Today the White Pelicans were still present for viewing at Blackwater
Wildlife Refuge.  A total of five were feeding together in the Blackwater
River south of the wildlife drive between noon and 12:30.
    Obviously these birds have now wintered here.  Is this a first? - for
Dorchester County? - or even for Maryland?
 
    At the Visitor Center one can look in on the progress of the Bald Eagle
family that is being monitored.  The two eggs hatched last week - the first
one on Wednesday and the second one on Friday.  Blackwater staff stated that
the egg laying had also occurred with a two-day separation.  Both youngsters
seem to be doing fine, though there is a clear size difference.  This mother
bird appears to be a very skillful mother.  She can be seen to carefully
include the smaller chick in the feeding.  Viewing them is quite a treat.
The male must also be a good provider.  Staff noted that a couple of days
before the hatching, the male seemed to accelerate his fishing, and had
brought so many fish that they were scattered around the sides of the nest,
being quite a bit more than the female needed at that time.
 
 
Les Roslund

Talbot County
Easton MD 21601