Following the storm, eagles 'Nick' and 'Nora' frantically endeavoured to locate their eaglets.
A pair of bald eagles, lovingly referred to as "Nick" and "Nora" by their devoted followers, are extremely stressed after a powerful storm wreaked havoc on their nest high above White Rock Lake in East Dallas. The violent weather left the nest badly damaged and their two 9-week-old eaglets, potentially lost.
Ever since they established their home around the lake three years ago, the eagles have become a beloved part of the community. Their every move has been documented and admired, both on neighborhood Facebook groups and by a dedicated group of photographers who document their life.
The residents consider the eagles' presence a blessing and share their deep concern for the birds. Krista de la Harpe, who lives nearby, feels a strong emotional connection with the avian family. She tells us, "It's been a three-year love story."
During the storm, de la Harpe sought shelter anxiously, thinking about the eagles' survival in the face of falling trees and raging winds.
After the storm passed, the community sprang into action, searching for any signs of the eaglets. The banks of the creek under the tree were flooded and many trees were uprooted, making it difficult to locate the young birds. One of the eaglets was eventually spotted, shivering in the rain but seemingly unharmed, eating a fish it had caught in the floodwaters.
Brett Johnson, an urban biologist, arrived to assess the situation and found half of the nest missing. With the assistance of state game wardens and officials from US Fish and Wildlife Services, he gained permission to handle the eaglet and relocate it to a specialized rehabilitation facility where it could be treated for any injuries.
Bryna Thomson, a neighbor, was part of the group that rescued the eaglet. In a video she captured, we see a cold and soaked bird still managing to eat a fish it had caught in the flooded creek. She said, "They were healthy babies."
Johnson reports that the eaglet suffered no substantial injuries and is recovering well. However, it might take a week for the bird to regain its strength - it has been described as being stunned.
The conservation team at the City of Dallas and wildlife specialists are now working on a reintroduction plan to bring the young bird back to its parents and its nesting area. The plan is still being developed, and it's uncertain how the bird will be returned to its parents and the outdoor environment.
The second eaglet is still unaccounted for and its fate is a cause for concern. The searching party believes it may have been swept away by the surging floodwaters, making it difficult to access the areas where the eaglelet could have landed. Additionally, the eaglet would be vulnerable to predators, such as coyotes and bobcats, that reside in the area.
Scott Meril, a retired medical doctor, arrived at the scene to take pictures of the grieving eagle parents. He captured powerful images of one of the eagles screaming skyward, its head tilted back as if expressing despair. Meril notes, "To see them in Texas, it's wild."
Throughout their courtship and nesting, Nick and Nora have faced more than one setback, including a 2022 storm that destroyed their first nest and eggs, and a 2023 attempt to nest that was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, Johnson contends, "They have been through a lot."
This year, people believed the eagles had finally achieved their goal. The eaglets were almost ready to soar on their own. At that point, Nick and Nora would instruct them to hunt for their food.
Right before the storm, Giblin snapped beautiful photos of the little birds "leaping" from their nests - their initial efforts to jump to nearby tree branches.
The circle of nature seemed to be on the verge of completion, but sadly, nature intervened in a sad twist.
"They just can't escape fate," said Thomson. "They were excellent parents, and it's simply that you can't combat this ridiculous Texas weather."
Yellowstone in the city
Although bald eagles are sometimes found near big cities, it is uncommon for them to nest and mate in bustling urban areas. This is why Giblin and a group of photographers have devoted countless hours to capturing their story.
Giblin, who works in a merchandising firm, claims he has snapped over 20,000 photos of the eagles since they've been frequent guests in this location for three years. He's so dedicated, he once waited 7 hours to photograph a single shot of the eagles flying from their nest. He sees the bald eagles' presence in Dallas as similar to having Yellowstone National Park in the city.
"In this metropolis, they decided to nest right here. It's genuinely bizarre," Giblin said. "That's why I'm down here every weekend. I don't take it for granted."
Thomson, a middle school science teacher, claims the presence of bald eagles has united her community. She often sets up a telescope with an iPad, called "Eagle TV," for kids to observe the eagles close-up.
"They're the coolest birds ever," gushed Thomson. "I'm not a fan of birds, but apparently, I am. Because I like bald eagles a lot."
These bird enthusiasts worry that years of disappointment might prompt Nick and Nora to leave their residence near the neighborhood lake and search for a new home to nest. The magnificent creatures don't understand that they're the stars of a captivating love story their neighbors don't want to see conclude.
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Despite the community's efforts, the fate of the second eaglet remains unknown. Authorities are hoping that with time, they might locate it safely.
Upon returning to their nest, 'Nick' and 'Nora' will be eager to reunite with their rescued eaglet, now under the care of wildlife specialists.
