Today is day 54 for the Berry College Eaglet. The feedings have become interesting as the baby takes more of an interest in self-feeding (and the Mom is reluctant to give up being the provider.) First, Mom is feeding the eaglet:
The baby is watching closely, thinking, "I can do that!"
The baby reaches over and takes the fish:
The fish is now in between the eaglet and Mom:
Mom takes it back and resumes feeding the eaglet. This picture is also a good chance to compare their sizes:
Another good size comparison picture. Baby is getting big:
The eaglet is so keen to learn from the adult, wanting to get right in the middle of the action as the adult rummages around in the grass:
Eaglets always go into this too-close-to-the-edge mode. Maybe there is an innate rebellion against confinement that propels them to take that first leap when they fledge -- and also to stand way too close to the edge before they are ready for the big leap:
We are seeing some more wingercizing. I expect to start seeing much more of this as the eaglet reaches full size and starts building flight muscles.
Once again tonight, the eaglet is in the nest alone (preening) and Mom is perched on the same branch. Looks like her head is tucked under her wing. Sleep well Mom!
The Berry College Bluebird nest has another egg today. A normal clutch size is 4-5 eggs, with extremes to 2 and 7. Four is the normal for a first year Bluebird. The Mom will continue to lay an egg a day until the clutch is complete, then she will begin incubating. All of the eggs will hatch on the same day -- 13 to 20 days after the start of incubation. I write all that and then pop in (I thought) to take a s'cap of the three eggs tonight and instead find Mom incubating... I guess we are getting three eggs.
We have a wet day at the White Rock nest. It usually looks like another day in paradise, but even paradise needs rain...
I have to catch the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes nest in the morning here in order to see daylight there. Maybe Saturday or Sunday...
Bald Eagle KE checked in. For the last time. Her transmitter fell off! This is surprising since they estimate the harness will last about the same amount of time as the battery operates -- about 3 years. She wore her transmitter for less than two years. She never did return to her natal area. I have speculated before that females wander more and males spend more time finding a suitable territory in which to settle down and build a nest to attract a female. KE's wanderlust plays into my theory. I have stated that my theory is based upon a very small sampling, so take it with a grain of salt... Fly free KE and scratch that itch now that you can reach it!
Here is a hilarious video out of the Southwest Florida nest from yesterday. I mean, lol funny! Mom and her fledgling both want the last bite of squirrel. All I can say is, squirrels are tough!
Saturday is my favorite day of the week because I get to record one more week's growth of the Berry College Eaglet! And today's picture marks the milestone of standing up!
Here's today's screen captures, including a better look at the standing picture.
It's a wet day. The baby is still trying to find protection under Mom and she's still trying to provide it. I'd still like to see more crib rails at this nest:
Here's the same stretch as yesterday. They do this a lot while growing up. I don't see the adults do this stretch very often.
Here's the same look almost. This is the "back up to the edge of the nest and poop" pose. I like how both of these pics show the new feathers growing in.
Tail feathers are starting to come in:
I haven't gotten a good shot of the edge of a wing in a few days. Including today... I finally saw a wing stretch, but from the wrong angle.
I got a family pic, but the eaglet is not very visible -- just trying to stay warm and dry...
And then I caught the eaglet standing up and taking a few steps! So exciting to mark this milestone! I feel like a proud Mom! I don't know if today was the first day for the eaglet to stand, but it's the first time I've seen it.
Here's the Two Harbors chick getting some fish from Mom:
And the scene at the White Rock nest is just as pretty as ever:
Bald Eagle KE has checked in. She's been exploring...
Bald Eagle Camellia has also checked in. Did he cross paths with KE?
Today was day 27 for the Berry College Eaglet. Here's an early morning screen capture:
A nice size stick was added to the crib rails (keep them coming!)
I thought this was so cute -- the chick watching and learning how to be an eagle!
I was so happy to discover that the chick had given me the same pose as a few days ago so I could see the difference where feathers are starting to come in. The s'cap on the right is from 3/16 and the one on the left is from today, 3/21. Notice that dark feathers are starting to come out of the shafts:
Mom Berry was a little snippy with Dad Berry today.
Dad was feeding the chick and everything was fine:
Then Mom arrived and tried to intercept the piece that Dad was trying to feed to the baby:
So he moved out of her way and let her tear the pieces off for the baby. But then when he wanted her to pass the morsel to him to feed to the baby...
...she turned her head away, so Dad decides to exit stage right...
...and Mom proceeds to feed the chick by herself:
So, over on the other side of the nest, Dad is fluffing the nest grass. He dug up a big hunk of grass and she took it from him:
Despite all the drama, they still ended the day giving me some nice family screen captures (the second is my favorite):
It was another beautiful day at the White Rock Bald Eagle nest.
Then I finally got a glimpse of the eggs. She had her back to me for most of the egg roll, but then turned a little before settling back down.
She ended up with a feather stuck to her beak after she got settled.
She dislodged it and then posed pretty for the camera:
Then the night cam turned on and to my surprise, Mom gave us a great view of her eggs:
She even took a step back -- showing off a little!
And then did an egg roll before settling back down.
The Hays nest always looks to me like someone has applied some artsy filter to it. This nest will be on hatch watch the middle of next week. The 26th will be day 35...
Bald Eagle NX has checked in. I'm not at all familiar with the area she is exploring.
Bald Eagle KE has also checked in. After six weeks, she has finally left Swift Creek Reservoir.
There is a new post about Bald Eagle HK and his lady friend on Pam Monahan's blog. I really appreciate Jim Yanello taking pictures and making observations for the blog while Pam is out of town.
Two Bald Eagles locked talons and then got stuck in a tree in Portland. Here's a video. And this site has some good pictures. They separated and flew away as the bucket approached them...
I was out most of the day. So I just took one screen capture of the Berry College Bald Eagle chick today. And it's not a great one. Mom Berry refused to move...
Bald Eagle KE is still hanging out at the Swift Creek Reservoir.
Just a quiet day at the nest. Mom was zonked out for a bit:
"Mom, you're squishing me!" There's still a lot more freedom under Mom than being in an egg! It will be about another week before the baby is able to thermoregulate and won't need constant brooding. Mom will still brood the chick at times and will always try to protect it from rain, even after the chick is much too big to fit under her! I've also noticed when it's hot that Mom's shadow is often shading the chick. By accident or on purpose? I don't know.
Here's some super cuteness! A special moment with Mom.
When I grow up, I'm going to be this big!
I think Coot was on the menu for lunch.
Dad comes to the nest a lot more often since the hatch.
Laid back baby...
Playing peek-a-boo!
Here's a comparison between hatch day and today:
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| February 2nd Hatch Day |
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| March 1st One week old |
Bald Eagle KE has checked in. The fishing must be good at Swift Creek Reservoir! Reese speculates that there may be a communal roost near there. One of the things that scientists hope to discover by putting transmitters on Bald Eagles is to find areas, such as communal roosts, that need to be protected. I was wondering where this reservoir is and found that it is about 14 miles (as the eagle flies) southwest of Richmond.
