Nesting of the Bald Eagle in Orange County, California

"While taking this set from the nest, seventy feet up in a sycamore, both Eagles kept up a continual scold. The male was somewhat shy, yet both alighted on the nearest high tree not 60 feet distant form the tree in which the nest was being despoiled, and about the same distance from the camera. Both birds were sitting on the same limb, but just as a photograph was attempted, the male flew. A Western Red-tail mad elife a burden to the male while the latter was on teh wing, by repeatedly swooping down upon it with victorius speed. With wonderful ease, however, the latter would swing over, extending upwards a pair of formidable talons which were carefully avoided by the Hawk........[to be completed by Robert Roy van de Hoek] ........... Thrice the infuriated Eagle turned complete double somersults.............. Acting upon the advice of Mr. Shields, I had my friend keep a careful watch over the nest, as athese birds are supposed invariably to deposit a second set when deprived of tehir first. For two weeks they remained in the vicinity of their spoliated habitation and then began building a nw one about four miles distant. May 1 this was completed to their satisfaction, having required about seven weeks for its construction. i was disappointed however, inasmuch as they failed to deposit a second set. Under the circumstances this energetic pair now have a new nest ready for occupancy the coming month and it is to be hoped that they may not fail ato properly furnish two full sets for the good of the cause.

I am of the opinion that the expected second set would have been forthcoming had nto so long a time been occupied in building, thereby carrying teh brids far beyond their normal period of nidification. From my observations I am satisfied they nest early in January and if the first set be taken or destroyed they will ordinarily deposit a second within thirty to forty days. Judging, howevcer, from the actions of the pair in question, it seems highly proable that any marked disturbance of their abode such as our had been, would lead them to abandon their nest, even though it be a new one, and to build another rather than return to the one which had been so seriously interfered with. On our return trip I took a set of two western Horned Owl, thus having enjoyed not only a highly intersting and pleasant excuriosn, bu thaving also secured entirely acceptable and profitable booty, judging from teh standpoint of the collector."

In the 1890s, more than a century ago, Newport Bay or as it was also known then as Corona del Mar, was a sleepy hamlet of not very many people or much leisure time for those people. However, one resident of the area named Evan Davis found time to make naturalist observations and he shared his discoveries with scientists and other naturalists in Pasadena. In particular, Evan Davis shared his information with Joseph Grinnell. Joe Grinnell published a report on the Birds of Los Angeles County coast in 1898. At that time, Newport Bay was part of Los Angeles County because Orange County would not form for several more years in the early twentieth century. Of course, Los Angeles reluctantly relinquished control of that part of the county, but that like-it-or-not, that is the role of the County goverment, to allow regions to become cities or break away to form new counties.

The first birdwatching group to recognize the significance of Evan Davis and his report of the Bald Eagle nesting in Orange county was the Cooper Ornithological Club. The Club's notes were summarized in the magazine called Nidiologist. The Southern Division of the Club met at the residence of M.L. Wicks, Jr., in Los Angeles. Professor A.J. Cook of Pomona was elected to membership at in the club. The donation to the library of Cooks' "Birds of Michigan" by the author, was acknowledged. Mr. Evan Davis's paper was presented on Nesting of the Bald Eagle in Orange County."

If we fast-forward 100 years to the the 1990s, we find that a new generation of birdwatchers have noted the importance of Evan Davis and his bird sightings of 100 years ago in Newport Bay and Orange county, present company included. For example, Robert Hamilton and Douglas Winnick in their 1990s book, Birds of Orange County, have noted the importance of Evan Davis because he provided the first proof that the Bald Eagle nested near Newport Bay in Orange County. This Evan Davis article was also recognized and quoted from the most famous ornithologist and vertebrate field biologist in the history of California. It was Joseph Grinnell in his 1898 bird report, Birds of the Pacific Coast of Los Angeles County, that also reported on the Evan Davis report of a Bald Eagle. That report captured the imagination of naturalists and natural history aficionados that lived in Los Angeles county region 100 years ago and hopefully will do again, if you reading these words. Hamilton and Winnick reported that the article by Evan Davis is available to review as a photocopy, in the library at the Sea and Sage Audubon Center.

I have completed research on Evan Davis and his scientific investigations and exploration at Newport Bay at UCLA and UC Berkeley. The research into Evan Davis is ongoing and continues as time and finances allow. More discoveries about Evan Davis are forthcoming in revised additions of this report.

Now especially in 2003 and beyond, the rare bird discoveries by Evan Davis are important for conservation, preservation, and restoration (CPR) in southern California. As the population of humans increases the populations of endangered birds decreases and becomes increasingly imperiled. The need for more parks and open spaces will only increase in value as human population increases and the need for room to "breathe" in the open out-of-doors increases. However, active human intervention such as the management of the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon will be needed to re-establish those two beautiful birds back to Newport Bay. The procedure is very much identical as to methods used on Catalina Island near Avalon in terms of their successful Bald Eagle recovery. Today, after only 20 years of eagle restoration by active human-scientist assistance, Catalina has twelve adult Bald Eagles that live all year at Catalina. They bond and form six pairs with six nests and find food in the nearby bays and sea surrounding Catalina to feed their young each year. Normalizing the Catalina eagle data and calculating the ability of Eagles to occupy a particular area and geography, my data indicates that four Bald Eagles with two nesting locations in Newport Bay would be reasonable to plan for. Imagination and visioning is necessary first before there can actually be four Bald Eagles living at Newport Bay. Let this report and you the reader be part of the process and therefore making the dream and vision come to fruition. Both residents living at Newport Beach and visitors from the surrounding greater southern California region would relish the experience of seeing a Bald Eagle all 365 days of the year, morning, afternoon, and evening while walking, running, bicycling, or driving a car around Newport Bay.

Saving the remaining open space ecosystems of Newport Bay and Newport Beach, whether wetland or upland, can be used for Eagle nesting towers and observation posts. These opens spaces can also serve as places to erect Osprey nesting platform. Destruction of the last remaining open spaces of Newport Beach, where potential recovery locations of rare and endangered species can occur would be a tremendous loss. The beautiful Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and associated bluffs and cliffs would be best be served by the presence of rare birds such as the Bald Eagle and American Osprey living here 365 days of the year. The last remaining open spaces can also be butterfly gardens, wildflower gardens, and cactus-succulent gardens, because they benefit wildlife and native plants. It would help to make Newport Beach more of a tourist destination, as each year natural history tours and eco-tours grows in importance. People want to experience nature, whether it be seals, dolphins, whales, eagles, or osprey. And wouldn't it be nice to recover the Sea Otter back to Newport Bay? Imagination and vision is the beginning first step to such a dream. Not only the Eagle but our own sanity depends on nature and quiet open spaces where wildflowers and wildlife can also find a home and a habitat.

In conclusion, the use of historical collections, whether native plants, native animals, or egg collections, tell us a great deal about the former natural history, geography, and environmental history of southern California. The value of this knowledge for restoration and recovery of endangered species and rare ecosystems is invaluable, and indeed is a mine of information and therefore priceless.