Southwest Florida Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 64 From Wingercizing To Tiff, Loch of the Lowes Osprey Migration Update, Africam Black Eagle Kendi Pictures

They have nice, new cams at the Southwest Florida Eagle nest. Someone is sleeping in the nest tree tonight. (Yes, technically, not sleeping at this moment in this s'cap. But as I was opening my program to take the capture, the scene changed from head-tucked to awake. Eagles don't sleep very soundly -- it's a matter of survival.)

The White-bellied Sea Eagles are doing a lot of wingercizing -- strengthening their flight muscles and burning off their baby fat in preparation for fledging. SE16 was flapping.

SE15 was flapping.

SE16 caught some pretty good air.

SE16 and SE15 were both wingercizing together for a brief moment. Then SE16 decided that she needed to tell SE15 a thing or two. This was the first bit of aggression that I've seen in a while, and it was short-lived. Here's the video From Wingercizing to Tiff (0:24):

 

There is a tracking update for the Loch of the Lowes transmittered Osprey FR3 and FR4. FR3 is continuing south (currently in the Western Sahara) and FR4 is staying along the Gambia River. I'm starting to think that FR4 has finished traveling, having found a spot with good fishing and nice trees in which to perch. I appreciate being able to follow their migrations and wonder about FR2's journey...

Here's a link to some new pictures of the Africam Black Eagle Kendi. She's a stunner!

Big Sur Condor Day 139, Harrison Bay Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 57 & 58, Loch of the Lowes Osprey Migration Update, Southwest Florida Cam Is Up, Flooding/Verizon DSL Sucks!

I didn't get to do a blog entry yesterday. (See explanation at bottom.) So, here are the s'caps from yesterday. The Big Sur Condor chick is still hanging around the nest. I found out that the chick accidentally adjusted the camera angle while wingercizing. And they can't approach the nest to fix it because the chick is too old. 

This is the lead-free feeding area for the condor flock.

It was a wet day at the Harrison Bay Eagle nest yesterday. But we did get to see both adults. Here's one.

And then two.

Peeking through the branches in a different tree.

They are going to continue to do nestorations to prepare for the next nesting season.

Later in the day, they both visited the nest.

I think the branch being moved is covered in lichen.

They both briefly perched in the nest before flying away. This is the last s'cap I got yesterday before I lost my internet.

And this was yesterday at the White-bellied Sea Eagle nest.

Wingercizing:

SE15 is looking sideways at SE16, who is pooping. These two are funny...

Big stretch.

I also got some s'caps of the White-bellied Sea Eagles for today:

They really fan the heck out of each other when they wingercize. The other chick is in the process of standing up to get out of the way.

They are looking full grown.

SE16 does a couple of big stretches.

Zoomer gave us some close-ups of SE16:

Then it's back to nap time.

There is a new Loch of the Lowes Osprey blog entry about FR3 and FR4's migrations.

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam is running now. I know people that love Ozzie are still upset, but it will be interesting seeing what happens now at this nest.

When there are super high tides, I lose my internet connection. Here's why... This is the junction box for my telephone line, without flooding:

And with flooding:

Whenever it floods or even rains real hard, I lose my telephone. Which meand that I lose my internet since I have DSL. It's been several hours now since high tide and the box has dried enough for me to get a decent connection. But, high tide is coming again, so my blog entries might be spotty... And this entry is rushed because I'm scared I'll lose my internet before I can hit the post button...

Harrison Bay Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 55, Lock of the Lowes Osprey FR3 and FR4 Migration Update

This is the only viewing I had today of the Harrison Bay Eagles. One parent's head and tail are clearly visible, while just a bit of white head of the other parent is visible right above. We will see them more and more in the nest as they prepare for the new nesting season.

The White-bellied Sea Eagle SE16 was trying to self-feed today. That's a milestone in a chick's development.

SE16 is on the left, SE15 is on the right.

It looks like SE16 has a much browner chest than SE15. Maybe SE15's chest feathers haven't grown in all the way yet... I'm looking forward to these two branching. I'm hoping to see them perched side-by-side so I can get a good look at them.

They are both looking at the parents flying in with food.

We don't see Mom and Dad very often on the nest now that the chicks are bigger.

SE16 was putting on a show wingercizing. Look at those chicken legs! I think her coloring is beautiful, which you can see flashes of as she wingercizes:

Loch of the Lowes Osprey FR4 is exploring the Gambia River. I wonder if that is as far as FR4 will travel on her migration? FR4's tracking line and marker are green.

FR3 has made it to Morocco, exploring an area and crossing the path that FR4 had taken. FR3's tracking line and marker are purple. You can see FR4's green line is a straight shot as she headed south about 2.5 weeks ahead of FR3.

Big Sur Condor 132, Harrison Bay Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 51 Simultaneous Wingercizing, Migration Update For Loch Of The Lowes Osprey FR3 and FR4

The Big Sur Condors are provided stillborn calves to feed on. This is a safe, lead-free, source of food. Preventing lead poisoning is helping to grow the population.

It may seem gross or uncaring to feed these calves to the Condors. But it is what nature intended. I know I feel differently when Bald Eagles bring prey items that have fur vs. something with scales to the nest. I just have to remind myself that predators help to control populations and scavengers have an important job to do too. We'd be hip-deep in carcasses without them!

The Condors are part of a flock.

I don't know if the spread wings is a display of dominance or if it's drying off or cooling off.

The chick is still in the nest. I like the date/time stamp at the top now. But today I noticed that I can't see the entrance to the nest. Bummer... I've seen a lot of feedings happen there, with the parent outside and the chick inside.

I think this is only one of the Harrison Bay Eagle parents perched in the tree. Look for the white head, right in the center of the s'cap...

The White-bellied Sea Eagle's SE15 on the left is so tiny compared to SE16.

I love this!

The female on the right has a more brownish chest than the male.

Here's a video of the Simultaneous Wingercizing that they were doing today (3:44):

Here's an update of the migration of the Loch of the Lowes Osprey FR3 and FR4. I think this is fascinating! I hope their transmitters continue to function for a long time.

White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 47, Loch of the Lowes Osprey FR3 and FR4 Are On The Move!

The White-bellied Sea Eagle chicks are like two peas in a pod!

SE16 on the left is standing and SE15 on the right is sitting.

They don't stay in the nest bowl any more for feedings. They crowd the parent, both trying to get bites.

SE15 was doing some serious wingercizing and only barely staying upright. I'll feel better when these babies are more sure-footed.

Both chicks are standing in this s'cap. SE16 in the back is starting to have a more upright posture, while SE15 is still bent over while standing.

The Loch of the Lowes Osprey FR3 and FR4 are both on the move! FR3 has spent a long time in France, and is finally moving south (1222 miles). Still in France, but moving south! FR4 is now in Gambia (3272 miles).