Not the greatest s'cap, but you can see the entire wing edge is dark now.
Growing feathers must itch because there is much preening...
...and scratching going on.
It must have been a chilly day, because Mom and baby were snuggling together quite a bit:
I think Mom was trying to straddle the baby to keep it warm:
She almost fell over here trying to get on top of the chick.
But her efforts did give me my favorite s'cap of the day! How cute is that!
At one point, Mom left the nest, and the baby watched very intently as Mom took off. This is how they learn how to be an eagle:
When Mom returned, it was with a stick that was 4-5 feet long.
This stick got caught under the branch that supports the nest.
She tried and tried to get it to come free.
She did finally get the stick to come loose, but I think the stick was still winning...
She finally settled it on the edge just outside of this other stick that she then adjusted.
I finally got a good s'cap of the Southwest Florida Eaglet today. It still hasn't fledged. What's the rush? It's got a nice view, room service, and adoring public, and a pine cone!
When I checked in at the Northeast Bald Eagle nest, neither of the fledglings were home. And so it goes, the cycle nearing completion at this nest...
Mom Hays always strikes me as looking so fierce! I didn't see any evidence that one of the eggs had hatched:
I got a good look at the White Rock eggs. First Mom looked this way...
...then she looked that way.
And then, tada!
And I saved the baby pics for last! Two Harbors nest only has the one chick this year and it's a cutie! Dad was incubating much of the day. (Dad is K81 and Mom is K82.) He's got a super dirty beak! This is what I first saw when I brought up the cam, perfect timing!
But he soon settled back down to keep the chick warm.
I love this picture!
Listening to his baby, who must have been asking for food...
...because Dad figured it must be time to hop up and feed the baby:
I don't know what the pink thing is that is being fed to the baby, but it looks pretty gross (top right of s'cap)... If that's some kind of fish, I'll pass...
As Dad prepared to settle back down, fluffing the grass and turning this way and that, he gave us a great look at his beautiful feathers:
While turning about, we got this look at the baby.
Then getting ready to get all tucked in:
Zoomer gave us this great close-up:
Dad spots something, giving the eagle eye:
After a little bit, he then begins calling... Because Mom's home! He even looks happy here!
We get a peek at the baby during the shift change:
The chick says, "Hi Mom!" as she settles in:
Mom usually takes the overnight shift. Dark out but still early enough to be awake:
Bald Eagle Camellia has checked in.
Dr. Bryan Watts, director of the Center for Conservation Biology, has written an article appearing in Live Science about Dr. Mitchell A. Byrd -- a pioneer in the Bald Eagle recovery effort.
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