February 16th, 2020

This one should be known as The Big Chill or Better Late Than Never.

It was minus 21 degrees when I started out and needless to say the car wouldn't start.  No problem, I called a neighbour with a portable re-charger and he agreed to oblige.  Problem: the hood release mechanism was also frozen and I couldn't get to the battery.

Right on cue my friend Mike drove by and offered to be a chauffeur for the chickens and me for the day, so we were off and running.

There was no great delay in the eagles deciding to dine at the 8:30 session and the surprisingly large turnout was pleased with the display.  It was mainly a ground display as they wasted no time in tucking in.  I counted about 50 eagles.

It was a similar story for the 10:30 feeding, though it took about five minutes for the action to kick off.  I counted about 60 birds.

We had a number of visitors from afar.  The Millers from Utah were there and as they are in Nova Scotia for a while hope to return with their son.  I also met a nice lady from Lockport who had two "daughters" with her.  These were international students from Italy and Columbia respectively.

Couples from Moncton and PEI also drove down for the day - the Moncton couple leaving at 4:00 a.m. to arrive in time for the 8:30 feeding.

With so much success in the first two feedings I probably should have left well enough alone but as I had reserved buckets for a late feeding I suggested a return at 12:30 to feed again subject to eagles still being around.  This I did and as there were perhaps 20 eagles still in the trees I proceeded with the feeding.

By 1:15 these hadn't been so much as a flyby so I left to get my car started.  I returned about half an hour later and there was still no progress.  I suggested calling it a day and picking up the chicken but this was met with near rebellion.  So I decided to go to put gas in the car and check the barns for new chickens.  Before I drove off there was a promising aerial display of four or five birds but after several feints they returned to the trees and I went on my way.

I returned at about 2:20 and still there was no progress and still the spectators wanted to hang in.  They were rewarded when the action started shortly after 2:30.  Once it began, eagles were flying in from every direction - in the end I counted 80 birds and the display was one of the best this year.  All things come to them that wait!