Bob Donner and the Eagle - UPDATE January 10, 2025
Boreal Owl
Bob Donner
Bob Donner
A familiar face to anyone who has gone to a LilyPad Picnic is Bob Donner. He has never missed one. His wife Sandie Donner is one of the planners and organizers. Bob’s multiple sclerosis finally got the better of him this past week, leaving a lot of us talking about what a nice guy he was. Tonight was the annual dinner for Bear Center staff and their spouses, and I heard a lot of that there. I can only imagine how Sandie is feeling. Our condolences go out to Sandie.
The Bear Center said it best on its Facebook page, saying “A longtime supporter of the North American Bear Center, Bob Donner, passed away unexpectedly over this past week. We are very saddened to hear this news and we want to send our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. Bob was a staple attendant at the Lily Pad Picnic and was always happy to be a part of the event. His support for the NABC and his fellow supporters was inspiring. Bob is dearly loved and will be missed by many. Thank you for all that you have done Bob; rest in peace.”
Eagle
Eagle
A happier note today was the return of the eagle. I’m glad to see he’s still around. Out of nowhere there was a sudden flash of wings as he tried to grab beef fat from his pile outside my window, but with temperatures far below freezing, the meat was frozen hard in place. Later I saw him fly over and land in a big pine across the lake a little over two football fields from my desk, according to Google Earth. At that distance, he was only two white dots, but I’ve had him show up soon after putting out beef fat before and wondered if he sometimes watches from a distance. If he saw me go out to his feeding spot and dump some warm meat, would he know it’s time for another swoop? I put beef fat in the microwave to half cook. He was still sitting across the lake when I put the fat in place and went back to my desk where I might still be visible to an eagle. Within five minutes he caught me off guard as he swooped in but didn’t connect with the meat. As if he wanted to make another swoop, he landed nearby high in a red pine across the yard. By the time I aimed the camera he was leaping into flight to return to his spot across the lake. I warmed up more meat and put it out, but he’d tried hard enough and flew off.
Even though we all are sad about Bob, it was a happy day in other ways. The evening dinner was fun and a time for thankfulness and happiness, thinking about all the staff does to keep the Bear Center top notch with the support of their spouses, which is what I said when I got up to say my thank you. Still sad about Bob, it was a day of happiness to be with this dedicated group.
Happy Friday
Happy Friday
Then I saw this poster and thought the dinner was such a happy time that the poster fit this update about it.
Then a boreal owl, an owl I rarely see put a cap on the day by landing ten feet outside my window and watching me type, staying there for a striking picture in the night. Thank you owl!!
In many ways it was a Happy Friday, which made this poster seem appropriate.
And thank you all for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
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