This is a story of a pair of Bald eagles we named Mr. & Mrs.Borden that call the Duck Creek in the Hamilton Marshes home. This year we were fortunate to get a window into their world as they welcome and raise their new family.
Mr. & Mrs. Borden have been seen fishing and hunting around the Delaware River & the Crystal Lake often with a couple of more of their kind for over half a decade. We didn't know where they were nesting except that they were know to be nesting somewhere nearby.
Mr. & Mrs. Borden have been seen fishing and hunting around the Delaware River & the Crystal Lake often with a couple of more of their kind for over half a decade. We didn't know where they were nesting except that they were know to be nesting somewhere nearby.
In the last weekend of March we decided to try this new nature trail by the Delaware River in Burlington County and lo and behold spotted the aerie high up on a tree over 100 ft from the trail on which we were . The new proud parents were in their nest possibly guarding their young.
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| Week-1 |
Its that time of the year, eagles are spotted in or near their aerie only if they have a brood to take care of. This is a success story for the species that is still on the endangered list in the state of NJ. Its a remarkable comeback from just two nesting pairs to over 100 in a couple of decades.
Welcome on this journey through our pictures from the first time we spotted the aerie..
Welcome on this journey through our pictures from the first time we spotted the aerie..
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| Week-2 |
Mrs. Borden on nest duty
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| Week - 3 |
Introducing Borden Jr.
You can make out the small head bobbing up..
A closer look at Borden Jr. as Mrs. Borden looks out for trouble and Mr.Borden.
After a while it was Mr.Borden on nest duty
We missed seeing the little one(s) on week-4 so at the first given opportunity in week-5, we were there at our favorite spot enjoying the view.. And for the first time we saw both the parents near the nest at the same time. We just sat there with our camera and binoculars when we saw one of the parents swoop down on the nest with a meal in its talon. She then patiently shredded the meal (my guess is it was a fish) and fed the eaglet who has definitely grown since we saw it 2 weeks back. This was also the first time we saw both parents leave the little one alone in the nest.
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| Week-5 |
While we were walking up to our favorite site on week-6, we saw that both the parents were in the nest. We managed to get a picture but before we could take some more one of them flew away..
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| Week-6 |
followed shortly by the other. We did manage to get a picture as the second one was about to fly off. It took off and settled on a branch a few feet away leaving the baby alone at home.
The little fella is now as big as a Raven and we saw it stretching its wings (like it was yawning) as we sat there admiring it.
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| Week-6 |
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