Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Berry College Eaglet Day 73, Nest Cam Round-up: Hays, Two Harbors, White Rock, Berry College Bluebird, and Peregrin Falcon, Bald Eagle Camellia Checked In

Today is day 73 for the Berry College Bald Eagle. It was another day like yesterday, with some flapping and hopping except... Today I saw the eaglet aggressively take the food delivery from the parent and mantle over it. The parent stayed back for quite a while, allowing the eaglet to self-feed. This was a milestone in the eaglet's journey to independence! Here's the s'caps from today. The baby was hanging out:

Then the adult arrived with the food and the eaglet grabbed it and mantled over it.

Secure that it had won the food, it begins to eat. The parent left it alone for a long time.

Eventually, the parent came up and started eating. Not feeding, but eating.

The baby was still hungry so the parent gave it a bite.

But the parent started eating again, so the baby tried to take the food. Which the parent didn't allow.

The baby went over to the edge and pooped. (Yes, I caught another poop shot!)

Then the baby talked to the parent.

The baby came over to the front branch to feak.

Then the baby investigated the nest-overs.

The weirdest thing happened next. The baby gave the adult a bite of food.

Then the adult started feaking on the front branch.


The two ended up standing close together.

The baby reached over and grabbed the parent by the beak. The parent was very tolerant.

The eaglet took a big step up onto the branch.

The eaglet folded its wings in, showing more comfort on the branch.

The eaglet kept looking back. I'm not sure if it was keeping the topography in mind or if it was looking back at the adult in the nest.

Another look forward.

Another look back.

The eaglet is keeping cool here, with its wings spread out a little.

Wheeee! I like the eaglet's shadow across nest.

The eaglet returned to the nest and did some more flapping.

Then back onto the branch and stepped to the side until it was nearly out of view (all the way on the left edge of the view).

It then stepped back over a bit and, feeling the breeze, threw out its wings. I like the shadow on the nest in this s'cap too...

The camera angle at the Hays nest was not very good. I couldn't really get a good s'cap of the three babies. These first two s'caps really show off the fat crop of the youngest chick on the right.


I did get all three faces on these next two s'caps.


This does not look comfortable. But a food coma is to be expected with a crop that big! I like the fluffy butt and leg!

Lazy wing stretch.

The cam at the Two Harbors nest doesn't show any detail any more. But, that's the eaglet...


The babies at the White Rock nest must have eaten recently, because the were snuggling with Dad (I think) and then they passed out.




And then Mom (I think) showed up.

And then the babies woke up from their food coma, ready for more food!

The Berry College Bluebird is getting huge! Look at its size here compared to the eggs.

A friend reminded me about the Peregrine Falcon cam. The baby was first seen around mid-April. I finally got a look at it today. Peregrine Falcons are beautiful birds. But this baby is cuter from the back than the front!


Bald Eagle Camellia checked in.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Chris. Interesting events at the Berry College nest yesterday. I think the eaglet was trying to be the adult! I just checked on the results of yesterday's elections and was sickened by the results. What is wrong with people??? Absolutely ridiculous! The idiots that voted for the incumbent mayor need their collective heads examined.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I'm really enjoying watching the Berry College nest these days. It should be fun from now on. I too was disappointed at Norfolk's election results yesterday. I imagine most residents don't realize how wrong Fraim is on this issue... At least Tommy Smigiel was re-elected. But so was Riddick...

      Delete