No Eggs this Year for Liberty and Guardian
Liberty, Redding’s beloved bald eagle, didn’t lay any eggs this year, a first in her nesting history!
It seems that the lack of eggs might be due to some events over the past year; the devastating loss of their 2 precious eaglets Luna & Sol, last June, coupled with the loss of their longtime "Home"- their nest for 20 years that crashed to the ground during a violent storm on the evening of December 13th, 2024.
Despite her challenges, wildlife experts are optimistic that Liberty will lay eggs again next year, thanks to her incredible resilience and ability to adapt.
Our eagle, Liberty has lived to the estimated age of 26, fought off Caltrans' efforts to kick her out of her nest, outlived two previous mates, and laid dozens of eggs that have hatched to increase the bald eagle population throughout the region. While she is 26, she still has many years left to produce more eaglets so it's not an "age thing."
A camera perched high in a Cottonwood tree streams live video on YouTube, offering viewers a wonderful glimpse into the exciting life of Liberty and her mate, Guardian at their nest. You never know what you might see — They might just have to consider marking the YouTube channel for "Mature Audience Only" 😊
Just last week, Guardian brought a little turtle up to the nest, and it was quite the moment! Liberty, didn’t see it at first. But then she noticed, took a step back, and got curious, giving the shell a few gentle pecks. Suddenly, the turtle made a daring leap out of the nest and scurried off into a thick patch of blackberry bushes! The locals here are always up for a good story, have affectionately named the little guy Lucky, and he was spotted enjoying his newfound freedom shortly after his escape. The Weather Channel even picked up on the story.
Over the past 20 years, Liberty has usually laid two to three eggs, with the first ones appearing around the beginning of February. This year, though, that time came and went without any eggs. Days turned into weeks, and while briefly it was thought Liberty might be planning a late clutch, March has now passed, and it looks like no eggs this year.
They're taking a break -
maybe a second honeymoon?
Watching those two eagles sitting side by side, playfully interacting like a couple of school kids in love, warms my heart. I'm a soft touch when it comes to wildlife, so I get tears when I watch them. Their amazing bond always makes me smile.
For those of you who have been wondering about the absence of Eagle posts this year, now you know.
There's always next year.
I was wondering myself why no eagle updates. Thanks for telling us why. Hopefully next year. Janice
ReplyDeleteI kept waiting… it’s fine though. I think my community tends to go a bit overboard during the season. It’s nice to just take the year off and let them be. 🦅 🦅
DeleteSad about no eggs, but they are still together!!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your eagle posts. Thanks for updating us, and hopefully next year there will be eggs again. I really like that last picture of them in the nest.
ReplyDeleteAwww, sometimes you just gotta give a girl a break! I hope they enjoy their 2nd honeymoon, and maybe next year they will have 3 or 4 babies to make up for this year! LOL. So wonderful to watch them either way. I don't think our Canada Goose couple is nesting either...or else they are just really late in doing so. They spend most of their time harrassing the Sand Hill Cranes and their little ones, and shooing away the pesky Muscovy Ducks. But we are no longer putting out any kind of bird seed for the cranes and geese, and the ducks are finally getting the message that there will be no more cat food on the back porch for them to steal from the kitties since I am feeding them on the front porch and so far so good...the ducks haven't discovered them, but I have to shoo them away when I am looking for the kitties. I am praying that couple comes to get the ducks today before the kittens are born. Wildlife certainly can be interesting and challenging!
ReplyDeleteWonderful birds. Thank you for this lovely post.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Your eagle posts are always interesting.
ReplyDeleteI assume they built a new nest, that is sad they lost their long time nest. Might have something to do with it. I did not realize they only had eggs once a year. I only have the neighbors across the street to watch and I can attest to they have an 18 month old girl and just came home with a new baby boy.. their nest has 5 adults living here so pretty full.
ReplyDeleteWow I love this! We had an eagle cam at a park near us, too and got to see her babies but haven't heard anything for a long time. They are fascinating birds.
ReplyDeleteWildlife and their antics always fascinate me, too, Debby. Let's hope for eggs to come next spring. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOh Debby, it wasn't a drive to So Cal. Just to my hometown, three hours there, three hours back, but with all the stops, it took longer. ; ) Just winding down today and resting. Looks like the eagles are doing well. These are some great pics that people took of them. And that's a cute story about the turtle. ; )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I love all the photos and info about the bald eagles. I remember seeing so many of them on my cruise in Alaska. Such magnificent birds. I'm sure that by next Spring there will be new eggs to watch. Sometimes when routine turns to chaos there needs to be a time of adjustment.
ReplyDeleteDid you get rain yesterday and last night? We got just enough to make everything soggy again and a good percentage of the "blobs" or sorry but we call them "turds" are on the ground from the ornamental Pistachio tree in the front yard. It sure makes an ugly mess that will be my project when things dry a bit.
Sue
Awe...makes me kinda sad for all that these two have been through.. My husband watches the eagle cams and keeps up with the things they do..he loves watching them. The only eagles I have seen where when we went to Alaska and I must say, I was disappointed. While we were viewing them, they never flew and that is mostly what I wanted to see. I've heard their wing span is huge. Thanks for this update Debby...hoping they become comfortable in their new nest.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the eggs but it is nice to see the two of them together. A little break might be nice for them:)
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating, the eagles. And to know you've practically a front-row seat. That's so cool!
ReplyDeleteSad. Eagles are such good parents. The lost of the nest is a big thing. I grew up near the winter nesting place on the Mississippi River, on the Illinois side. Their nests are immense. One year I watched 20 eagles hunting for fish. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds. I was hoping for some eggs this year and a good hatching. Next year.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That is so sad, they have been through a lot but hopefully next year things will be better and there will be eggs
ReplyDeleteHopefully the eagles will lay eggs next year. Good that they are still together. We saw eagles when we were in Alaksa.
ReplyDeleteHi, I enjoyed your update Debby. Thank you. :-)
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