Caroline Claffey, Campus Carrier Deputy News Editor
Much like many of our parents, the bald eagles on campus will soon become empty-nesters.
Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Eddie Elsberry said this nest was discovered March 1, 2012. The eagles abandoned the nest in April 2012 but returned approximately Oct. 20, 2012.
Elsberry said the eggs were laid in late December.
“I’ve been calling them Christmas eggs,” Elsberry said. “But they were probably laid around Dec. 20.”
After the incubation period of 30-35 days typical for bald eagle eggs, they hatched during the last week of January, Elsberry said, which means the eaglets are approximately 12 weeks old.
Elsberry said based on his observations of the eaglets as well as his knowledge of bald eagles, he expects the eaglets will leave the nest soon.
“They were exercising while I was out there earlier today. If you go out there, you can see them hovering over the nest and stretching their wings out,” Elsberry said. “I think they’ll probably take flight in the next two weeks. Once they fly out of the nest, they’ll come back for a few days and eat, but then one day they’ll just leave and won’t come back.”
After the eaglets leave, the parent eagles—who mate for life—will stay close to the nest for a while, Elsberry said.
“If you look at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, those eagles are about two weeks ahead of us,” Elsberry said. “Two weeks from now, you should see something like what you’re looking at on that camera. Mom and Dad are still hanging around and cleaning the nest out.”
Director of News & Editorial Services Chris Kozelle said while the eagles have attracted visitors and tourists to campus, Berry has made sure that onlookers do not disturb the eagles.
“Increasing the number of visitors on campus in general is something we’re looking at seriously in the strategic plan. Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum has already done a number of things to expand our reach into the community,” Kozelle said. “And of course we do promote the eagles with our Web Cam page and on our Facebook page, which has been wonderful publicity for the college. We keep the barriers up and make sure everyone obeys the signs.”
Elsberry said he does not think visitors to the nesting site disturb the eagles.
“In general, tourists have no effect on the eagles because we have the perimeters set up. In fact, it seems like they show off for the crowd,” Elsberry said. “However, we have noticed that barking dogs and pets seem to cause the eagles to vocalize. I’m not sure if they see them as a threat or if they’re just sending out a warning—letting the animals know that they’re in their area and to stay outside.”
The eagles mind visitors of their own species more than they do the human visitors, Elsberry said.
“Earlier today when I was out there taking photos, a juvenile eagle was out there flying around,” Elsberry said. “And Dad wasn’t even in sight, and all of the sudden he showed up and chased that eagle out of their area. So they’re going to protect their nest.”
Elsberry said Berry has documented four juvenile eagles around the nesting area. Juvenile eagles are black and white—their adult feathers grow in around the age of four or five.
“I don’t think this nest is attracting other eagles, but it seems like the raptor species of birds seems to be more inquisitive,” Elsberry said. “And these juvenile eagles could possibly be past offspring from this pair. We haven’t determined that this is the first nest that they built; it could be relocation from the storm damage.”
According to last year’s data from the Department of Natural Resources, Elsberry said Georgia documented 158 occupied bald eagle nesting territories. Of those territories, 116 were successful nests, and from those nests 190 young were fledged.
“When the baby eaglet leaves the nest, it is a fledgling,” Elsberry said. “That is the fledging process.”
Elsberry said the eaglets are unlikely to return once they fledge.
“Typically, once an eagle has hatched and left the nest, it won’t return,” Elsberry said. “Only the adults return to the nest.”