Follow a pair of Bald Eagles high in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon

[Marcia]

Link to the discussion forum archive October 5, 2007 to present:
Deschutes National Forest Bald Eagle Cam Discussion Group Archive

This camera is brought to us by the US Forest Service NatureWatch Program
Special thanks to Don Virgovic and Joan Kittrell

Click here to view the Bald Eagle Camera



For temperature and wind speed at the nest:

http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?curRegion=4&mainNav=RoadConditions

Click on the camera east of Oakridge on hwy 58. The ODOT camera is at Willamette Pass not far from the nest.

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ODELL LAKE NORTHWEST BALD EAGLE TERRITORY

The Odell Lake Northwest bald eagle site was first identified as an occupied territory in 1974 (Isaacs and Anthony 2007).  Over the years five different nests have been documented with all generally located along Highway 58 near the summit of Willamette Pass.  The pair has successfully raised young in 21 years since 1974 including a run of 12 twelve consecutive years from 1990 to 2001.

In the fall of 2003 two video cameras were placed in the nest by Phil Allen and Tim Brown (Installation Contractors) under the direction of Don Virgovic, the National Naturewatch Coordinator for the Forest Service and Joan Kittrell, Crescent Ranger District Wildlife Biologist.  The intent was to produce live streaming video of bald eagles in a natural habitat setting for educational purposes.  One video line was connected to the Metro Zoo in Portland, Oregon for their bald eagle exhibit and the second was linked to a Forest Service website.

In the late-winter or early spring 2003-2004 the bald eagle pair built a new nest above Highway 58 and used that nest in 2004 and 2005.  In the early spring of 2006 they returned to the nest with the video cameras and successfully raised one chick.  Unfortunately, we had technical difficulties with the cameras and live streaming video was not available until August 2006.  In spite of the problems, we were able to witness dramatic video of the adults bringing prey items to the nestling, adult/nestling interactions, and the nestling exercising his wings prior to fledging.  By the end of September the adults or nestling rarely returned to the nest.

In the early spring of 2007 it was determined there was an early nest failure.  We assume they attempted to nest above Highway 58 in an alternative nest based on the presence of newly placed sticks in the nest.  If the cameras are still functioning this winter 2007-2008 we will be able to watch if they attempt to nest in the tree with the cameras and observe egg laying, incubation, and hatching of the young.


Literature Citations

Isaacs, F.B. and R.G. Anthony.  2007.  Bald eagle nest locations and history of use in Oregon and the Washington portion of the Columbia River Recovery Zone, 1971 through 2006.  Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

[Marcia]

2008 Nesting Season

10/05/07 Discussion forum begins

Eagle sightings:
10/25/07
11/21/07
12/13/07
01/03/08
01/19/08
02/26/08
02/27/08

Early March through mid-July 2008 pair observed at the nest engaged in nesting activities.

One egg produced on April 15, 2008 (egg did not hatch).

07/25/08 last day they were observed at the nest for the 2008 nesting season.

[Marcia]

2009 Nesting Season

Eagle sightings:
10/09/08
10/10/08
10/11/08
11/01/08
11/20/08
01/18/09
02/07/09
02/08/09
02/15/09
02/16/09
02/18/09
02/22/09
02/23/09

Early March through early August 2009 pair observed at the nest engaged in nesting activities.  

One egg produced on April 8th, 2009 (Notable was a break in visits between March 21 and April 8)

08/10/08 last day they were observed at the nest for the 2009 nesting season (Pengra Crescent Odell fledged on this day).

[Marcia]

2010 Nesting season

Eagle sightings:
09/19/09
09/23/09
09/27/09
10/02/09
10/14/09
10/25/09
11/21/09
11/28/09
12/05/09
12/07/09
12/11/09
12/16/09
12/27/09
01/09/10
01/27/10
02/13/10
03/01/10
03/02/10
03/05/10
03/08/10
03/19/10
03/20/10
03/21/10
03/22/10

Two eggs were produced March 24th & March 27th.

Expected hatch dates (approx) April 28 and May 1.

One egg collapsed on May 8. The remaining egg was punctured by a Steller's Jay on May 20.

Cascade continued to incubate through May 17/18.

The pair removed both eggs from the nest bowl on May 21 and were observed visiting the nest off and on through 07/04/10.


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2011 Nesting Season


Eagle sightings:
09/05/10 (Lady O)
10/12/10 (both)
10/29/10 (tracks? Appears both were there?)
11/11/10 (tracks? One eagle?)

[Marcia]

Hello everyone!

Please join us in following Cascade and Lady Odell here at our new location called Window on Wildlife!

A big thank you to Judy, JudyB and Laurad for all their hard work in setting up our new home.

I've included a link back to the old site in the first post of this forum.  For easy reference, I will include in the posts above, the significant dates, pictures and videos, of the highlights of prior seasons.

I hope we have lots of fun and Cascade & Lady O have a wonderful and productive season!

[Marcia]

The nest this afternoon Nov 14, 2010

 



And the nest just 3 days ago Nov 11, 2010

[PattiO]

   Wow, it comes and goes so quickly Marcia!

[Marcia]

Sure does, PattiO, sure does.... 

[Lori]

.. Just sailing in to check out the new digs. Looking good and I your avatar Marcia.
Now that we've moved into our new home, it's about time for Lady O and Cascade to drop by for a visit.

[tbarmranch]

Yes, thank you Judy, JudyB and Laurad, and Marcia for all your work !!!  This is great, looking forward to lots of Cascade and Lady O watching, and successful hatch(s) in 2011 !!!   

[annsva]

hello Marcia et al.....as usual I'll be watching in lurk mode....looking forward to another successful season 

[Jan G.]

Great to see so many familiar "faces"...best for a great season all!

[Marcia]

Hey all, thanks for stopping in!!

This is really beginning to feel like home now 

[Susie]

Hello, Marcia.  Checked earlier and it is snowing again on the O's nest!
I live is a much warmer area of the world -- the trees are very colorful this year in the Ouachita Mountains.
The eagles who fish the tiny lake where I live have returned.  No nests in our area.
Here's a tip of the hat to you and the folks who put together the new website.
My best to the O'Dells and all who read this post.
 

[Marcia]

Ouachita Susie!  So glad that you made it over!    Snow level should fall down below pass elevations tomorrow night and continue on down through the weekend.  Possible heavy accumulations Makes for a beautiful scene though - and easier to see eagle tracks.