Reese Lukei's Post About Bald Eagle HE, The Upper Mississippi River Bald Eagle Trio, Osprey Tracking Update, White-bellied Sea Eaglet SE15 Has Been Diagnosed

Reese Lukei has a blog post in memory of Bald Eagle HE. There are some great pictures of her included.

I watched the Upper Mississippi River Bald Eagle nest today, hoping to catch sight of the trio -- and I was successful! I read that it's one female and two males. I'm really interested to see how this works out! Check out these s'caps. (This isn't a stream. It sends stills a few seconds apart. I've see 3 seconds between stills and more than 10 seconds between stills. I don't know what makes it quicker or slower...) One of the Eagles came and went:

Then about a half hour later, the frame went from no Eagles in the nest, to two in the nest, with one appearing to have just landed.

Then, a few frames later, the third Eagle landed. There was no aggression. They all seemed accepting of each other.

They were all poking around the nest.

The rest of these s'caps of the trio are with their heads up and presenting at least a profile to the camera.

Darkness was coming on. They left at 5:22, 5:23, and 5:30.

There is a Tracking Update for the Loch of the Lowes Osprey FR3 and FR4.

White-bellied Sea Eaglet SE15 has been diagnosed with Circovirus. This is a beak and feather disease. Unfortunately, SE15's new feathers are growing in more malformed than his previous feathers and his beak is beginning to show some deformity. Here's a link to their post about SE15's condition.

In Memory of Bald Eagle HE

Bald Eagle HE was the youngest of three that hatched in the nest at the Norfolk Botanical Garden in 2009, daughter of Bald Eagles Mom and Dad Norfolk. Her egg was laid shortly after midnight on 2/17/2009. She hatched on Wednesday 3/25/2009, after 36 days of incubation. On 4/22/2009, she received purple leg band HE. Here, the letters on her band are just visible:

The three chicks from the Norfolk Botanical Garden nest in 2009.

L-R Dr Bryan Watts with Sunday (HH -- Azalea), Reese Lukei with Saturday (HK), and Stephen Living with Wednesday (HE)

On 6/2/2009, she fell from the nest while hopping and wingercizing. A witness on the ground said she dropped like a rock and at the last minute put out her wings to glide to the ground without injury. She was captured by Reese Lukei and spent the night at his house. The next day, Nuckols Tree Care returned her to the nest. She fledged on 6/8/2009, 75 days after hatching. She was last seen at the Norfolk Botanical Garden on 7/27/2009.

But that's not the end of her story. On 4/26/2011, Mom Norfolk was struck and killed by a plane at the neighboring Norfolk airport, leaving Dad without a mate. On 2/3/2015, it was discovered that HE's father, Dad Norfolk, had taken a new mate -- and it appeared that they were incubating an egg. Photographers tried for months to get a good picture of the mate's leg band. Finally, the new mate was identified as being HE! On 3/12/2015, they were observed feeding a chick. Their one eaglet fledged on 5/29/2015. Dad Norfolk and HE had recently been doing nestorations in preparation for the new nesting season. But it was not to be. Bald Eagle HE was found dead on 1/6/2016.

HE, we will miss you. Fly free with your Mom. May your son have a long and prosperous life! And may Dad Norfolk find a new mate...

Bald Eagle HE Has Died, Berry College Eagles Second Egg, Bald Eagle HK and Sterling, Black Eagle Makhaza, Africam Black Eagle Waterfall Video, Songbird Forest

Sadly, it's true that Bald Eagle HE was found dead this week onboard the Navy base at Little Creek. She died of blunt force trauma, but it likely wasn't witnessed since the actual cause wasn't listed. (It's not reported if she was struck by a vehicle or aircraft or if she flew into something.) Here's a link to the story. I started watching the Norfolk Botanical Garden nest in 2008 -- but the nesting season was cut short when Buddy was removed from the nest. So, my first year to truly watch this nest was 2009, the year of Azalea (HH), HK (now at Honey Bee Golf Course), and HE (who last year became the mate of her Dad). There has been a whole history of loss for Dad Norfolk, with this just being the latest. I'm sad at the loss of HE and for the loss of another of Dad's mates...

The Berry College Bald Eagles are right on time! Mom Berry laid her second egg of 2016 almost exactly 3 days after the first egg. She missed by less than 2 hours! If there will be a third egg, it will be Wednesday. Maybe late Wednesday. Maybe into the early morning hours of Thursday... Egg watch continues! Here's video of Mom Berry laying the second egg (10:15) -- vocalizing like she did while laying the first egg.

And here's another video from today of Dad bringing lunch and grass (9:56) to the nest.
(I will embed videos when it will let me...)

Here's a few s'caps from today. I like this one because we can see the egg and Mom is looking up:

She's not limping this year. But you can see how her leg sticks out. I think she had a broken leg and it has finally healed. It's not perfect... But she is able to walk on it and I suppose she can forage for herself.

This is from the second video I posted today. But I had to post a still as well. Dad was practically sitting on Mom's head while trying to do some nestorations. She was very tolerant.

Pam Monahan has a great post about Bald Eagle HK and his mate Sterling. She has a little of everything in this latest post, including them mating! Talons crossed for an egg this year! Here's a link to her post.

I had reported that Black Eagle Makhaza, from the 2007 Africam Black Eagle nest, was being treated. She has no improvement of function in her legs and wings. She is in pain. They have decided to humanely euthanize her. Here's a link to their statement.

Unfortunately, they used the phrase, "let her go" instead of euthanize. Which has led some people to ask for clarification. She is being euthanized. Then there's another group of people that are against euthanizing her. She would have died a horrible death without human intervention. And now, after no improvement, it would be cruel to keep her alive. She isn't living her destiny. She will not recover. She is in pain.

And speaking of the Africam Black Eagle nest... They had a hailstorm there. Check out this incredible video of their waterfall after a recent hailstorm. Mother nature can be pretty wild!

Check out this article about the "Songbird Forest" in Brazil.

Bald Eagle HE Possibly Dead, Berry College Eagles First Egg, The Center For Conservation Biology Article, Bald Eagle Shaking To Arrange Feathers

There is word that Bald Eagle HE, Dad Norfolk's mate and mother of one eaglet last year, has been found dead. I haven't found any sources other than two blog posts for this. I'm still looking for confirmation...

Berry College Bald Eagles have their first egg! Last year, they laid their first egg on the 6th... Here we can see the egg for the first time:

Here's a video of the big event. Something rare in this video, we can hear Mom vocalize as she pushes to lay the egg. Here's the video: Mom Vocalizes During The Laying Of The First Egg (8:44):

The Center for Conservation Biology has published an article by Dr. Bryan Watts: Eagles Rarely Gamble During The Breeding Season.

Bald Eagles will shake like a dog to settle their feathers into place. Check out this GIF of a Bald Eagle shaking created by Rhoda Gerig.

Bald Eagle HE & Dad Norfolk's Eaglet Fledged Today!, Dyfi Osprey Day 1 Hatch!, Africam Black Eagles Day 1&2 Second Hatch!, Harrison Bay Eagles Day 60&62 Eaglet Injured

Reese Lukei was on hand today to see Dad Norfolk & HE's eaglet fledge. Check out Reese's post, with pictures, at this link!

Yesterday, I wasn't sure if it was a crack or a pip in one of the Dyfi Osprey eggs. Well, it was a pip! Today they have a hatchling! Here's a 1st Chick Hatches video (2:07) that they posted.

Here's some s'caps from today of the hatchling:

It looks like there's a pip starting in this egg.

It looks like there might be a hole in the bottom right area of this egg. I don't know if it's the same egg as the one above.

The second egg hatched at the Africam Black Eagle nest! These chicks hatched only one day apart. Maybe the first hatch won't have such a big size advantage...

One of the Harrison Bay Eaglets was injured today either during the food delivery or during a later scuffle with the sibling for the fish. The nare on the right side is bloody.

Here's a video of the Eaglet's Injury, including the two scuffles when it happened.

The Harrison Bay Eaglets still haven't branched...
 

Berry College Ealges Day 77&79 Fledge Watch Continues, Harrison Bay Eagles Day 33&35, White Rock Eagles Day 11&12, Dyfi Osprey, Poop Packet, Inbreeding in Osprey and Bald Eagles

I had fun keeping an eye on the Berry College nest today. Mom brought this big fish to the nest today. She did a touch and go off of the front branch on her way into the nest. She must have had a good grip on it -- dragging it over the branch didn't even faze her. This fish is at least 2 feet long! They pigged out and then the eaglets fell into a food coma while Mom stayed in the nest watching over them.

Here's a video of the delivery. (I figured out how to put videos  that I've uploaded to YouTube into my blog!) You can watch the Big Fish For Lunch video (1:29) by clicking the link or by hitting the play button below.

At one point during the feast, Dad showed up. It was nice seeing the family together, but talk about a crowded nest!

I have one more Berry College video from today. Later in the day, Mom was still in the nest with the eaglets when Dad brings a fish tail to the nest. One of the eaglets grabs the fish. Both eaglets then watched as Dad flies away. (They are really studying the parents when they fly away, taking notes I'm sure! Maybe we will see a fledge soon... Last year's eaglet fledged on day 89, so maybe not so soon...) Then the eaglet with the fish lets Mom know that her help is not needed... Here's the Fish Grab video (1:41).

The Harrison Bay eaglets have a lot of feathers coming in now.

They are like two peas in a pod.

I got a video from this nest today too (which I think is hilarious!) Both chicks pooped and the microphone is so sensitive that you can hear the raspberries! Turn up your speakers for the full effect! Here's the Audible Poop Shoots video (1:13):

Here's a look at the White Rock Eagle family from today.

In this s'cap, Mom is calling as another Bald Eagle does a fly-by. You can see the other bird flying away over the water.

This is Dad, so who was that flying past the nest?

I got a good look at the three Dyfi Osprey eggs. Mom didn't cooperate by letting me include her face in the s'cap. These are the best two I could get... The three eggs are clearly visible. Will there be a fourth? Only Mom knows...

Gotta mention poop again in this post. Something caught my eye this afternoon when I looked out my kitchen window. Something was on my deck railing. I have mentioned poop packets in previous blog posts. What I found on my deck railing was a poop packet. That tells me that I have babies in a nearby nest. I've never seen a poop packet in person, so this was neat! It was just as nice and self-contained as could be. I was surprised it was so large. I had a mint in my pocket and included that in the picture for reference. Here's a s'cap from the Berry College Bluebirds last year. One of the parents is removing a poop packet from the nest. This keeps the nest nice and clean.

And here's the picture I took today on my back deck. It's neat that I've seen a poop-packet. But I'm ok if they don't leave me any more!

 

Here is a link to a fantastic article at the Dyfi Osprey nest about inbreeding among Ospreys. I was glad I came across this article in light of Bald Eagle Dad Norfolk and his Daughter HE being a pair now. I've asked Reese Lukei for his thoughts about Bald Eagle inbreeding. I'll let you know what he says...

Bald Eagle Dad Norfolk & HE Nest, Berry College Eagles Day 64&66, Harrison Bay Eagles Day 20&22, White Rock Eagles Still on Hatch Watch, Dyfi Osprey at Home, Loch of the Lowes

I've got one blurry still from my visit with Dad Norfolk and HE. I can see the eaglets moving in the nest, but there's a lot of pine needles in the way. So my one blurry still is of one of the adults leaving the nest.

The Berry College Eaglets are having fun trying out the front branch. But first it's a flap here

 

A stretch over there.

Another stretch from the other eaglet.

It's funny how she backs up onto the branch while flapping.

She is making her way up the branch.

She's still not very graceful getting down. She needs to learn how to hop down instead of stepping down.

I like this pose!

There was a mob scene when food was delivered to the nest.

Can't tell who the winner is going to be...

Easy to tell the winner from the loser in this one.

The adult let the eaglet feed for a while before taking the food and feeding both chicks.

The Harrison Bay chicks are doing nothing but eating, pooping, and sleeping. Here's two of those things and some other family s'caps...

I don't see a pip yet at the White Rock nest. I took a s'cap, but darned if I can find it... Anyway, the parts of the eggs visible didn't show any pips...

I found the female Osprey on the Dyfi nest tonight. I was thinking maybe there was an egg. Not sure though since she seemed to be sitting high. So then I thought maybe laying an egg.

But eventually she got up and stood on the edge of the nest.

 I thought I was going to see a mating when the male landed...

...and the female seemed to be issuing an invitation.

But after a few minutes of standing around and stretching, the female left.

I recorded the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes Osprey nest for a while today hoping to get a close-up of the eggs. But I guess there was no zoomer at the controls. I love how Osprey eggs look. I'll have to try again. I did capture a couple of pretty scenes...