So very very cool...

Beautiful photo! I am so glad Beth shared this news and photo.

I have to echo, so cool, and amazing pictures. Thanks for sharing them Beth.

"Although I'd be a poorer man; if I never saw an eagle fly..."

Gorgeous!

Every time I am near Lake Audubon, I look for eagles. What an honor to have one land in your very own tree!

Thanks for sharing it with us! Worth the visit to see.

Very exciting that we have eagles at Lake Audubon - they typically nest near a body of water or in a place where food is plentiful. If you have seen one eagle, there is likely to be another as part of a mating pair. Look for the nest (they are huge!) and let us know! The nests can be 10 feet wide, and a mating pair of eagles will use the same nest each year, if possible. The female is about a third larger than the male. They get their distinctive white heads and tails at about 5 years old, and at that point start looking for a mate.

There are a number of live cams that provide closeups of eagle nests. Notable right now is the one at Norfolk (VA) Botanical Gardens, where there are 3 lively chicks vieing for attention and food. About 5,000 viewers around the world watch this cam:
http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html

Another cam is focused on the nest at Hornby Island, off Vancouver in Canada. The mating pair in this nest are sitting on two eggs, which are expected to hatch in April: http://www.hornbyeagles.com/chatpage_wildearth.htm

Both sites have moderators and chats, and questions can be asked and answered.

Beautiful!!!!!!

So excited. Reston should be a perfect place for eagles! And you'd think there'd be babies now in that nest, wherever it is. Love that Patch exists to let us know so quickly and easily!!!

Simply Beautiful

Paul & I are hoping that Dennis, the birdwatcher we met this morning, finds his way to Reston Patch and this article!

Thanks for all the kind words; it was exciting. Kathy Scoggin, a neighbor, called and said an eagle was flying down the lake toward us. I looked out the kitchen window and saw the eagle in our tree. But the one Kathy saw was still in the air, so there were two. Our eagle eventually headed down toward Snakeden Creek but was in the tree for at least 30 minutes.

The one I saw March 1st was in the same tree or one next to it, but a fish crow was harassing him, so he left. It was an older juvie, maybe four years old (?), given the smattering of brown feathers on his mostly white head.

Dorothea listed some neat cams. There's also one in Maryland at Blackwater Refuge. They have an osprey cam too. Yesterday I saw the osprey who often fishes from the same tree - first sighting this year for me. I like to think it's him, anyway. I have a photo but it's from last year. (He looks annoyed.) Blackwater's cam: http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html

I wonder if the Seahawk knows there is a new bird in town.

Carolyn, funny.

Our (that is Reston's) eagle is back, same tree. Shot some pictures - without the memory card in the camera. Retrieved the card and took more but couldn't get a good angle. If I can figure out where/how to post a couple of the less bad pix, I will. The last couple were funny - he looked up as it started to rain and I caught that. A couple of fish crows weren't happy with him and kept edging closer, but he ignored them, and a great blue heron flew by, landed briefly at the edge of the lake and took off again. Five minutes in Reston.

These are great photographs. Reston should work to save most of the trees we have left, so many have been cut for commercial development. It seems this eagle sighting at Lake Audubon speaks to one of Reston’s best features, the treed and natural areas. About three years ago we had frequent sightings of coyote around Ring Road and over by the tennis courts and swimming pool. In our backyard we have seen numerous hawks, red fox, wild birds, occasional Eastern garter and Northern copperhead snakes, plus too many squirrels, chipmunks, deer and raccoons. The deer always eat our daylilies as soon as they bloom and late at night the raccoons pair up and try to take our large locked and secured birdfeeder out of the holly tree. We are very lucky to have our nature areas; its one of the features that makes Reston so very special.

Dorothea's comments are correct. Their nest is HUGE and they add to it each year until they eventually break the tree down. Think of a large bathtub. It is a very impressive sight to see them swoop down and snatch a fish right out of the water with their claws and never let their wings touch the water---they are magnificent birds---also smart. We fished the Canadian boundary waters for 20 years when I was growing up, and the eagle recognized our boat each year, as we would leave her freshly killed perch floating in the water for her to swoop down and grab, and take back up to her young.

I just posted a few photos from today's eagle visit (0331). Not very good shots but at least he's back. I liked how he looked up as it started to rain, kept his face up into the rain quite a while. So did I, wanting a photo. I hope you appreciate the sacrifice; it's cold out and I was wearing flipflops, no jacket. ; )

Will have to let my youngest son know....he had claimed to have seen a bald eagle flying over our neighborhood and I kind of tuned him out. Guess he was right after all. So wonderful to see so many birds making such a great comeback after years of being endangered. Thanks again for sharing the photos.

@Laurie, he just turned 11 years old, but has spotted many a bird of prey in our area, especially the red breasted hawks. Have to thank his grandparents for cultivating his interest in birds as they feed many a bird in their backyard in Herndon.

So cool!! Beautiful photos. Just want to point out that although the bald eagle has been taken off the endangered species list, it is still federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

I assumed it was too late in the season for nesting, but checked with Lisa, the webmaster at Blackwater Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland. She provides the eagle info on their cam website, which I've been following for a couple of years. Lisa was kind enough to immediately respond to the email I sent her tonight. From Lisa:

"Very cool! Yes, it would probably be too late for eggs this year, but they could be scouting for a spot for next season. Sometimes young couples will perform late-season nest building but then not actually lay any eggs, and it sets them up for the next season so they're ready."

In case you missed it, the cam: http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html The cam website has lots of eagle info and a gallery of cam shots that viewers submitted from their computers. A fun project for your kids - or you.

@Beth, thanks again for sharing the photos. It is such a wonderful thing to see, and I am willing to listen to my 11 year old say time after time, I told you I saw a bald eagle flying over our house...what an amazing thing to see. So thankful to Rachel Carson and others who brought attention to the detrimental effects of chemicals.

@Beth - Amazing isn't it how a book can make such a big change in how we take care of our own little corner of the world. Hard to believe it was written 50 years ago and how many animals have made such incredible comebacks....as I type a heron flew over my koi pond. :)

I typically review the types of birds seen/listed on the bird count lists for our area. Haven't seen Pileated Woodpeckers on the list for Reston yet, but they are in resident in my wooded back yard. Pileated woodpeckers are amazing -- and large! For a pic and info, click here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/id?gclid=CO6G5o_v-6cCFYje4Aod6Vv-rA

Yes, Dorothea, and you can see their woodworking ability when you see a hole the size of a toaster on the side of a tree!! I saw one wacking at a tree in my backyard years ago, and there were huge woodchips flying in all directions.

Just frozen my toes watching one of the eagles perched in a neighbor's tree (off Owls Cove Lane, on Lake Audubon). Magnificent! He/she sat there for an hour, and then soared across the lake, coming back to perch in the same tree for another 20 minutes, before flying off, likely to search for dinner! Hope this eagle likes the tree enough to return!

Terrific! That's the other side of the lake from us but closer to Twin Branches. We're on Timberhead. (Mapquest shows the streets/lake well.) A neighbor in between us and Twin Branches saw an eagle today, maybe two (she thought she saw another behind a tree).

In what direction did the eagle fly?

I hope there isn't too much human activity on the lakes for the eagles to stay.

When the Audubon eagle flew off, it made wide circles above the lake, and then took off in the direction of South Lakes and Ridge Heights. I've been watching eagle cams for quite a while that have a lot of human activity under or nearby the nesting tree. In one location, someone is actually building a house near the tree - and you can hear the construction noises on cam. I think eagles don't mind noise as much as one would think. It's claimed territory and food supply that will determine where they build their nest, if we have a mating pair.

Beth - you are so lucky to have taken such a clear shot of the eagle(s). The shot I got with my little camera was fuzzy wuzzy at best. :)

Dorothea, I ran out of space, but wanted to say frozen toes and no photos aside, I'm sure spending an hour that close was thrilling.

I had posted Lisa's information higher up about it being too late to lay eggs this year, but eagles may build a nest now to prepare for next year. I can re-post if someone can't find it. And the cam once again: http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html

I'll post the head shot of the younger eagle - maybe 4ish? - that was in the same tree on March 1. It's not a good photo but you can see the smattering of brown feathers on the head. He was hidden behind the tree trunk but when I ran out on the deck, he ducked his head to look at me. He wasn't bothered, but I couldn't get another clear shot before a fish crow drove him off.

You'll have to thank Lisa at Blackwater for being so generous in sharing her insights with us! The wonderful thing about today's sighting was I heard the eagle before I saw him/her. Distinctive trills, a few cachunks and a plaintive "croodle" sound. And, your observation about the fisher crows was interesting - every time I've seen eagles (on a cam), there have been crows or ravens around. My biologist/expert says they steal food from each other!

I have plenty of long, sturdy sticks on the ground at my house from the last few windy storms we've had. The Audubon eagles are welcome to take as many as they like for a nest. :) Oh, I hope they stay!

I've thanked Lisa warmly and will add thanks from the community. The Blackwater cam website blog is a great read. There is a sad entry now about the West VA eagle cam and a female intruder trying to drive away the nesting female. While the eagle pair were dealing with the intruder, they couldn't tend to their nest. Remember George and Martha and the intruder at the bridge in DC? Lisa wrote this may happen more as the eagle population grows.

This fish crow was trying to drive off the eagle, as they do with hawks. But they steal scraps from eagle and osprey nests.

If eagles nest in Reston, I hope it's in quiet preserve area. They lay eggs in Jan./Feb. when few people are out, but care for their young when there's much yard and lake activity. They might not know to plan for our lawn mowers, party boats and playing kids. ; ) A neighbor who is quiet and respectful toward wildlife told me she tried to take a photo today but was too close and the eagle flew away.

I did whistle yesterday to get the eagle to turn his head. He knew I was there and ignored me. But he was very high in the tree, the tree is far from the house and it was just one person. Imagine the commotion he'd cause if he nested in that tree, which is by the lake. He'd be Reston's eagle rock star.

I watched the tragedy unfold (via cam) at the Shep nest in W. Va. - very sad. Actually I think it was an intruder female that kept the male (named Liberty) away from the nest, and the male eagles are the main providers when eaglets have hatched. The female (Belle) was unable to feed her chick sufficiently during a critical time period, and nature took its course. A similar tragedy occurred at the Hornby nest last July. The eaglet - Phoenix - was days away from fledging when it died of a fungal infection (necropsy confirmed). These sorts of incidences are very distressing to cam watchers, who bond with nests. Right now a Maine pair's eggs are in danger of becoming unviable, as the female has gone missing. It's the trade-off you accept when you have the glorious opportunity to watch an eagle's nest up close and personal.

By the way, a chick hatched today at the Decorah, Iowa nest - very cute! And second hatch is expected in the next few days. Decorah cam: http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Dorothea, I am hoping that is somebody "finds" the nest they will keep it quiet. These birds are not social creatures, and while they are cute, they do not like human involvement in their nesting. I remember one eagle's nest being broken apart in Canada when a "local" was trying to get a photo and climbed up next to the nest. It had tragic results. I am hopeful that some foolish person does not discover this nest.

Exactly right, Nancy. Eagles are not social, which is why nest areas on public property are typically fenced off around the tree (such as the one at Norfolk Botanical Gardens) to keep the excited public at a respectful distance from the nest. And, the nest may be on private property. I'm sure the homeowner would not appreciate hoards of birdwatchers arriving to get a glimpse of the birds. If someone finds a nest, local wildlife biologists should be notified.

I think cams are the best way to view eagles - after all, you are not going to see much, looking up the trunk of a 100-foot tree. Cams are typically installed and maintained when eaglets in a nest have fledged, and the parents have left for a few months to visit another area that promises a buffet. For example, at Hornby Island, the nesting pair leaves late August/ early fall to gorge themselves at a salmon run. At that point, cam operators will clean and tune the cam for the next season.

I can't imagine anyone climbing a tree to get a better look at an eagle. Nesting blue jays are fierce and will peck your head even if you are not directly under their nest. Can you imagine coming face to face with an eagle's talons and beak?

Saw one of the eagles flying over Lake Thoreau while having lunch w/ the family at Cafesano. Awesome sight!! We came from Loudoun to a tournament in SLHS and were enjoying our lunch, watching a duck chase after another one, and then we saw it.

We've been gone most of the day, but one of the eagles just flew by, heading toward Twin Branches.

I saw two today at about 1:30 soaring in circles over Audubon . Was hoping they'd roost close by so that I could take a long look with the binoculars, but no luck. Anticipation is so much fun! Now each time I step outside, I scan the skies.

Saw one today, about 4 miles west of Lake Audubon, at the little preserve on the NE corner of Sunrise Valley and Monroe. It was solitary, and apparently hunting as it realy caused the crows and a large crane to panic. I work at a software company that backs to the preserve, so if it continues to return, I should be able to eventually get a snap shot. Wish I had a better camera on my cell phone :-(

Hi Russ - are you talking about the wetland area where they do birdwalks?

One of the eagles was in our tree today for at least an hour - I don't know when he arrived or left but the hour I was working on my netbook in the kitchen he was there. Saturday morning one - same one? - was there too.

The many fish crows that are always here didn't seem to care. One would sidle up pretty close but the eagle didn't pay attention and eventually the crow left.

On a much smaller note, one of the wood duck hens is sitting on eggs in one of our boxes.

One of the eagles was flying back and forth on Lake Audubon yesterday in the late late afternoon - maybe looking for dinner. I also spotted him - or her - briefly earlier in the day.

About 15 minutes ago the eagle flew to a tree near the one in our yard that's generally used, and is there now.

Saw an interesting interaction between a nesting raven's mate, a hawk and an eagle the other day (land bordering Audubon). The raven's mate took off after the hawk that invaded the raven's nest territory, and an eagle gave chase to the pursuing raven. Don't know the outcome because they were soon out of sight. That's been typical for me - I spot an eagle fly-by, and by the time I get the binoculars up for a closer look, the eagle is gone. Glad to see they are still around though.

Could well be an American crow (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/id) - the *black birds* around my house are huge, and seemed larger than the hawk from my vantage point - until the eagle flew in, and it was obvious who was king of the hill. Birdwatching is so fascinating, and I'm still a novice. :)

I know the eagle sightings in and around Lake Audubon in residential Reston are exciting, but I keep thinking if we draw too much attention to them and given the easy access to the areas where they are visiting, the Reston eagles may become too much of an area attraction, become bothered and move on. If we want them to stay maybe we should back off a bit and leave them alone. Even at Blackwater where they are protected and the public is kept somewhat at a distance, my experience there as a volunteer found that the eagles did not like bird watchers coming too near and often would fly away when approached at a distance of about a hundred plus yards. And they always nested far from the visitor center and in inaccessible places.

I think that people are respectful of wildlife for the most part. One cam with audio that I watch picks up the sounds of house construction near the nesting tree. You can hear the band saws, hammering, people talking, a radio. The eagles in the nest are unfazed. Those watching the cam - and listening for eagle sounds - are the ones that are bothered by the noise.

Speaking of intrusive acts - what do you think about the plan to remove month-old eaglets from the nest in Norfolk, VA (Botanical Gardens) on April 21, band them, and return them to the nest? The cams will be running the whole time, and the Gardens are anticipating a hoard of visitors to the site to watch in person. I likely will be watching the cams because I can't imagine the eagle parents tolerating this event, although the Norfolk experts have banded eaglets successfully in the past.

I just spotted one on the Bald Eagles soaring above Snakeden Branch near where it empties into Lake Audubon.

A client on Lake Thoreau who hadn't heard the eagle news thought she saw an eagle but figured she was wrong - was thrilled to hear it was one.

The eagle is in one of our trees. I was changing hummingbird feeders on the deck so the eagle saw me too, but didn't react.

EDIT: the eagle has flown away and returned three times in the last 30 minutes or so - I haven't seen that before. The first time she flew across the lake and came back in a minute or two. The next time I missed the departure, just saw the landing. And the last time she flew off for maybe several minutes and returned. Didn't seem bothered by anything.

It's almost a year later, and the eagle is back in the same tree in our yard. At least I assume it's the same eagle - definitely an adult. Someone just started up a leaf blower or the like and she didn't move. Of course she's very high up.

I'll try to get photos. Or just look at the ones from last year. Cheers!

You're welcome, Laurie - nice seeing you again. I was uploaded a few photos - sorry they're a little dark. The eagle was in shade and it's not very bright out. And I'm not a photographer. : )

Beth, yes, adult eagle couples return to the same nest each year, and just keep enlarging it each year, until it literally breaks the tree down, so be prepared for the whole nest to crash in your yard one of these years, birds and all! Some of the nests get as large as a large jacuzzi tub before they break the top of the tree down. Have rescue numbers handy because if the chicks cannot fly, or there are eggs in the fallen nest, they need to be rescued quickly by trained conservationists.

The adult pair just pick another tree and start over building another nest. Hopefully they will stay close by when they relocate!

I wouldn't be surprised---they might be nesting. Especially if they are taking turns hunting. Each summer we marveled at how much larger the nest was getting. We observed the nest crash alongside a remote lake in upper Ontario one summer (we were in a boat next to the shore). They picked another tree close by and went to work building another nest within the hour. We used to purposely kill fish we caught, toss them into the water alongside our boat, just to see those magnificent birds swoop down and scoop up the fresh fish from the lake in their outstretched claws---never missing a single fish we tossed out. They would circle our boat as we arrived at our fishing spot, just to verify who we were. We would return with our limits in walleye for our dinner, and feed mom and pop bald eagle as well.

Those are great photos! How exciting to have these eagles here in Reston. I've seen several on the Potomac canoeing out of Algonkian Park, but not yet in Reston.

This reminds me of a funny story that my William & Mary ornithology professor told me a number of years ago. Dr. Mitchell Byrd was long Virginia's expert on bald eagles. For years he conducted aerial surveys of nesting bald eagles and documented the successful recovery. In any case, one day a call came in to the W&M biology department's office line. It went something like this:

Caller: Hello. I've seen an unusual bird and I'd like some advice from an ornithology professor. Can you put me through to one?

Secretary: Oh, that would be Dr. Byrd.

Caller: OK. What's his real name?

Secratary: Byrd. B-Y-R-D. That's his real name.

Caller: OK, fine. Thanks. Is he available?

Secretary: No, I'm sorry. He's out flying today.

The caller hung up.

Ha!

Keep in mind all of the photos except the last three are from last year.

Karen Goff started a new story about them yesterday or the day before, called something like, "Eagles return to Reston." I've only seen one eagle in our tree so far this year (2012).

If you'd like to see a remarkable eagle feat (note spelling), my lovely neighbor, Karin, sent me the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/87xNpOYOlQ4?rel=0

The footage was taken at Mallard Lakes subdivision in Baton Rouge .
Someone had shot a nutria, and it was floating dead in the water.

That's interesting about the timing of the stocking, John! No one mentioned that last year. Smart bird.