  I am a Spring and Summer person.  So those of you are Fall fans enjoy it for me as well.   I will be counting the days til Spring arrives.

D24 and D25 Whereabouts

Where are D24 and D25? Their wanderings may be taking them closer together! After flying east to the Mississippi river, D25 returned to NE Iowa. He is currently on the Volga river near the Volga state recreation area. D24 was last spotted on a nameless stream roughly 38 miles SE of his brother.

Like D25, bald eagles D1 and Four spent time along the Volga, while D24 is in an area previously explored by Four. Will the two meet again, or will their paths take different directions? We are looking forward to finding out!

A million thanks to Brett Mandernack and the hard-working staff at Eagle Valley for sharing their data and maps with us! To explore our collection of pdf and interactive eagle maps, please visithttp://www.raptorresource.org/eagle-map/

Esmeralda

If you are old enough you remember Bewitched had the aunt and I believe her name was Esmeralda.  I loved that show, I always wanted to be Samantha and wiggle my nose and get things done.

One of my knitting friends has some of these dolls around her house, I asked her to ask the lady if she could make me a witch.  So here she is.  I love her, the detail are so much fun.

Last Hurrah

It is that time of year when the flowers quit blooming, the birds start to migrate and Fall is soon to arrive.  This is one sunflower plant that got so big and heavy it fell over on the yard, when it fell the blooms had not opened yet, now look at it.  The goldfinches love the seeds and the hummingbirds sit on the stalks and watch the world go by.  My Hibiscus finally bloomed, must have been the 90's and rain that it felt like it was in a tropical climate.  I had 3 hummingbirds the other day and the nectar is being sucked down quickly, they will be gone in a couple of weeks.

Grilled Cheese and Egg

The first recipe in my new Grilled Cheese sandwich book is to put a fried egg in between the cheese in your sandwich.  I had a great loaf of very soft pumpernickel bread with butter and sharp cheddar and havarati (I could not find Monterey Jack) as the recipe called for.

I fried my egg first as I like mine hard, no runny eggs for me.  I really don't like eggs unless they are  in cake.  I buttered the outside of my bread and put a slice of sharp cheddar, egg, and havarti and the other slice of bread and cooked them in the skillet like a grilled cheese.

It was not bad.  I would not do it regularly, but the cheese melted around the egg and held it in place.  Give it a try it would make a good breakfast sandwich.

Loopy Academy

It is September and Loopy Academy is in session.  I am in my Junior year for yarn and my Sophomore year for fabric.

Junior Year Yarn Semester 1 (Each project must use a minimum of 250 yards):

A pair of gloves with full fingers (no fingerless mitts)

A knitted or crocheted toy using more than one color of yarn. (You can add knitted clothes or make a set of toys to get the yardage required.)

A project that incorporates bobbles or popcorn or nupps in the pattern.

I hate bobbles but i am doing a pair of socks in a bright red lipstick color with toooo many bobbles.  I am doing a pair of stuffed giraffes in brown and marigold orange for the toy and i am doing a pair of gloves with cables in the cuff in gray.

Sophomore Year Fabric Semester 1 (Each project must use a minimum of 2  yards):

1 or more Zipper Box Bags (you need to use 2 yds. fabric, so a big one or sets of smaller ones)

A wearable project (like an apron or shirt or dress) that has embroidery featured somewhere on it.

A quilt or table topper or wall hanging that uses a mixture of cotton plus wool fabrics

I am making 4 zipper box bags in halloween fabric..  I love them for sock projects.  I am  making an apron with an embroidered elephant and flowers on the top and may do something on the pockets as well.  I am making an autumn table runner with a pumpkin in each corner with leaves made out of wool.  

Are you at the Academy or sitting on the sidelines watching the progress?