19 February 2021
On Wednesday night, 17 February just after 7pm, a raccoon scaled one of the branches that holds the Hays bald eagle nest. The mother eagle was on the nest and heard the raccoon coming so she rose up, spread her wings, and scared him away.
Seven years ago a raccoon intruder did the same thing. This one was a little braver.
The raccoon hid nearby, frozen in place, but four minutes later he moved again and the father eagle arrived to help. Two eagles!! The raccoon finally left.
This week’s episode was a raccoon redux of …
See Mary Ann Thomas’ Trib Live report, Pittsburgh Hays Bald Eagles Attack Raccoon Intruder, with video of Wednesday’s raccoon leaving.
Watch the Hays Nest Eaglecam to see what happens next.
(screenshot from PixCams on YouTube)
UPDATE, 19 Feb 2021: The female bald eagle at Hays laid her 3rd egg on 19 February 2021.
UPDATE, 22 Feb 2021: On the night of 22 Feb 2021 a great horned owl knocked the male Hays bald eagle off his roosting perch. The eagle was surprised but unharmed.
Has the streaming camera failed at the Cathedral of Learning nest? I’ve just been seeing a gray screen this morning.
Mary Ann, it had to be rebooted. It’s back up now.
I saw 3 eggs in the nest today [NOTE: this is at the Hays bald eagle nest]
Yes!
What am I missing? I’m not seeing any eggs in the nest at the COL.
Melanie, the peregrines won’t be laying eggs until mid-March at the earliest. Right now they are courting.