The Eaglets Have Landed In Centerport

Katherine Kozak Orent posted the first photos of the Centerport bald eagles’ newly hatched eaglets to the Bald Eagles of Centerport Facebook page on April 13. (Photo by Katherine Kozak Orent)

By Peter Sloggatt
psloggatt@longislandergroup.com

The bald eagle population in Centerport doubled last week with the apparent hatching of a pair of eaglets.

After more than a month tending to at least two eggs, The Commodore and Mrs. Vanderbilt, as a majority of members of a Facebook page devoted to the eagles voted to name them, were joined by two eaglets on or around April 12. That’s the earliest date the down-covered babies were seen peeking over the top of the massive eagle nest located near Mill Pond in Centerport.

For the eagles’ fan club (3,700 members and counting as of April 13, according to Bald Eagles of Centerport Facebook page administrator Rob Schwartz) the new additions are keeping the new parents close to home.

It’s likely to stay that way for a while, according to the Audubon Guide to North American Birds. The “bible” of birdwatchers, the Audubon guide states at least one parent will remain with the new hatchlings “almost constantly for the first two weeks.” The pair guard their territory ferociously both to protect their young and their feeding grounds.

That’s brought a big payoff for the numerous photographers among those who gather at the Mill Dam Bridge, Centerport Post Office and other nearby viewing sites. Parental activities during the time both parents were incubating the eggs produced a treasure trove of images. Photographers captured the birds’ nest-building activities as well as images of the birds feeding and just plain soaring above the pond.

That activity has only increased as they guard and tend their eaglets. Both the male and female adults have been photographed capturing eels, squirrels and other prey, and bringing it back to the nest. For now at least the parents tear the food into small pieces and feed it to their eaglets. Anywhere from three to six weeks after hatching, “young begin pecking at food dropped into the nest,” according to Audubon.

With luck – and vigilance by the parents – the next big milestone should come in late June or early July when the young eagles take their first flight. That occurs about 10-to-12 weeks after hatching, putting the flight date in the range of June 20 to July 4.

So for a while, at least, count on these emblematic birds to continue to attract crowds to the shores of Mill Pond.