Bald eagles have been busy around the Lower Mainland lately, as it’s currently the middle of egg-laying season for the distinctive birds of prey.
While not all of the nests feature 24/7 livestreaming cameras, several have been set up in nests in South Surrey, White Rock, Boundary Bay and Harrison Mills, among other locations, by the Hancock Wildlife Foundation.
The White Rock nest is located on a private portion of the White Rock bluff overlooking Boundary Bay, only about 100 feet from the back porch of a private home, captured on three cameras and now featuring a pair of bald eagles and at least one egg, constantly guarded by mainly the mama – but also the papa – eagle.
“It’s egg laying season – it’s about halfway through – more than half the birds will have their eggs,” said local biologist David Hancock, founder of the foundation, which is known for their work protecting wild animals and their natural habitat.
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“Every nest is normally consistent, except this year, White Rock is not quite as consistent as it has been, and I’m wondering if it’s another lady,” he said, explaining how his colleague, Russ, keeps detailed records of the eagles and when their eggs are laid.
This year, the first egg in the White Rock nest was laid on March 9 at 3:13 p.m., but last year, the first egg was laid on March 17.
The date discrepancy is what is causing Hancock to wonder if it’s a different female.
“For three years in a row (Russ) has tracked the eggs – they were within 15 minutes from one year to the next to the next. (They were laid on the) same day, 15 minutes apart, three years in a row,” he said, but he couldn’t be certain without discussing it with his fellow bald eagle-following colleagues.
“It has been my understanding for some time that one indication when you’ve changed particularly the female, is you see a difference by a week or 10 days or two weeks or so – a change in the egg sequencing, of the egg dating, when the first one was laid.”
So far, no eggs have been spotted in the Surrey Reserve nest in South Surrey or in Boundary Bay, but that doesn’t mean it won’t still happen, Hancock said, noting any laid eggs are “usually quite late at the Harrison Mills nest” compared to other eagles.
Several other popular bald eagles nests have been observed and reported with possible eggs or even potentially, one or two having hatched already, but those nests aren’t equipped with cameras, he noted.
Bald eagle eggs usually take around 37 days to hatch, following by another 83 to 84 days in the nest as they grow, fed and guarded by mama and papa in turn before they take their chances at flying.
To view the eagle nests, visit hancockwildlife.org and click on the live cams tab.