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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.