The eaglet was perched on a branch and the skies looked ominous.
I didn't spend much time at the Berry nest because all of the time I had to watch a cam during the day today was during the Two Harbors banding. I got some good s'caps... (You can check out this YouTube video if you want to watch the whole thing -- about a half hour.) Before the banding, the eaglet is in the nest with one of the adults.
Then the adult started looking and calling, getting more and more agitated. I knew people were visible to the parent.
The parent finally left the nest. Adult Bald Eagles will defend an offspring unless it feels that it too would be threatened by staying. Humans are so big, that and adult's self-preservation kicks in. (At some nests though, the parents will take to the air and then will harass the people, dive-bombing them and trying to cause damage with their talons.)
The camera swung around to show some of the people approaching the nest.
Then a hat appeared...
Here the eaglet is trying to appear larger.
Getting to know you...
The grab.
It's important to control the feet. Even an eaglet can inflict serious damage. Talons are the eagle's main weapon.
Spraying a little mist onto the eaglet and into its mouth to help keep it cool. (Ummm. Can somebody wipe off the camera?)
Measuring the beak here. They have tables where they can cross the measurements to determine the gender of the eaglet. Heard after the measurement was taken, "33.58 -- You're a girl."
They also measure the hallux, which is the back talon -- much like our opposable thumbs.
Before I could even get a s'cap of the camera cleaning in progress, the camera lens is wiped off and we get a great image.
You can see the orange patagial wing tags in the man's hand on the left. These tags are nice -- the number can be seen from below when the bird is in flight and from the outside of the wing when the bird is perched.
Fitting the tag on the eaglet's right wing.
Attaching the tag on the left wing.
They then set the eaglet down on the blue cloth to attach the leg bands. The view was blocked while they did so. I had to leave at this point. When I came back a few minutes later, the eaglet was in the nest.
They zoomed in for a better view of the wing bling.
This eaglet is now K43.
It looks like a miserable night at the Hays nest.
The chicks at the White Rock nest seem to have really grown seemingly overnight! The positioning during this feeding wasn't the best, but it's all I've got... Still a pretty scene!
The adult tore off a piece of food and then looked around before feeding it to the chick. You can see something white hanging from its beak.
The chick behind the adult is stretching. They all do this... It must feel good and I think it looks so cute!
The adults are always aware of what's going on around the nest. Chicks at this age are susceptible to predators. In the next three s'caps the parent is checking all around the nest.
The Berry College Bluebird's tail feathers are growing in.
This s'cap was taken tonight. The baby doesn't need to be brooded overnight any more. It's got its head tucked in here.
Bald Eagle Camellia checked in. Jim Yanello took two pictures of Camellia in flight on 5/13. Reese posted them on his blog. Cammy is looking great!
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