Eagle Eyrie Extravaganza - written 4/5/2011

Eagle Eyrie Extravaganza

In Decorah Iowa 80 feet high in the limbs of an old Cottonwood tree an Eagle's nest with two hatchlings and one egg has caught the attention of more then 100,000 watchers across the country, maybe around the world. The Raptor Resource Project placed a camera with live video feed connected to the inter-net, (a web-cam aka Nest-Cam) to view the lofty Eagle residents at the Decorah Fish Hatchery.

On Saturday the first baby eagle (eaglet) emerged, today there are two and a third expected at any time now. Raptor Resource Project Decorah Eagle Cam : http://www.raptorresource.org/falcon_cams/index.html

Iowa Eagles have certainly been putting on an extravagant show these last two months. By the end of February many Eagle Watchers were “a flutter” at the unusually large population of our country's National Symbol, The American Bald Eagle.

Above the Scotch Ridge Nature Trail in Carlisle watchers have reported:

On Saturday February 19^th my wife Sharon and I followed the Scotch Ridge Nature Trail around and through Carlisle observing 30 Bald Eagles and 5 Golden Eagles. I rushed home to the inter-net to confirm the characteristics of the Golden Eagles...fantastic!

Later that same day, we were privileged to see two Golden Eagles in a tumbling mating flight just overhead as we stood near the railroad crossing at 64^th Street in Avon.

On March 1^st, Six Eagles were observed over North Park in Carlisle.

On Saturday, March 5^th , Sharon, my brother Mark and I personally observed 109 Eagles over and in trees near the Highway 65/69 as well in and around Carlisle . On Sunday I reported this while at my Church and other attendees who had driven in from Mitchellville said that there were even more Eagles over and in trees near Highway 65/69. So after Church back we went to the By-Pass, just one mile north of 64^th Street (Army Post Rd.) we found the skies filled with Eagles. The three of us each took a separate viewing section of the sky and counted over 100 soaring high; 20 eagles roosted in trees east of the highway; 30 eagles roosted in trees west of the highway and 25 were coming and going to a pond about 500 feet west of the highway. At any given moment 10 to 12 Eagles were standing on a sand bar that stretched into the pond. WOW! More then 175 Eagles (maybe more), accompanied by as many Crows and a dozen Gulls.

On March 14^th , 5 Golden Eagles graced the skies low over Summerset, Iowa were they live and nest.

Fewer Eagles are seen these days as they are hatching their eggs: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135090940

On Monday April 4^th I observed a “Plethora of Paddling Pelicans” on Easter Lake! There were in an excess of 200 Pelicans, with at least half that many of Black Cormorants diving and swimming amongst.

I am so excited that Spring is here! How about you?

From the Nature Trail, Rand

To report your sightings call:

(515) 360-7189 Rand Richardson

Scotch Ridge Center Steering Committee

Welcome to Scotch Ridge Center

What started out as a desire to make good use of our low-lying flood plain has expanded into a community center for environmental education, recreation, cultural celebration and historic preservation, this coupled with economic development will create a unique "Gateway" development along Highway 5 between the US Hwy 65/69 Bypass and the City of Carlisle "The Natural Choice".
Our physical location is where US Highway 5 crosses the North River, approximately 3 miles west of its confluence with the Des Moines River. Because the most recent glacial activity in Iowa stopped just short of North River, the hills and valleys and watersheds in Warren County are especially well suited to a quality environmental development.
The river valley in this area is unique because it consists of a transect of the remnants of four distinct native ecosystems: a riparian wetland and woodland, an upland prairie and an oak savannah, all located within a distance of 2,500 feet. The combination of such distinct ecosystems in such close proximity to each other is extremely rare.
When the key components of this project are linked together we anticipate that the interim size of Scotch Ridge Center will be an area of over 300 acres. It is likely to be expanded as additional wetland mitigation interests develop.
A series of recreational trails are proposed, connecting the Scotch Ridge Center to the new Summerset State Park and the Polk County Easter Lake Park. This gives our project regional importance. Additional trails will be connected up to the project along North River and through the Scotch Ridge Center along with adjacent US Corp of Engineers property creating an extensive system for pedestrian, equestrian and recreation users.
Several Lakes and Vernal Ponds are planned for both the Scotch Ridge Center and US Corp of Engineers property, which will have campsites spaced around the wetland features. This area will be used for educational outreach programs such as student outings; recreation such as camping, hiking, horseback riding and cultural celebrations such as festivals, musical and theatrical events and historical reenactments.
The educational opportunities in combination with the recreational opportunities make this a unique project. We anticipate educational efforts, not only in the area of nature observation and outdoor skills, but also in efforts to promote conservation-based design throughout the state. The project will be connected by the trail system to the future Carlisle Middle School and to one of the state's first and most fully realized residential conservation communities, Hubbell Realty's Danamere Farms subdivision.
We believe that the Scotch Ridge Center will encompass many more ideas yet to be developed. We have a strong desire to aid in the recreational and economic development of Warren County.
Most of all we hope everyone enjoys their visits to our community and has a lot of fun!
Mission Statement:"The Mission of the Scotch Ridge Center is to protect and improve the natural environment for present and future generations, taking into account the environmental, social and economic principles of sustainable development. We strive to look forward, beyond today's issues, to anticipate ways to advance our mission, to manage our environment through resource and environmental stewardship, technical innovation and responsible management. To continue to adapt our mission in response to changing opportunities so we may effectively manage our natural, human and historical resources, placed in our care for the benefit of the people of Carlisle, Iowa and visitors from around the world."