Bald Eagle with leg band — E7E??

January 22, 2015 in Near the Clock Tower

Well it hasn’t been for lack of trying!!!!  This morning provided an unexpected opportunity to capture a number of images in a variety of settings near the Great Stone Dam on the Merrimack River in downtown Lawrence, MA.  The adult bald eagle with the transmitter and antenna moved around to a number of nearby perch locations.  Departing from one branch overhanging the river on the south side, just east of Riverside Park, afford a closer look at the elusive leg band and brings us a bit closer but no final confirmation.  So close!!

6 photos:   http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/158909836   Click “next” in upper right to advance frames!

Bald Eagle, subadult: leg bands P/7 (2.5 yr. old)

January 21, 2015 in Bald Eagle

With just a few minutes to check for Bald Eagles on the Merrimack River, made the rounds to tall the normal perches with no luck.  The final stop was looking west out over the Great Stone Dam.  from the north side of the river, scanned the ice and nearby overhanging tree limbs.  From a distance of just under 500 yards away, looked like a possible subadult eagle in a tree along the south side of the river, west of the dam.  Sure enough, it was a subadult.  The bird lifted off before I arrived from the initial vantage point.  It flew out onto the ice in the middle of the river.  The crows quickly initiated multiple rounds of  relentless harrassment.  As the eagle took off, it left behind some type of a pink wishbone snack remain.  It landed again on the south side berm which was about 100 yards from my new vantage point.  This new location provide nice looks and better opportunity to make positive ID of orange P/7 leg bands.  We have seen this bird a number of times nearby over last week!

Bald Eagle and subadult: transmitter & antenna & LEG BANDS!

January 13, 2015 in Bald Eagle

For those with an interest, a fascinating additional sighting on Tuesday of the transmitter/antenna adult Bald Eagle.  Photos include partial view of leg band codes, PTT transmitter, and antenna.  No clarity around possible origin of this bird and no clear way to whittle down the possibilities, with lots of expert input as you’ll see below.  Stopped by the Great Stone Dam again in Lawrence Tuesday morning and encountered both an adult and a subadult bald eagle on the ice!Looks like a gull had been ripped apart and they took turns.  Was able to watch and capture photos from the west side of the Great Stone Dam bridge.  The bridge is on South Broadway and is also known as Rt. 28.  The adult had a transmitter and a PTT antenna that sticks up……so fired away with camera hoping to possibly get band codes.  The adult looks like it has a possible “E” on the band.  I’m not able to clarify any further info.  The subadult looks like P/7 which has been seen and photographed previously.
Links to photos:
Adult feeding on gull, cleaning bill, walking ice, and drinking:    http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/158836224   CLICK “NEXT” UPPER RIGHT TO ADVANCE
4 photos of subadult (2.5yrs) with P/7 leg band:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/158836483
4 photos of adult leg band:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/158836525
2 photos of PTT transmitter and antenna:   http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/158836531
P/7 info from Tom French:
Bald Eagle
Band numbers:  0679-04089, and P/7 burnt orange
Banding date and Location:  06-12-12 – MA, Essex Co., Amesbury, Powwow River (tributary of the Merrimack River).
Sex:  Possible female based on size compared to sibling (7.25 lb)
Siblings: P/6 (5.75 lb)
No previous band reports
From Charlie Todd, Coordinator of Endangered/threatened Species in Maine:
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.  Quebec has used orange color bands & some PTT transmitters in recent years.  Check with Charles on possibilities from there.  Best – Charlie

Charlie Todd                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Endangered & Threatened Species Coordinator                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

From Charles Maisonneuve, bird biologist in Quebec,

There are no numbers on the bands we use to mark bald eagles, only a combination of 2 letters, one over the other.  If you are sure the code ends with a 5, then it’s not a bird banded in Québec.

Charles Maisonneuve, biologiste

Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs

Direction de la gestion de la faune du Bas-Saint-Laurent

Any and all further input and comments most welcome as we gather more information.  These were best of the limited band photos!

Bald Eagle adult: transmitter & antenna AGAIN!!

January 12, 2015 in Bald Eagle

While making rounds along the Merrimack River this morning, encountered an adult Bald Eagle just east of Rt. 495 perched in regular location.  Then, made a pass over the bridge by the dam in Lawrence and spotted another adult Bald Eagle on the south side of the river just west of the dam. It was perched on an overhanging branch scanning waterfowl below.  Was able to draw near and watch Eagle being subjected to crow harassment.  Although dark overcast with light drizzle, was able to capture a few nice images, including views of transmitter/antenna.  The leg band looked dark brown with no visible marking on the brownish band. Hope to get leg band numbers soon!

Bald Eagle, first year, over Merrimack in Lawrence!

January 9, 2015 in Bald Eagle

What a nice surprise while scanning for Bald Eagles this afternoon with a staffer and fellow bird photographer from NXStage Medical Inc., to encounter a young first year bird flying west from the direction of the Lawrence Municipal Airport.  We were standing outside in the wind and cold comparing notes when we both noticed a likely eagle in the distance.  The eagle was lazily moving west and following the path of the river below.  The light was beautiful and we were so thankful!

A few more photos:   http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/158758027    Click “next” in upper right to advance frames!

Bald Eagle adult along Merrimack in Lawrence!

January 8, 2015 in Bald Eagle

What a nice surprise to see a Bald Eagle back at one of the favorite deep winter perch locations along the Merrimack in Lawrence.  Over the past few winters, the Bald Eagles have waited until the coldest weather to perch on trees overhanging the Merrimack on the north side of the river opposite Salvatore’s Restaurant.  This morning, an adult Bald Eagle was perched just above a large pack of Canada Geese at the mouth of the Spicket River where it enters the Merrimack River.  After a while, it departed and nestled into a perch right around the corner.