Project Eagle’s Nest
April 4, 2009
During the month of April 2009, I am doing 34 shows at Rock City, high atop Lookout Mountain, just outside of my home town–Chattanooga, TN. Along with S.O.A.R. (Save Our American Raptors) I will celebrating Earth Day all month. The folks from S.O.A.R. will be doing live bird of prey shows and in between their shows, I will be telling a true story about a bald eagle I had the pleasure of coming to know a few years ago. along with the story, I (along with my audience members) will be attempting to build a nest just like bald eagles do.
Eagles mate for life and continue to add on to and maintain their nests every year, resulting in nests that can reach staggering sizes. Nests in excess of twelve feet across and weighing over 4000 pounds have been found! Each day I perform at Rock City this month, I will be inviting my audience to help me with this experiment and will be posting photos and comments about the process here on my blog.
Visit the calendar at www.jimpfitzer.com or at www.seerockcity.com to see the days and times of my performances. Come up and join us, then visit this blog to track our progress! Your comments are welcome.
At the end of the month, I will be disassembling the nest, taking the platform home, and beginning a new nest–this one to be constructed entirely out of trash found in the Tennessee River Gorge. I will continue the blog to chronicle that project.
April 4, 2009
April 4, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day One
A beautiful, sunny day set the stage for beginning our experiment in avian architecture.
A pile of sticks--building material.
We had a big pile of sticks to work with.
Getting Started.
Nest-builders searched for that perfect stick.
Like a pair of eagles, we worked together to fit the pieces together.
Eventually, it started to look a little like a nest.
We’ll see what tomorrow and a new crew brings to the project…
April 5, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Two
Thinking Like an Eagle!
Participants discussed placement–considering how an eagle might interlock sticks to build a structurally sound nest.
Careful, now!
Children were careful not to whack each other as they brought in new sticks.
Nest? Or... just a pile of sticks?
At the end of Day Two, our project was well under way and beginning to look like… something.
April 6, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Three
Day three began with cold, rain, and even a little spring snow. Nary a soul showed up for my stories. The nest waits.
April 7, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Four
Day four began much like the one before. The snow was steadier and the wind calmer, but hardly the weather hoped for.
April 8, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Five
Finally, the cold, rain, and snow passed on and a new, spring-like day revealed itself on the mountain. A nice crowd gathered to hear my story and then went to work on the nest project. The pile of sticks on the platform really does look like a pile of sticks, but a very thoughtful crew got right to work on strategizing, contemplating the eagle mind and methodically building.
Working together...
Pondering the perfect addition.
For a moment, we had it surrounded...
We "seen" a nest at Rock City.
April 9, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Six
Everybody is pitching in!
All hands on deck!
Wow, it really looks like a nest!
Bubbles!
April 10, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Seven
Working together.
It's a family thing.
If I were an eagle, I'd lay eggs there!
April 11, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Eight
Easter weekend rolled around and with the holiday, crowds came up to Rock City to listen to stories and help out with the nest
It might only take 2 eagles, but it takes a village of people to build a nest!
Watch sister do it.
It has to be just right.
I can reach it... Really, I can!
April 12, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Nine
It’s Easter morning, and a great day for building a nest…
We tried all different techniques.
We approached it from all angles.
Even Rocky got into the act!
April 16, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Ten
A careful inspection before building.
Dad supervises.
"I think it's ready for a family to move in."
April 17, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Eleven
- As the nest gets taller and taller, construction becomes a greater and greater challenge for the shorter folks, as evidenced by some of these photos.
Tomorrow's basketball star shows off her jumpshot as she adds bedding to the nest.
Getting a little help from dad.
Rocky is tall enough!
Adding two sticks at once... clever.
April 18, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day Twelve
We had a beautiful, calm day before the storm that would keep nest-builders away on day thirteen. We made great progress. One weekend to go!
I think she knows what she's doing...
"Okay, you hold it while I push."
"Hmm... what would an eagle do here?"
April 24, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day 15
After rain and then some unforeseen FBI presence in the woods at the foot of the mountain that kept the park above closed, we finally made it back to the nest. A group of eighth grade boys and expert nest-builders came up to help out, followed by some adults, including my mom.
If it can be done, eighth graders can do it!
Now let's see how the teacher does.
And one last touch.
The women seem to get the finer details of homebuilding. (Mom is in red.)
April 25, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day 16
Entering the homestretch! On the first day of the last weekend, we had a mostly adult group of participants and one very meticulous little boy in overalls.
We can do it together!
April 26, 2009 – Project Eagle’s Nest, Day 17
I would love to call this home if I were an eagle! GREAT JOB GUYS!
[...] Earth Dayz continues up at Rock City this weekend, with activities including: Rock City Raptors Birds of Prey Shows, Storytelling & Hands-on educational art with Jim Pfitzer. [...]
Dude, eagles should be paying you to build their nests.
[...] Earth Dayz continues up at Rock City this weekend. Activities include: Rock City Raptors Birds of Prey Shows, Storytelling & Hands-on educational art activity with Jim Pfitzer. [...]
We are the family of mother and 2 sons in the third picture and could not wait to get home and watch the next being built. WOW! Amazing! It really looks fantastic and what fun for so many families to pitch in and create such a beautiful nest. Thanks for the stories and letting us watch the nest grow!
Hi Jim. Our family visited Rock City in April. We enjoyed the story about an eagle and ended our day helping build an eagle’s nest. Thank you for the fun learning experience for my children.