HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 04-20 Bald Eagle move across lake MAPLEWOOD REVIEW Bald eagles move across lake
Highway 36 nest abandoned
for new spot on Keller Lake
Marjode Otto M
Review staff
ez;� ll t r
Al
It seems as though a change in scenery
is a need shared by both humans and bald g,
eagles.
For
For many years the north end of Maple- K '!
wood's Keller Lake was home to a pair
�\ ,
of bald eagles that raised their young and
watched them leave their nest. 3+ 1 �! I
The majestic eagles and their nest atop a
large tree adjacent to Highway 36 became
familiar sights for passing motorists.
But it was obvious to many commuters
that something was amiss this spring.The
nest looked unkempt and the eagles were
nowhere to be seen.
Now wildlife biologists report a new
nest has popped up on the south end of
Keller Lake.It can easily be viewed from
the southernmost park and pavilion area
on Keller Lake,when an observer is facing
west.
It's unclear exactly why the eagles aban-
doned their nest next to the busy highway, Marione Otto/Review
Facing west,the nest is located in a large cotton-
see Bald eagle on page 2 wood tree near the start of Keller Creek.
Bald ban bald eagles usually are "I'm pretty sure it's the
not as sensitive to people as same set of birds," Nau
forest-dwelling eagles. said,because of eagles'ter-
"These agle metro eagles are ritorial tendencies.
so used to it[human activ- She explained, "They
ity],it doesn't seem to bug can be territorial,and they
them much,"he said. are more bonded to the ter-
continued from page 1 He said prior to the ritory than their mate.So
boardwalk being con- I'm guessing they would
but one possibility is the strutted,county biologists not tolerate another pair
popular boardwalk trail had noticed one of the that close to their nest
that was added to Keller adult eagles had died.He because they have been
Lake Regional Park a few said the surviving eagle there for so long."
years ago.The boardwalk attracted a new mate,but Bald eagles will usually
is close to the tree where the staff noticed they were continue to mate with the
the eagles were nesting. having difficulties hatch- same partner until a partner
Laurie Nau,who works ing their eggs.When they dies.When that happens,
in the non-game wildlife finally did have eaglets, the remaining eagle will
program at the Minnesota they struggled to survive. then mate with a new eagle
Departmaut--[a£.-,Tatural Goodnature believes+this .that conies into its territory.
Resources, said, "It just contributed more strongly In the case of the Keller
seenns like it's the walk- to the move than the new Lake birds,the new mating
ing path because that's the boardwalk. partner may have initiated
only major change." He added that during the moving the nest to a differ-
She said bald eagles see construction of the board- ent spot on the lake.
more of a threat in individ- walk and the Highway 36 Goodhue added that the
ual humans than the thou- reconstruction, an eagle old northern nest was fall-
sands of cars driving by on permit was used to monitor ing into disrepair,so the
the freeway. the raptors during construe- pair may have decided to
With the boardwalk tion and report back to U.S abandon the nest rather
nearly underneath their Fish and Wildlife Service. than try to repair it.
nest, she said the bald He said he recorded little to Goodnature said,
eagles might have felt the no disturbance. "There's some [wetland]
need to move. restoration work going
Long-time residents? on near that [new] nest,
Reproduction issues Both Goodnature and and I actually walked right
However, Mike Good- Nau said they don't have underneath the nest two
nature,a Ramsey County banding records for the weeks ago with the female
biologist,thinks other fac- Highway 36 eagles.How- sitting on the nest and she
tors may have played a role ever,due to the habits of didn't even bat an eye."
in the move. bald eagles,both natural-
"To me it [the board- ists believe the same two Marjorie Otto can be
walk) had no impact," birds have taken up resi- reached at 651-748-7816 or
Goodnature said. dente on the south end of at eastside @lillienews.com.
He said urban and subur- Keller Lake. Follow her on Twitter at @
EastSideM Otto.