Bald Eagles have abandoned nest at Cuckold's Cove

[Frank KING]

I visited Cuckold's Cove this morning with the primary goal of discovering wether the Bald Eagles were nesting there. They have returned to that same nest for many years, and would be sitting on the eggs by March month. Sadly, this year the nest appears to have been abandoned. There were no eagles on the nest. It was still covered in snow.

An adult Bald Eagle was perched on the top of a tall spruce tree in the area. It flew off over the ocean towards the narrows. Two immature Bald Eagles were taking advantage of the updrafts directly off Cucklold's Cove.

The irony of this, was a nearby sign placed by Parks Canada, indicating that Bald Eagles mate for life and return to the same nest year after year, unless the nest becomes disturbed.

[Martin Berrigan]

There is a story about this obsessive couple who filmed there a lot.It was reported to me that they actually entered the lower wood's and cut off many branches in the middle of Winter at that site not this past winter but last winter.If you are aware of this nest it did have good foliage,branches and somewhat hidden but last year you can clearly see the whole nest is completely exposed more like what a Osprey would be comfortable with.This occurrance in winter was witnessed by hiker's. I also heard they were quite rude to deal with at that site.It's more like a Ripleys believe it or not tale,so F.K do you believe it or not?.Gerard

[kdunp...@gmail.com]

That's sad, I looked forward to checking in on them every spring

[Frank KING]

I checked on the Bald Eagle nest at Cuckold's Cove again this morning. I had heard reports that the Eagles had returned to the nest. The nest remains unoccupied. There was what looked like the body of a Black Guillemot in the nest. Maybe one of the adult Bald Eagles has been returning there to feed. Photos of the nest and Black Guillemot on eBird at
https://ebird.org/checklist/S107523622

[Geoff Smith]

I checked the other perennial eagle nest, at Herring Cove in the Mobile area, this week, and there are no eagles nesting at that site this year, either. Makes me wonder if there may be a connection.

[Geoff Smith]

FYI... No eagles on the Grates Cove nest when I went by this week, either. Three perennial nests with no breeding birds on them in the same year seems like a bit of a concerning trend.

[ILJones]

possibly, avian flu may be involved in this

ilj