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Daily Bucket: Update on the Lake Natoma Eaglets [1]

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Date: 2025-05-29

The Lake Natoma Eaglets are 10 weeks old. They are about 3/4ths the size of their parents. They typically fledge at about 14 to 16 weeks. Now that their wing feathers have grown out, they are flapping and learning to control their wings.

I brought my husband’s cousin and her spouse out on Memorial Day Weekend because they have been wanting to see this eagle nest since last year. Momma was there and spent at least half hour keeping watch on her babies. We heard their high pitched cries and they started looking expectantly at Momma, so she took off to fetch lunch for her hungry youngsters.

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When we arrived, Momma was apparently resting and her offspring were chilling in the nest. After a few minutes she was more active and began actively watching the area around her.

One eaglet copies Momma as she actively watches their surroundings.

Eaglet #20 stretches the wings and flapped them a couple of times.

Eaglet #21 followed suit under Momma’s watchful eyes

Soon after both youngsters moved close to Momma and looked up at her. They both let loose with high pitched begging cries.

Momma - we’re hungry do you have any fish?

Momma Eagle left soon after hopefully to bring back lunch. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay to see if she brought them anything.

I missed the big drama that occurred during the week before. A pair of Yellow-Billed Magpies built their nest directly above the eagles in March. They occasionally harassed the eagles, but as you can see, the eagles stayed.

The Magpies made a bad decision in nest placement which is directly above the eagles.

The Magpies apparently successfully hatched some babies. They then began a continual harassment campaign to get the eagles to leave. After a couple of days, the eagles had enough. They apparently raided the Magpie nest and terminated the babies.

The Magpies were understandably furious. They harassed the eagles for a couple of days then left the area. I managed to get a picture one of the Magpies the day after the babies were lost.

Yellow-Billed Magpie in an Oak tree adjacent to the nest tree.

What is so sad is that the Yellow-Billed Magpie is endangered. They were almost wiped out by the West Nile virus and their numbers are fairly low. I wish they had built their nest further away from the eagles. But I understand that the Eagles needed to protect their nest. The Magpies with their constant attacks, gave the eagles little choice.

As usual, I also photographed some of the other birds in the area and I have something special for Lenny.

This lizard was fairly good size, about 4 or 5 inches long. I’m guessing a Fence Lizard. He was climbing down an oak tree.

One of several turkey vultures hovering above the general vicinity of the eagle nest.

Acorn Woodpecker

CA Scrub Jay

California Towhee showing us his pretty rufous butt

Black Phoebe sitting on a fence

Northern Mockingbird sitting farther down on the same fence.

Oak Titmouse sitting high up in an oak tree

A small flotilla of Canada Geese floats on Lake Natoma below the nest.

I plan on getting back at least once more before the babies fledge; but we will see.

We are expecting triple digits this weekend, the first of this year. Then the temps are supposed to drop back to the high 70s by Tuesday. Very interesting weather.

What’s up in your neck of the woods?

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