Meet Kisatchie National Forest's new resident — a baby bald eagle named Kincaid
Fans of Louis, Anna and their fledging Kincaid were eager to see Kisatchie National Forest's most famous residents at the new eagle nest viewing area in the Kincaid Recreation Area west of Alexandria.
Rangers with the Kisatchie National Forest held the first of three free public viewings of the bald eagles Thursday morning. Scopes were provided but many brought their own binoculars to view the birds.
Wildlife biologist Steve Shively, wildlife technician Cody Austell and biologist technician Bobby Cochran were on hand to provide information about the eagles and the Kisatchie eagle cam which has a worldwide following.
"In the last 28 days, we've had 1.3 million people reached, and 52 percent are from America and the other 48 percent are from all across the world," said Austell who along with Shively helps manage the cameras. They also chat with viewers and provide information.
"Our second most viewership is Canada and right below that is Japan," he said. Germany also has a high number of viewers.
Like many of the others who attended this viewing, Colleen Fabacher of New Orleans has been following the eagles on the Kisatchie eagle cam. When the opportunity to see them in person arose, she was excited.
"I wanted to come see Anna and Louis and Kincaid. That's why I'm here," she said. To make sure she arrived in time for the 10 a.m. viewing, she got up at 4 a.m. then drove four hours from New Orleans to the Kincaid Recreation Area west of Alexandria. She didn't want to miss her chance to see the eagles.
"I just wanted to come and see it in person," she said. "It just brings joy to my heart."
Those who attended weren't disappointed. All caught a glimpse of Anna sitting in the large nest that is visible to the naked eye. Louis was not around and Kincaid was in the nest but couldn't be seen except on the Kisatchie eagle cam.
"But just to see Anna, the beautiful eagle that she is," said Fabacher. "I hope to see Louis but if we don't, we don't. It's just great to see the nest."
Fabacher became an eagle watcher during the pandemic in 2020. From watching other eagle cams and reading comments in the chat section of those cams, she found out about Louis and Anna's nest and she fell in love with it because it's in Louisiana.
"I spend a lot of time watching," she said. "Just during the day, I'll check-in."
Jamye Etheridge first started watching the Kisatchie eagle cam and got her co-workers hooked.
"We just heard about the camera that they put in last year. And I thought it was just so cool that it's so local - so close to us. We decided to start watching. We got hooked instantly," she said. And so have her other co-workers.
At work, Etheridge kept the cam in the background of her computer.
Wearing a shirt with the message, "Life is Better with Bald Eagles," Etheridge came to the viewing with two of her co-workers Stacey Blake and Starlette Cram.
"We watch Anna and Louis a lot over the camera," said Blake. "And we would kind of peek in on them every now and then. We watched them last year."
Last year they watched another eagle, Kisatchie, fledge.
"And we're back again. We're watching the baby again this year," said Blake referring to Kincaid.
Cram said in the past she would see the eagle cam as she passed by while she was working but this was the first year where she actually sat down and watched from the time the nest was built to when Kincaid hatched. Anna laid two eggs and Cram saw the heartbreaking moment Anna crushed one of them after she had a rough landing in the nest.
With Kincaid, she has seen the fledging's feathers start to change.
The eagle buffs have learned a lot about eagles in the time they have been watching the eagle cam.
"We've done a lot of research," said Etheridge. "They mate for life. And eagles go through four changes of feathers before they reach sexual maturity between four and five years old."
"They have approximately about 7,000 feathers," said Blake.
They also learned how heavy the nests are and the different cycles of the fledgling and how it grows as it matures, said Cram.
"So it's really fascinating," said Etheridge.
"All these people are likeminded. We are eagle fans," said Fabacher about all those who came out to the viewing.
"I love ya'll's bird, which is everybody's bird, but the fact that it's in ya'll's neighborhood," she said crossing her arms over her heart. "So fortunate. So fortunate."
She repeated the names of Anna, Louis and Kincaid but also didn't forget about last year's fledging.
"And Kisatchie is out there somewhere living his or her own little dreams," she said pointing toward Kincaid Lake.
The next viewing dates are at 10 a.m. Feb. 17 and Feb. 19. To reserve a spot, email KNFeagle@gmail.com.
School groups are also encouraged to email for special reservation times and dates. Due to Hurricane Laura damage, this area remains closed to the public, so entrance to the eagle nest viewing area must be arranged with the Calcasieu Ranger District.