The setting is Lynx Lake, tho I don't know the year; another photograph from the LH's archive. When we first arrived in the Prescott area, no large raptor was nesting at the lake, tho one year ospreys arrived to take advantage of the fish stocking program. Soon after, either the Forest Service or AZ Fish and Game decided to invite the big fish hawks to settle in by building a nesting platform on the east side of the lake. A pair of birds took the bait and for several years, the trail on that side of the lake was closed during the nesting season. More recently, the bald eagles have moved in, to great fanfare. Like the ospreys before them, they started out on the nesting platform but decided to build a Real Nest after a year or two. I suspect that the Forest Service will soon be closing down the east side of the lake for the 2009 nesting season. As for the displaced ospreys? I don't what neighborhood they moved into. Certainly the lake is not big enough for more than one major nest.
Showing posts with label eagles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eagles. Show all posts
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Lynx Lake eagle nest
Yee-Haw! I have an image! All's well with my world. Or at least a lot better.
The setting is Lynx Lake, tho I don't know the year; another photograph from the LH's archive. When we first arrived in the Prescott area, no large raptor was nesting at the lake, tho one year ospreys arrived to take advantage of the fish stocking program. Soon after, either the Forest Service or AZ Fish and Game decided to invite the big fish hawks to settle in by building a nesting platform on the east side of the lake. A pair of birds took the bait and for several years, the trail on that side of the lake was closed during the nesting season. More recently, the bald eagles have moved in, to great fanfare. Like the ospreys before them, they started out on the nesting platform but decided to build a Real Nest after a year or two. I suspect that the Forest Service will soon be closing down the east side of the lake for the 2009 nesting season. As for the displaced ospreys? I don't what neighborhood they moved into. Certainly the lake is not big enough for more than one major nest.
The setting is Lynx Lake, tho I don't know the year; another photograph from the LH's archive. When we first arrived in the Prescott area, no large raptor was nesting at the lake, tho one year ospreys arrived to take advantage of the fish stocking program. Soon after, either the Forest Service or AZ Fish and Game decided to invite the big fish hawks to settle in by building a nesting platform on the east side of the lake. A pair of birds took the bait and for several years, the trail on that side of the lake was closed during the nesting season. More recently, the bald eagles have moved in, to great fanfare. Like the ospreys before them, they started out on the nesting platform but decided to build a Real Nest after a year or two. I suspect that the Forest Service will soon be closing down the east side of the lake for the 2009 nesting season. As for the displaced ospreys? I don't what neighborhood they moved into. Certainly the lake is not big enough for more than one major nest.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
An eagle pair & a green desert floor
The world is coming alive down in the desert. A neighbor, doing field work in the Ft. McDowell area, sent the pictures posted here. First, a bald eagle at attention and another, perhaps a mate, hunkered down in a humongous nest. No, I didn't get a look at the eagle nest over at Lynx Lake last week -- I had my camera, but not my binoculars.
More important for most of us, who aren't likely to come across any eagles, is his other message: the desert looks like a golf course.Now is time to start planning wildflower trips. My AzPlants mailing list sent this message Friday: At Boyce Thompson Arboretum we have had just under an inch (0.86) of rain from the current system. Have had some little guys blooming at Picketpost trail head including Draba cuneifolia, Calandrinia, Lotus tomentellus, Jojoba, some little Gilia, and some little borage. Noticed yesterday that the Fairy Duster is blooming on the west side of Gonzales Pass along Hwy. 60, along with some brittlebush at Florence Junction. For the record, my favorite wildflower drive to catch the desert in bloom is the county road on the east side of the Santa Maria River. The Orme Road off SR169 is good for several drives as it drops from 5000+ elevation down to about 2500-3000 ft., with a wonderful mix of desert and higher elevation plants flowering at different times during our early spring.
Water Note: Remember that elephant sitting in on all those meetings about water? Well, the Sunday Courier is reporting that the SRP has written a letter stating that Prescott has NO rights to Big Chino water. Oops.
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