This photo, from 2021, shows Monty and Marsha, the Bald Eagle pair that nested next to Montlake Cut. Their names were derived from Montlake Cut and the very nearby Marsh Island.
On the whole, Bald Eagles are sexually monomorphic, i.e. there are no known consistent differences that are visually apparent to humans, that would enable us to tell males and females apart. However, there is one helpful exception. Female Bald Eagles are typically fifty percent larger than males. So, in this case, it is fair to assume that Marsha is the Eagle on our left in this photo.
Over time, I have noticed that the feathers just behind Marsha's eyes have a slight tinge, while the white feathers behind Monty's eyes are more uniformly clean and bright. You might wonder if the tinge is just a bit of dirt and if it might wash away over time, or if Monty might develop a similarly confusing tinge of his own.
Here is a photo from the next year showing the pair residing in the same territory, hopefully, the same two eagles. The light is not very bright, and their feathers are less erect, none the less the male's feathering behind his eye is still lighter than the female's. Plus, in both cases, her eyebrow seems heavier and makes a shadow that obscures the topmost arc of her eye, which I think makes her look more fierce. In this photo, the female is on our right.
I have found these subtle differences to be consistent with comparisons of their size whenever I have had the chance to compare them side by side. However, their behaviors, i.e. consistently sitting in the same cottonwood tree on the west side of Union Bay, defending the Montlake Cut nest site from other eagles, occasionally hunting from the tallest cottonwood on Marsh Island, have also helped reinforce for me that this pair is Monty and Marsha.
This was all well and good until 2025, when they abandoned the Montlake Cut nest. Plus, in November, I began hearing about two new nearby Bald Eagle nests. The details and locations (one next to Portage Bay and one in the Arboretum) are included in my last two posts, Winds of Change and Surprise!
The persistent question that haunts me is: Are either of these two "new" pairs of Bald Eagles Monty and Marsha?
The subtle differences around their eyes are helpful when comparing the two of them to each other, when they are consistently living and defending in a known territory. However, with Monty and Marsha abandoning their nest and their territory, I quickly realized these subtle differences are insufficient for distinguishing them from other Bald Eagles.
The "new" Arboretum pair appears to have taken complete control of the territory that includes Montlake Cut, Marsh Island and Husky Stadium, and which also includes Monty and Marsha's traditional nest site.
However, their behaviors appear starkly different from Monty and Marsha. A) They are flying up and sitting on top of Husky Stadium. I never noticed Monty and Marsha ever wasting time and effort by hunting from that height. B) They are ignoring the established boundaries between the pre-existing Bald Eagles pairs to the northeast (Talarus) and southeast (Broadmoor). C. The "new" female seemed rather inefficient when it came to catching an American Coot the other day. While this line of thought seems logical, it is circumstantial at best. I would prefer to find hard evidence that proves whether either one of the two new pairs are really Monty and Marsha.
So, lately I have been looking much more closely at my photographic history of Monty and Marsha. I was stunned, when I actually found one valid distinguishing feature.
This photo of Monty is from May of 2023. On closer inspection, it contains a surprise.
Over two years after taking this photo, I finally noticed that the middle talon on his right foot is ivory colored, unlike all of his other talons.
Even though I have not focused on photographing talons I have been able to find a few more photos that show this is a reliable and consistent characteristic for the last few years.
This photo is from June of 2023.
It shows both his ivory talon and the white behind his eye all in one shot.
This photo is from March of 2024.
It is interesting that ten months after the first photo, there is no sign of black being added on the upper part of the talon, i.e. the part closest to his body where the talon grows. I am guessing this means this one particular talon has a permanent inability to include dark-colored melanin. If this was just temporary damage, I would expect it to have begun growing back with at least a hint of normal black coloring. I have no clue why or how this happened, especially for just one talon and not any others. However, I am very appreciative of the opportunity. This enables us to uniquely identify Monty.
In February of 2025, even though rather distant...
...we can still see the single ivory talon is visible.
August of 2025 is the last photo I have that shows Monty's ivory talon. It is a bit hidden in the shadow, but notice how it stands out compared to the central talon on his left foot. This leaves us with the question, Where is Monty now? Are either of the males in the Portage Bay or Arboretum pairs Monty?
Recently, I studied a male Bald Eagle sitting in a cottonwood near Portage Bay.
The center talon on his right foot looked normally dark to me. However, I cannot be 100% certain he is the new male of the Portage Bay pair. Plus, I haven't been able to get a conclusive photo of the talons on the new Arboretum male.
So, the mystery continues. Where is Monty? I am expecting by Spring, when, hopefully, there are young in both of the new nests, and the males are actively supporting their families, it will be easier to predict their behavior and catch some clarifying photos of their talons.
In the meantime, if you are out and about in the Montlake, Portage Bay or Union Bay areas and you see the smaller one of a pair of Bald Eagles, please feel free to take a close look at the middle talon on his right foot.
For the first time, in at least 15 years, it appears we will have four active Bald Eagle nests in the Montlake/Union Bay Area, i.e. including the two new nests near Portage Bay and in the Arboretum along with the pre-existing Talarus and Broadmoor pairs. This year, it will be great challenge to determine if any one of these four males happens to be Monty?
Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Going Native:
Each of us who breathes the air, drinks water, and eats food should be helping to protect our environment. Local efforts are most effective and sustainable. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and the local native creatures. Even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape.
I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:
1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (When native plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.4) If you feel you must add a new plant, then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.
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Keystone native plants are an important new idea. Douglas Tallamy, in the book "Nature's Best Hope, " explains that caterpillars supply more energy to birds, particularly young birds in their nests, than any other plant eater. He also mentions that 14% of our native plants, ie Keystone Plants, provide food for 90% of our caterpillars. This unique subset of native plants and trees enables critical moths, butterflies, and caterpillars that provide food for the great majority of birds, especially when feeding their young.
Note: Flowering plants and trees, i.e. those pollinated by bees, are also included as Keystone Plants.
This video explains the native keystone plant concept in more detail:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cXccWx030
The Top Keystone Genera in our ecoregion i.e. Plants and trees you might want in your yard:
Additional content available here:
https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Native-Plant-Resources-10-7-22.pdf
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In this area, I typically display at least one photo with each post to challenge us to know our native lifeforms. This week we have two photos. One is a native blackberry and one is not. My hope is that this exercise will help you "Turn Over A New Leaf" in 2026.
A.
B.
Do you know which is which?
Scroll down for the answers.
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The first photo is the invasive blackberry, Rubus armeniacus. The second photo is our native trailing blackberry, Rubus ursinus. Armeniacus, if left alone, covers up and shades out virtually all native vegetation that is less ten feet tall, in my experience. The fruit is tasty, birds love it, and it gets free avian delivery and fertilization to every corner of our city.
Using a weed killer on it poisons the soil and kills desirable plants and creatures. So the best current option is to pull it by hand. (Thick gloves and a narrow trenching shovel are recommended.) However, we do not want to pull up the wonderful native blackberry, so the question is: How can we easily tell them apart?
The Answer:
While being careful to avoid the thorns, turn over a leaf and compare the bottom side of the leaf to the stem of the plant.
If the underside of the leaf is clearly brighter than the stem, it is invasive. Pull it.
If the underside of the leaf is greener than the stem. Leave it.
(Hint: Green is good!)
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The Email Challenge:
In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:
Larry, Please add me to your personal email list.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Thank you!
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The Comment Challenge:
Bottom Line:
If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Larry
Always interesting and hard to believe how you manage to get these photos.
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing. From Dianne Marquardt
Thank you. I am glad you enjoy my efforts!
Delete