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[MpMom]

Lanie & Baz, they worked so hard to make the nest perfect before the egg. Sad.
Yes, since she came to the nest (not saying it was her), they have had the 1st egg broken Hope she lays another

[baziunc]

Thanks, MpMom.  Yes, they made a wonderful-looking nest and egg cup.  Hmmm...  I hope it was just bad luck.  Talons crossed that another egg will be laid this year.

[Emyrauld]

Dr. Sharpe posted that he had seen A48 working the nest bowl..  he thought she was adjusting some sticks, but perhaps the egg hit against something hard or in the alternative that perhaps DDT might still be a problem here.


correction.  Here is the exact post.  Slightly different than what I posted from memory.

 Posted 2/1/17 by Dr. Sharpe on IWS Chat:

"I thought the Sauces female was hitting branches when she dug down yesterday, so perhaps the egg was laying against something hard, causing it to break. Or perhaps DDT is still an issue."

[Emyrauld]

Second egg around noon today

[Emyrauld]

 

[Emyrauld]

 

[Emyrauld]

Posted 2/3/17 on the IWS Facebook page:

"The Sauces birds laid and lost another egg today. Looking at the history of the nest, it has failed in 5 of the 9 previous nesting attempts, with 2 different males and 3 different females. Male A-28 was present 2008-2011, and the male A-40 from 2012 to present. Female A-02 was present in 2008-2009 and failed both years. Female A-27 was present from 2010 until she was displaced by A-48 in 2013. A-27 was successful every year except 2013, when ravens took the eggs. Female A-48 was unsuccessful in 2014 and 2015, and had two chicks last year. Why the eggs are breaking so quickly with the current pair is hard to say. Unfortunately, we can't get information on potential contaminates from eggshells; only from egg contents."

A48 has rarely left the nest since the second egg broke.  She spent the night there and was on it still as I write.

[baziunc]

Posted 2/3/17 on the IWS Facebook page:

"The Sauces birds laid and lost another egg today. Looking at the history of the nest, it has failed in 5 of the 9 previous nesting attempts, with 2 different males and 3 different females. Male A-28 was present 2008-2011, and the male A-40 from 2012 to present. Female A-02 was present in 2008-2009 and failed both years. Female A-27 was present from 2010 until she was displaced by A-48 in 2013. A-27 was successful every year except 2013, when ravens took the eggs. Female A-48 was unsuccessful in 2014 and 2015, and had two chicks last year. Why the eggs are breaking so quickly with the current pair is hard to say. Unfortunately, we can't get information on potential contaminates from eggshells; only from egg contents."

Oh, such sad news.  Emyraud, thank you for posting the pics and info, though I wish it were more upbeat.  I feel like there must definitely be some environmental/contamination issue for such easy egg-breakage, and so often, even though different eagles nested here. 

There are many articles on the topic, but this one from about 3 years ago talks about the study of California Condor eggs that were tested and measured and showed at least half still were affected by DDT.  This is an excellent article that talks about how and why DDT is still affecting the birds and marine life on the Pacific U.S. coast... If you are patient enough to read the whole article, which is not long, and is easy to follow, there is reference near the end of it about a planned study, at that time, for the effect on other raptors in that area, such as eagles - not just the condors:
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/09/california_condor_study_finds.html

[shep]

Write the White House

Let them know DDT is being ILLEGALLY used in California
Name the area(s) - give details - anything you can find
LAW is coming

Get in touch
in tiny letters top right corner
If you dont like HIM, enter HER
http://www.whitehouse.gov

I DO NOT consider this a 'POLITICAL' post!
come on.  If your pissed off I will delete this
NOTHING is done if we dont ACT!

Baz thanks for that info - its a clue!
Could it be radiation?  Lots of it leaking from Japan Fukushima into Pacific.

[Emyrauld]

Not much activity at the nest today.  I will be watching tomorrow to see if a third egg is on the way.   This pair is doggedly determined.  A second clutch in a few weeks is also a very real possibility with these two.  And

Posted today by Dr. Sharpe on ISW

"We raised the camera higher at Sauces, which is why we can now see the eggs. I don't think the nest construction has anything to do with the eggs breaking (even though I said earlier that maybe they were hitting sticks). This nest has gotten thicker over the years and the center of the nest should just be grass and composted grass. Any sticks should be a foot or more down."

[Emyrauld]

Third egg came and broke almost right away.  No pic or video.  Too sad.

[shep]

definitely diet or environmental.
Read more on the Fukushima leaking into the Pacific
and drifting to U.S. shores.
Rule nothing out
very sad

[baziunc]

Thank you for posting the status, though it is very sad news that the 3rd egg also broke... Poor animals - not just these two bald eagles - so terribly affected by the pollution in their environment and/or food supply in this region.  I hope it will somehow be removed or neutralized eventually.

[Emyrauld]

A48 tonight.  Incubating her broken egg. . At least she was for a while)  Now she is just standing in the nest bowl guarding what could have been, I guess.  I will keep tabs on this site and watch for a second clutch and likely more of the same.  After they fledged 2 last year, I thought the broken eggs were over with.  Now I am wondering how they made it all the way to hatching without breaking.

[Emyrauld]

Just after 5 am nest time and she is still there