My Last S'caps and Notes Of White-bellied Sea Eagle SE13

The last time I had posted s'caps of the White-bellied Sea Eagle before it died was on 9/4. And even though I'm still saddened by its passing, it's time to get back in the saddle. So, here's the rest of my s'caps that I had taken since the 4th.
On 9/5 during the overnight, you could see the growing baby is not quite covered by Mom.

I didn't get to see the baby when I checked in during their daylight hours since Mom was protecting it from another day of rain. You can see how well Mom's water-proofing is working -- the rain is beading and rolling off of her back.

I got a few good s'caps of the nest on 9/8. Zoomer gave us some nice close-ups. The pin feathers are clearly visible.

I think this is Mom.

It was very windy on 9/10. I got some family s'caps when Dad brought a fish to the nest and Mom was right on his heels to take it and feed the baby. I love this s'cap of the baby, taken right before Dad lands with the fish.

Mom came in right behind him.

She wanted that fish. There is a very definite provider role for the Dad at this nest. I don't have experience with Sea Eagles to know if that's a Sea Eagle trait or if it's particular to this nest/pair. I've observed that if Dad wants to eat something, he needs to get his fill before he brings it to the nest. Because Mom will keep him from getting anything that's in the nest. Here she is using her beak to take the fish from Dad.

This would be a great family s'cap if only the baby had been facing the cam. Drats!

Then on 9/11 I caught them awake early in the morning. I didn't know at the time that this would be my last day observing the little one.

An hour and a half later and the IR cam is off and we can see the nest in color.

I like this s'cap because the upper beak is shown against the lighter leaf in the background. The hook is starting to develop.

During an early morning nap, the baby was trying different sleeping positions. I didn't realize at the time that it may have been uncomfortable due to whatever caused its death.

 

Later in the morning, during a feeding attempt, the baby stood up. This is a milestone in its development.

Look at all of those pin feathers!

 A little later in the day I found the cam zoomed in again. I love close-ups!
 

Ut oh. I think we've been spotted!
 

It wasn't eating very well the last couple of days before it died. But it looks like it has a good sized crop here...

They zoomed in even more. They can get you right in there.

This is my last real-time s'cap from this nest. SE13 died five hours later.

I love seeing Mom's protective instincts. Watch this short video from 9/10 (their date).

This is the last collage for SE13. What a cutie-pie! Fly free little baby. Talons crossed for this nest for next year...

 

That's the last of what I have for SE13. I'll include the necropsy and toxicology results in a post once they are available.

 

I plan to start blogging more regularly again... Believe it or not, the Bald Eagle nesting season is getting ready to ramp up!

There Isn't Always A Happy Ending

Survival is a struggle for animals in the wild. Cameras give us a view into the daily lives of animals that was unheard of years ago. Over the course of a lifetime, a wild animal will "replace itself" many times over. Which really only works to ensure the survival of the species since so many offspring don't live long enough to reproduce. If they all did, we'd be up to our eyeballs in bunnies and snakes and eagles and every other critter on the earth. So, we watch the struggle unfold. We applaud the successes and mourn the losses. In either case, it's a privilege to watch.
There are a lot of people that don't "get it." They will laugh with you when you recount the story of the fish that got away. Or the head-stand that a baby bird does when doing a poop shoot. They will seem pleased when you tell them that a bird successfully fledged from a nest. But as soon as you appear sad when something goes wrong, they look at you as if you should just shrug it off. How can 'outsiders' so easily accept laughter and happiness, then discount sadness. So, I find it is easier to go around acting like everything is ok than it is to try to explain to people what is wrong.

Sad News at the White-bellied Sea Eagle Nest

Sad news at the White-bellied Sea Eagle nest. It appears the baby had a bone or something stuck in its throat. In this video, you can tell that it's trying to clear something from its throat. And this video shows it's last moments with us. I'll post my last s'caps of the little one when I'm not so sad. Fly free little one.

Africam Black Eagle (Fledge!), Bald Eagle HK's Girlfriend Has Been Identified!, Bald Eagles Location Updates: Camellia, Grace, NX, C35, and C46, New Picture of Bald Eagle Dirty Tail

Here's the Africam Black Eagle s'caps to get up to date on that nest. I think this eaglet is shy sometimes... This is from 9/5.

It was almost dark before I thought to check in on 9/6.

On 9/8, the eaglet was checking out the area outside of the nest. We can always hear water rushing on this cam. They had adjusted the camera angle to include the front of the nest in anticipation of fledging, which also shows the water.

On 9/9, the eaglet was still in the nest.

And on 9/10, the nest is empty... According to chat, the fledge occurred during the time that the camera is off-line... I know it was a great disappointment to the people that have camped out watching this cam, hoping to see the moment. But they will be able to see the fledgling come and go in the coming days as it returns to the nest for food and possibly rest.

Bald Eagle HK's girlfriend has been identified. Meet Bald Eagle Sterling! I'm so excited by this wonderful post! And speaking of HK, check out these latest posts by Pam Monahan on her blog. In this first post I think HK's sunset picture is pretty and I love the duck picture. Then she got some great pictures of HK in this second post.

Bald Eagle Camellia has checked in here and here.

Bald Eagle Grace has checked in here and here.

Bald Eagle NX checked in on 9/5.

There are new location updates for Bald Eagles C35 and C46.

Duane has posted a new picture of Bald Eagle Dad Norfolk's girlfriend Bald Eagle Dirty Tail (DT).

White-bellied Sea Eagle Video

Just a quick post to share the link to the video of the White-bellied Sea Eagle chick from the other day. This cracks me up every time I watch it! And, it's something that I've never seen (or should I say 'heard') before! And I've spent a lot of hours watching cams! Here's the link.

Nest Cam Round-up: White-bellied Sea Eagle, Africam Black Eagle, and Dyfi Osprey, Wildlife Center of Virginia Tracking Two More Eaglets (C35 and C46), and WCV Taking Pre-orders For The 2015 Garden of Eagles Calendar

It looked like a nice day at the White-bellied Sea Eagle nest today. A little windy, but there was no rain while I was watching. Mom always stretches so far to feed the baby. I always think, "Stand a little closer..."

They zoomed in just as Mom stepped in to brood.

A little while later and we got to see the baby by itself and this is the first that I've noticed pin feathers starting to come in along the edge of the wing.

They show up pretty well in this s'cap too. The baby is going to start to look different pretty quickly now.

Love the big stretch!

The baby was trying to stand and ended up sitting on the egg.

Just sitting here chillin'. Just sitting on my egg...

The egg came rolling out from under the baby. I'm going to try to look in the archives and get some video of these past few minutes and post it tomorrow. Pretty good couple of minutes! But it's going to have to wait until tomorrow...

Mom and youngster were huddled up eating something this morning at the Africam Black Eagle nest.

Whatever the prey item was, it was stretchy and stringy...

Just one s'cap tonight of the Dyfi Osprey nest. Somebody is on the high perch behind the nest. It has been a while since I've seen a fledgling eating in the nest. Sightings will become fewer and fewer and then one day, we'll realize that they must not be coming back...

 

The Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) put transmitters on two eaglets that were released at Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge back in late August. These eaglets are checking in every day and have traveled separately, but in the same direction. They have really put on some miles too! Here's a link so you can check out the adventures of C35 and C46.

WCV is taking pre-orders for the 2015 Garden of Eagles Calendar. These calendars do sell out, so make sure you place your order early if you want one. They really are beautiful calendars, if you haven't seen one.

Nest Cam Round-up: White-bellied Sea Eagle Day 21 and 22, Africam Black Eagle, Dyfi Osprey, Location Updates for Bald Eagles Camellia, Grace, and NX

Today is day 22 for the White-bellied Sea Eagle. The chick is growing like a weed. First is the week 3 collage from yesterday, day 21. You can tell how much it is growing by comparing its size to the egg. Week 1 and 2 s'caps were taken on rainy days, but the chick is nice and dry again for this week's scap.

Here are the other s'caps from yesterday, (9/2 our date, 9/3 their date.) Here's the other close-up of the chick that I was considering for the collage.

Mom brought a huge fish to the nest. We know it's Mom because she is dirty where she's been laying in wet leaves.

That's a big fish!

Zoomer gave us some nice close-ups of the feeding.

Mom fed the chick for a while. Then the baby did a 5-point-stance poop shot. (5 point: two feet, two wings and one head.)

 

Eventually, Mom left then nest. Then all of a sudden, Mom landed in the nest. (Dirty belly and legs.)

Then two seconds later, Dad landed. (Nice and clean.)

They were both looking around. I don't know if there was a threat that brought them to the nest together.

 I've just got these three s'caps from today, taken just now. The baby is watching one of the parents pluck a small bird. You can see feathers scattered nearby in the nest.

The Africam Black Eagle was tucked up in the back of the nest again yesterday.

Yesterday at the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust's Dyfi Osprey Project nest there was only one Osprey on the high perch behind the nest. And I can't tell if it's an adult or one of the fledglings.

Today's scene is almost the same as yesterday, except there's a big fish in the nest.

 

There is an update for Bald Eagle Camellia. He has been making the rounds!

Bald Eagle Grace has also checked in. She has found a good fishing spot!

And, not wanting to be left out, Bald Eagle NX checked in.