The Observation Deck

I had been following the life of a bald eagle couple, (they mate for life) in Rocky River
Reservation, the female had laid a single egg. While hunting for food, the male was killed by
a passenger plane landing at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. With shock and much sadness, I
started to wonder what would happen to mom and the egg. Some wondered if the miracle of
Sand Ridge would happen here where another male would help. Sure enough another male
showed up, and started to help about 5 days ago the egg hatched, and the male has
continued to help. Here is the update with the first photos of the baby! Stay tuned more
photos to be added.


Mom with Baby, step-dad nowhere around.






Step-dad comes back.




Everyone seems happy.


Lots of love.






Squirrel dinner! Yummy


This is exciting as it shows the step-dad is hunting for them!


Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.







Stay tuned for more updates, here and at the photo blogs!

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/bald-eagle-baby-coverage-2013

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Wow, these are amazing and an inspiration!

I am just blown away by your ability to capture the amazing pictures.
AWESOME work Jim.

Great pics Jim!

Some updates from this weekend. Everyone seems to be doing fine!






The baby all by itself.








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Step Dad brings fish back to the nest.


Where it is promptly feed to the baby.


Baby is getting big.



23 more photos added to the photo blog off of our front page.
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs


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Baby is getting big!






Mom and dad trading duties every hour or so.

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I'm not even going to pretend these pics are as good as Jim's (maybe if I had better equipment?!?!) ... but as I told him today, most of the joy of photography is sharing; sharing time spent with a fellow photographer out in the field .. .and sharing your work with friends, family, neighbors


Late morning (not sure if this is momma or stepfather.)


Late morning (not sure if this is momma or stepfather.)


Later in the day (around 6:30pm). Glad to have had the opportunity to introduce Jeanne to the eagles nest and share this particular moment with her!

Peter Grossetti wrote:I'm not even going to pretend these pics are as good as Jim's (maybe if I had better equipment?!?!)

Peter,

You need to go high-tech like me. Here are photos taken with an iPhone 4 through one lens of 7x35 Nikon binoculars. All you have to do is hold the binoculars with one hand. The other hand only has to hold the iPhone in position, touch the right part of the screen for focus and exposure, and hit the shutter release button without shaking any of the parts.





All I can say is that I was there. The photos kind of prove it.

Steve

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Boys, Boys, Boys,

Wonderful shots, it is a poor carpenter that blames his tools.


Baby stretching his wings.






Baby peeks through Mama's wing.




Looking over the edge. Look at the beak and feet on that baby!


Mom jumps back to the upper branch.

168 More Photos at: http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/bald-eagle-baby-coverage-2013

I think we can all agree with Peter's comment, "but as I told him today, most of the joy of photography is sharing; sharing time spent with a fellow photographer out in the field .. .and sharing your work with friends, family, neighbors."

Isn't it time you got your LO Photoblog, and shared some images of your Lakewood Experience today?
http://lakewoodobserver.com/members and ask for a photoblog, it is that easy!

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Steve/Peter

Wonderful photos. Seriously.

Most people think we are standing next to the nest. Last week I had someone estimate about 350 yards or more
away from where we are standing.


Here is a shot with the iphone of the area. Can you see the eagle nest?


Here I put a box around the area.


Same area as in the box before.


With a 1000mm lens.


Cropped down 1000mm shot.


Shot by an iphone 4, held up to a pair of binoculars.

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05.25.2013 7pm or so.






Baby was just chillin.


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It was a busy weekend, with painting the house and getting two papers out, but I managed a little time with
the bald eagles, and that baby is getting big!








feeding the baby!



I added 28 images bringing the total to over 200, check them out.
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/bald-eagle-baby-coverage-2013

Or we could cover the 25 different borders wars and skirmishes going on between residents around town.

Naaahhhhhhhhhhhh, not when there is great news like this. Why dwell on the low road that destroys the Lakewood name?

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This weekend the baby eagle many of us thought would never survive took its first very short flight. Actually it might have surprised itself! Saturday June 1, I went and watched the nest for about 4 hours. The past couple days had seen the baby eagle stretching its wings, and checking them out.

Saturday was different, he would run around the edge of the nest with his wings out, almost like pretending to fly. Then he would sit and pull out some more downey feathers, then pretend again. By noon he was getting pretty serious and tried to hop in the air, then flap, when suddenly he rose to about 4' in the air, and stopped! He fell back to the nest and seemed surprised and shocked. Then he did it again, this time landing on the edge of the nest on the opposite side. A flight of about 6'.

The parents came back and he settled down, and ate some fish, and slept. But he knew, he could very soon, soar like an eagle.

This has been an amazing voyage for the baby and me. I was mad when OD&R refused to help the widowed mother before the eagle hatched. Metro Parks said, "this is life in the wild" yet many of the nest watcher spoke of the miracle of Sandy Hook where another male stepped up and took over with feeding and tending the baby. Sure enough the little guy grew, and grew fast. He went from an ugly little thing to looking like an eagle. It was the miracle eagle of Rocky River Reservation, and I am very happy it is!

Here on some images of those first flights, and some videos from that day.

You can see 400+ images of the baby at:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/bald-eagle-baby-coverage-2013

Here are some of my favorites from the first day of flying. And a video at the end!


Checking on its wings.


Catching a little breeze.


Hopping but not flying.


Acting like an eagle.


Wheeeeeeeeeee


Look how big it has gotten!


OK, once more with feeling!


OK here goes!


OMG, what have I done! Oh yeah I'm bad!


OK far enough, back down!


Did you see me, I was soaring!


Mom back with lunch.


The family celebrates!


Mom, I was flying, it was so cool!


Mom was so happy she did some impersonations.


A turkey...


Arnold Schwarzenegger


Headless Eagle.


Playing dead!





What a great way to start summer!

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Dad did a low level fly by down Elmwood Ave on Sunday...

WARNING TO ALL PET OWNERS!!!!

having spent lots of time in Alaska, I have personally seen these things go after cats and small dogs. And they don't have to carry them off to do severe damage, if not kill. so be aware, any unattended animal in the yard may become lunch.