We were preparing the next trip, while the town of Magadan was switching off its hot water supply. This is a valuable tradition of the town inhabitants to loose hot water. Every year the monopolist heating plant is switching off hot water of the entire city for 'maintenance'. June 22 was the last day with hot water. This triggered a massive hike in hot water demand, and as a result, sedimentation rate at the water supply ponds was not meeting the demand. The silt was obvious in all city
bath tubs. Now the town is 'showerless' for another 2 weeks or so.
Early Saturday morning we set off with the low tide from the Nagaevo Bay. With the distant fog we were anticipating a rough navigation, but on the bright side was the fact, that the sea was calm.
First we visited the nest, which was reported to us last year (which we, essentially, missed). Indeed it was a new nest with one chick and female present. The chick was very small.
The nesting site is surprising, given the number of recreational and fishing boat traffic underneath. Perhaps this pair shifted the nest location from the nearby Tikhaya bay on the other part of the peninsula.
The next nest was on the northern corner of the Naagaevo bay, and it returned 2 chicks. Wow. More than in the last year already.
The chicks were significantly different by age.
Another nest with 1 chick was at the Nedorazumenia island. Nothing was at the nest at the Chirikova cape, no surprize as there was a huge traffic of fishing and recreational boats there.
Another nest with one chick was at the Orliniy (Eagle) cape. One adult was drying up at the cliff above the nest.
Next nest was at the northern part of the Gertnera Bay. It has 2 large chicks and an adult at the nest.
All nest were surveyed with the drone to ensure accuracy of the observations. All clips are in the video below.
During today's surveys we were, visiting 6 breeding territories (8 occupied territories) which produced 8 chicks (2 pairs with 2 chicks). Not a bad day. Besides we spotted a group of the Steller's Sea Lions at the Nedorazumenia Island. We have never seen it earlier.
The surveys of the Steller's Sea Eagle at the Magadan sea coasts and rivers has started on June 21 by getting the boat certificate and some supplies. The town was in deep fog, the sea was stormy.
The last winter was very snowy, the sea was almost ice-free all winter. All this factors have affected the Steller's Sea Eagles.
