For those who were were wondering about Dr Sharpe’s comments on the BB nest and why they breed so early, this is what I found:
Unfortunately, the eagles don't determine when they lay. The previous female also laid between late December and late January, which in my opinion is about 2-3 months too early for the nest location. I think it is a weird problem related to being at a relatively low latitude in southern California, but at a high altitude. Nesting generally occurs earlier at low latitudes (November to December in Florida versus late-April through May in Alaska), but low latitudes generally don't have the high elevations, and thus cold weather conditions, found at Big Bear Lake.
It is only because of a man-made lakes that they are even able to breed in the local southern California mountains. It is hard to overcome the evolutionary control of the timing of reproduction.
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This is commentary that I copied from chat and the top sentence is not mine, but of the one who posted this on chat. Dr. Sharpe, the NIW research ecologist, made these comments @ a previous time. It could be excerpts or not, I don't know. But I thought it sounds right on and veeeeeery, interesting to ponder!! I had thought nature is nature and the eagles were doing as they should in this area and had no idea Big Bear lake was man-made. Just reminds you of how little understanding you have of a place, unless you live there!! So, the eagles would not be here if the MANMADE lakes were not here .......... And will they be able to adapt .......... WOW!!
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When you see Institute for Wildlife Studies comment on chat here, that person is solely Dr. Sharpe.)