Fisher, on Bald Eagles' Nest. ^ 15 



water. We were always ready to jump into the boat when 

 the ice should suddenly give way. Rotten ice doesn't give 

 much warning. When the ice began to give way, we were 

 compelled to break out the rest of the way with our oars. We 

 did not go to the eagles' nest this day because of cloudiness, 

 hoping that we would be favored later with a bright day so 

 that we might get some photos. More than fifty Herring 

 Gulls were seen sitting on the ice or flying about. It was a 

 little early for ducks although there was a considerable number 

 of Mallards, Black Ducks, and American Widgeons on "The 

 Pond." A few Blue-Bills, a Hooded Merganser, and a few 

 Red-breasted Mergansers were seen. W^e secured a fine 

 specimen of a male American Golden-eye. Several flocks of 

 Canada Geese were seen. A large speckled Loon came past 

 us flying low over the water. We also saw a few American 

 Coots. 



The next day proved to be cloudy, cold, and drizzly, but we 

 concluded to go to the Eagles' nest, for there seemed. to be little 

 prospect of fair weather. Landing on Crane Island we began 

 cautiously to approach the tall American Elm in which the 

 nest was located. (Upon arriving at the Reservoir, we learned 

 that it had not been built "in the top of two tall oaks.") We 

 had approached within sixty yards of the tree before the eagle, 

 which was apparently brooding at the time (March 29), flew 

 from the nest. Its white head and tail could be distinctly 

 seen. It circled about uttering its cry, while we observed the 

 nest and photographed it. We then withdrew and watched 

 the eagle return to the nest. During the following week we 

 secured a number of photos. 



According to the testimony of some . of the old residents 

 this is the first eagles' nest that has been built at the Lewis- 

 town Reservoir in their memory. Notwithstanding this fact, 

 and in spite of the law protecting them, we learned that efforts 

 had been made to kill the eagles even to the extent of using a 

 high-power rifle at long range. 



