Date: 9/7/26 12:23 pm From: 'PAUL ROBERTS' via Arlington Birds <arlingtonbirds...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] On Seeing Hawks When Birding/Hawkwatching with Others
Not necessarily. Two adults perched side by side during breeding season (and even out of season) are likely to be paired. Immature eagles will perch with various playmates frequently. In this instance, these birds are not yet mates. They paired up at the end of the past breeding season and loosely act like a couple. They need to do things together to build a bond between them as they approach breeding season. We'll have a better idea of their status if they begin working on upgrading the nest (or start a new one), which may become serious about the time of the first heavy frosts or as late as December and January. These two birds are KZ, the smaller of the two and an esxperienced 10-year old male; and Stripe, likely a 4-year-old eagle who has not been a mate yet. KZ had "serious relationships" with at least two other not fully adult eagles before Stripe, and serious dalliances with at least several others. He does not have a meaningful "history" with Stripe yet. The odds are that they will build stronger bonds during the fall but I wouldn't bet your lunch money on it. Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...>
