Skip Navigation

Bald Eagles at Quivira

Eagle, Bald adult 512Bald Eagles occur all year at Quivira, and are especially plentiful in winter.  One pair has nested at Quivira since 2009.

Bald Eagles in Winter

Beginning in late October, migrant Bald Eagles typically begin appearing at Quivira from points north.  They can be seen anywhere at the Refuge, but are particularly fond of Big and Little Salt Marshes, respectively.  A majority are in various stages of juvenile plumages:  mostly brown, with varying amounts of white throughout the plumage.  Bald Eagles take five years to attain full adult plumage (i.e. white head and tail, solid brown body and wings).  Peak numbers usually occur in early-to-mid-December, with upwards of 200 or more possible Refuge-wide.  Numbers of wintering eagles then taper off through the rest of the winter, and by March they are more difficult to find.

Bald Eagles at BSM 448
A common winter scene at Quivira:  a cluster of juvenile Bald Eagles. 


 

Nesting Bald Eagles

 

 

Prior to 2009, the closest known nest to Quivira had been an active pair south of the town of Stafford.  From 2009 onward, there has been active nesting activity by one pair of adults.  Below is the time-line of that nest:

2009

A pair of adult Bald Eagles built a nest in a row of cottonwood trees south of Big Salt Marsh.  No eggs or young were produced that year.

Quivira Eagle nest 2009
The nest shortly after first discovered in 2009 

2010

Nest activity began being observed in January 2010.  By early April, one hatchling could be seen being tended by parents.  By early summer, it was clear that two young birds were in the nest, being tended by parents.  Both birds had fledged by mid-July. Occasionally through the summer and fall an adult or juvenile was seen perched at or near the nest.

Eagle, Bald juvenile 448 2 
Juvenile Bald Eagle photographed in July 2010, shortly after fledging from nest. 


 

Additional note:  this nest is visible from the NE 140th Street blacktop.  During most of the year, a zone around this nest is closed to public entry (complete with signs) to protect the eagles.

2011

Nest activity was again observed beginning in January 2011.  At least one juvenile was observed at the nest in early summer, being tended by parents.  A second juvenile was believed to be in the nest, but was never confirmed.  No birds were in the nest by mid-July, but fledged young were never seen.  Refuge staff believes that the young bird(s) fledged then quickly left the area, along with the adults.  Big Salt Marsh, the nearest large body of water (and food source), was completely dry by mid-summer.

2012

Nest activity began in mid-January, with suspected incubation by female a few weeks later.  By early April, neither parent was sitting on the nest, but could be seen coming and going.  Their behavior strongly suggested they were tending young.  One April 14, the St. John Tornado, an F3 storm that originated southwest of St. John, passed directly over the Big Salt Marsh area (in fact, directly over the nest tree itself), inflicting considerable damage to both the nest and the surrounding trees.  It is believed that any young in the nest did not survive.  Miraculously, both adults were accounted for by April 19.  The two adults, and at least one juvenile (possibly one of their previous-year offspring, but no way to prove), were seen sporadically around the Big Salt Marsh area until early July.  No more eagles were seen at Quivira until two adults were observed east of Little Salt Marsh on September 28.  Interestingly, two more (or the same two) were roosting at the nest tree two days later on September 30.
 
Late-year observations revealed a peak of about 25-30 Bald Eagles in the combined Little and Big Salt Marsh areas (late November), feeding mostly on waterfowl.  By the end of the year, these numbers had dwindled to less than a half dozen.  At least one pair (probably the nesting pair) was in the Big Salt Marsh area during most of the fall.  In addition, a juvenile Golden Eagle was observed sporadically throughout the Refuge from late November onward.

2013

As the year began, a pair of adults continued to be observed in the Big Salt Marsh area.  Sometimes one or both could be seen on or near the nest, yet another element will require continued watching:  the presence of an additional, similar-sized nest about 3 trees to the west of the original.  This is believed to have originally been a hawk nest, but it has greatly increased in size over the last few months.  Most likely this is simply a "spare", unused nest.  Egg laying is thought to have begun in late January or early February, and incubation by the female continued through February and March.  By March 29, activity at the nest (both adults standing on nest) suggested young may have hatched.  Stay tuned!
  

 Bald Eagle nest trees 448 

Eagle nest photographed on April 16, 2012, two days after the tornado. 

 Bald Eagles on nest staff 448 

Two adults on nest on 20 January 2013 

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2013
Return to main navigation