Greetings from Holtwood,
The April 8th Eagle Watch was rained out, but at that time both eagle nests were holding adults sitting very high, even as it rained on them. This led me to suspect that one or more tiny hatchlings were nestled under them. On April 13, I decided to try for a little more information, especially since I will be out of state until the 25th. It was very warm and sunny, so I waited until late afternoon, figuring if there were any chicks in the nest, Mom would be off of them and might even be feeding them. I was not disappointed!
The Norman Wood Bridge nest showed both parents on the nest, with one feeding a visible chick. There may be more, but I had to scope across the river to see this nest, and I can not verify any more. The Holtwood Dam nest showed Mom standing up, then bending down frequently as if tearing off some food. I climbed the hill to the outcrop on the Mason-Dixon trail and scoped the nest. Indeed, as the picture shows, the female eagle was tearing off food from the position shown, then moving her beak a little to the left, at which time a little motion was detected behind the sticks. She then moved her head about 60 degrees to the right and repeated her feeding behavior, which makes me believe there are at least two hatchlings, about a week to 10 days behind the chick(s) in the Norman Wood Bridge nest.
I was also pleased to see that both osprey nests now have what appears to be a female on eggs. Each had an adult lying low, horizontally in the nest center, while the other adult was perched right outside the nest, being very attentive!
Next month’s Eagle Watch, which will be held May 13, should finally show some nestling activity. Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Lock 12 lower parking lot with binoculars. Spring migration will be at its peak then, so maybe we'll get glimpses of warblers and orioles as well.
Jim Smith, Consulting Naturalist
PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve
Holtwood, Lancaster County, Pa.