December 17, 2015 in Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles continue to be seen along the Merrimack River on the North Andover and Lawrence shorelines. With some frequency, this pair is seen together perched on a limb about 60 feet over the river. They seem very content and typically perch on the same limb in close proximity to one another!
December 2, 2015 in Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagles continue to be seen with regularity perched along the Merrimack River on the North Andover side of the river just east of Rt. 495. Here is a single eagle on an overcast morning.
December 1, 2015 in Bald Eagle
There continues to be speculation that a pair of Bald Eagles may be nesting in the area just east of Rt. 495 along the Merrimack River. One of the biggest challenges is to locate a new nest location! Stay tuned for further updates!
November 30, 2015 in Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle sightings continue along the Merrimack River!
November 24, 2015 in Bald Eagle
This Bald Eagle pair is now seen with regularity along the Merrimack River. A favorite perch location is on a snag that overhangs the river about 60 feet above water level. The pair is seen often together on the same branch. There remains a strong feeling that a yet to be identified nest is proximate to this location…..stay tuned!
September 21, 2015 in Bald Eagle
What a nice surprise to find a pair of perched adult Bald Eagles overlooking the Merrimack River in North Andover! These local Eagles return to this perch location each year around the end of September. They are then seen off and on for the balance of the fall until the weather turns colder. The great mystery is whether or not this is a local breeding pair with a next proximate to the perch location…..stay tuned!
February 18, 2015 in Bald Eagle
After attending the early Mass on Ash Wednesday, a priest friend wanted to see where the Bald Eagles perch along the Merrimack River in Lawrence. We headed over to the parking lot on the west side of NXStage Medical Inc. at 350 Merrimack Street. We scanned the other side of the river and enjoyed nice looks of this adult perched right opposite our location in the bitter cold but bright sunlit morning!
February 4, 2015 in Bald Eagle
For those with an interest, 4 photos from cloudy morning last week of an adult bald eagle in flight over the Merrimack River in Lawrence, MA. The winter 2015 bald eagle show continues!!!! February 3, 2015 in Bald Eagle
Had an amazing time yesterday morning in very cold temps, watching 4 Bald Eagles along the Merrimack River in Lawrence. Arrived to find 2 adults quietly perched on tree branch overhanging slow flowing river below. Then one adult slowly departs to the west.
This is the Bald Eagle with the transmitter and antenna. This is a rehabilitated adult eagle that was banded and fitted w/ a non-solar transmitter and antenna prior to release near Auburn ME on 12/11/2005. According Maine Wildlife officials, that 2005 rehabbed bird was banded with one of the last-remaining Maine state orange color bands with a three digit code “E7E”. Due to incomplete records, this bird would be a minimum of 15 yrs old this coming spring!
As the adult flew just a bit upriver, clear eagle cries were heard nearby. After scanning in search of the bickering sounds, 2 subadults were observed on snow-covered ice near edge of river. Watched while they engaged in playful food fight. The adult approached and then joined in the fracas. Fascinating!
16 photo sequence posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/159042638 Click “next” in upper right to advance frames!
January 28, 2015 in Bald Eagle
In an email from Tom French at MassWildlfe, Tom summarizes the E7E findings:
You have not been copied on the most recent exchanges regarding the Bald Eagle on the Merrimack River, Lawrence, MA with a PTT transmitter. I think that we all now agree with Chris Martin’s assessment below that the color band code is E7E formerly on an orange band which has now lost all of its color. This bird was from Maine after all.
I think the evidence is now fairly strongly pointing to the adult Bald Eagle that has been observed on several occasions over at least the past year on the lower Merrimack River in Massachusetts with a PTT transmitter is E7E from Maine. Photos by Craig Gibson which include the photo embedded below, ones attached above and others athttp://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/158909836 , when all added together show E7E.
The following records of a banded adult Bald Eagle with a PTT tag seen on the lower Merrimack River between Lawrence and Amesbury, Essex Co. probably all refer to this bird.
01-02-13, Lawrence – Robbie Valcourt
Here are excerpts from two previous emails from Charlie Todd and Bill Hanson that provide some background on this bird, as well as Chris Martin’s assessment from this morning.
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On Jan 10, 2015, at 7:30 PM, Todd, Charlie <Charlie.Todd@maine.gov> wrote:
A few of our orange anodized bands deployed on eagles during 1984-1987 (N = 249 eagles) still show up. Most are faded to pale gold but at least one I’ve handled was absolutely colorless. As you know, anodized aluminum bands of that era were not very colorfast. However, only one bird with an orange color band (code = E7E) was fitted with a PTT satellite unit. It was a rehab bird released near Auburn ME on 12/11/2005) and the transmitter failed years ago. A few of the 1984-87 eagles had VHF transmitters (with the long floppy antenna dangling over the tail) but that first photo shows an erect antenna typical of PTT satellite units.
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On Jan 21, 2015, at 8:04 PM, Bill Hanson [bill.hanson@briloon.org] wrote:
Craig’s photo sure looks like our North Star unit. The antennae position, rubber antennae base, and small round tip are the same. I attached photos of the unit we put on that day. One photo shows the satellite next to one of Charlie’s older radio units for scale. On another of Craig’s photos I definitely see the E and what looks like the angled part (/) of the 7. The color also matches the more orange shade of the original MDIFW bands. I’d bet it’s the Gulf bird. Mark P. has a scar on his chin to remember her by. Guess that dental floss holds up pretty well. Thank you for the excellent photos and information.
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On Jan 29, 2015, at 11:03 AM, Chris Martin [cmartin@nhaudubon.org] wrote
I don’t think there can be any doubt now that it’s E7E. See this cropped and slightly color-adjusted version of one of Craig’s photo from yesterday which I have attached. From the movement map (also attached) in the couple years after the transmitter was placed on it in Dec 2005, appears that it typically winters on the lower Merrimack, but might be breeding somewhere between Bath and Augusta. A nice rehabbed bird survival story, and great work by Craig Gibson to get this info via photos!
