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!
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!
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!
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!
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.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!
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! 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!
