March 3, 2022: Update from John Howe, Director of RRP
I hit the road Wednesday for Decorah to check on Mom and DM2 and then head down to IA PBS in Des Moines. I was not able to spend much time in Decorah on Wednesday but did stop by the Walmart parking lot and put the spotting scope on N3. I was pleasantly surprised to see an eagle standing on the nest and it was Mom! She was in that pose like she is ready to lay an egg, and then she teases us. She was over at the hatchery earlier in the morning, so I was thinking that she may be close to laying an egg soon! I packed up and headed down to the IA PBS studio to watch The Eagles Of Decorah for their pledge drive. It was really fitting to walk down memory lane and see Mom and Dad Decorah, Bob, Neil, the RRP crew, and volunteers. They really did a great job with that movie – so many memories!
March 3, 2022: N3. Photo by John Howe
I hit the road early on Thursday and was in Decorah at the Walmart parking lot by 8:45am. I got the scope and tripod and headed out Dog Park lane to check for eagles. Mom and DM2 were perched in the Dead-Perch Tree on the Upper IA river. Around 9:00 Mom flew over to N3 and stood on the nest again. She was looking down and around and getting my hopes up that this may be the time, but it was not. She flew off with DM2 to the East towards Freeport and further downstream until they were out of sight. I decided to go into town and check mail and get some lunch. I was back at 11:30 and again, no eagles. I hung around until the afternoon and Robin Brumm texted and said she was on her way to Decorah! I was excited and thought it would be good to check in with her and maybe we will get to see Mom and DM2 again. I took a drive towards Freeport and checked East of N3 for a while and Robin called to report that Mom and DM2 were in the top of the N1 tree and had just copulated! I arrived at the hatchery and walked over to join Robin along the bike trail and we watched Mom and DM2 perched side-by-side. We thought that we heard them discussing family matters, but Eaglish is hard to pick up sometimes!
March 3, 2022: Day Trip by Robin Brumm
Story and photos by Robin Brumm
I saw Mom and DM2 both at the hatchery on Tues. evening on the live feed, and Mom at the hatchery on Wed. morning. I wanted to go to Decorah to see if there was an egg yet. So I headed to Decorah after work on Thursday.
March 3, 2022: Mom and DM2. Photo by Robin Brumm
When I got to Decorah, I did not see anybirdy at the hatchery or at N3. I waited and watched for awhile at N3, when a friend messaged me and said she heard vocals on the live feed/camera. No eggs yet, I guess! I headed back to the hatchery and looked everywhere. I drove over by N2B and turned around and looked toward the back of N1 and saw both Mom and DM2 above the N1 nest. I drove around the corner, parked the car and there they were, both perching next to each other high in the N1 tree. What a treat, to see them both together in a spot that I could actually get a decent picture of them! I think I actually said, “There you are!” Mom looked in my direction and I’m pretty sure I got the Mom look, lol.
March 3, 2022: Mom and DM2 vocalizing. Photo by Robin Brumm
As I was snapping some pictures, Mom and DM2 both started vocalizing. All of a sudden DM2 flapped his wings and hopped on top of Mom and they mated. (I half-covered my eyes but peeked through my fingers!) DM2 hopped back to the branch next to Mom and they perched there for about an hour. Meanwhile, John had stopped by and I told him what I saw. He told me that Mom and DM2 were not in the nest this morning either. We stood and watched the eagles and then John left. Not too long after that, Mom and DM2 flew off toward N3.
March 3, 2022: Mom and DM2 copulating near N1. Photo by Robin Brumm
I drove over toward N3 and saw both Mom and DM2 on the perch tree next to the nest tree. One of them flew to the nest, so I decided to walk down the trail to get a couple of closer photos. When I got there I only saw one eagle on the perch tree and couldn’t see the other one. I walked a little further down the trail and took another picture of the nest. I zoomed in and saw a white head sticking up over the rails. I thought it was Mom on the nest at first but after looking at my photos, I realized that Mom was still on the perch tree and DM2 was laying in the nest. Maybe he was warming up the nest for her?? Lol.
It was dark and dreary and I wanted to get home before it got too late. I guess I will have to go back again soon to check for eggs! Hmm.. I wonder what the weather is going to be like this weekend?? 😉
RRP appreciates Robin’s generosity in sharing her photos and reminds you they are copyrighted and may not be downloaded without her express written consent.
The Raptor Resource Project