The second egg hatched today at the Harrison Bay Eagle nest, 21 hours after the first hatch! This is our first look at the newest hatchling. HB9, who hatched yesterday, is on the left. HB10 is on the right.
HB9 is already showing curiosity about the world around him/her. HB10 is to the right, down in the soft grass.
They both perked up for food, but I don't know if any of the bites hit their target.
This is only two hours after HB10 (on the right) hatched! What a strong baby!
There are some updates on Bald Eagles HK and Sterling at their territory at the Honey Bee Golf Course: 2/28 HK & Sterling at the cell tower 2/29 HK & Sterling at the nest 3/2 HK & Sterling at the nest and surrounding area 3/3 HK & Sterling at the nest again! I wonder if they are around the nest so much because Sterling is feeling eggy... The White-bellied Sea Eagle resident female hasn't been seen for two weeks, which is unusual. They are asking people to report any sightings. There is a Loch of the Lowes Osprey tracking update, with recent pictures of FR3.
The Dyfi Osprey Project has an update on their preparations for the next nesting season and they are raising funds to help pay for the equipment and streaming. Please consider a donation if you enjoy the Dyfi Osprey!
There are 3 new posts about Bald Eagle HK on Pam Monahan's blog. It was dinner time on 2/19. Then she got not only HK, but also a couple of younger Eagles on 2/20, including a beautiful white belly. I'd judge the first sub adult as a 4th year, with a lot of white on the head, a dark eye stripe, and mostly yellow beak. The white belly later in her post is probably a second year Eagle. Maybe a third year Eagle. Then HK was working on the nest on 2/23.
Mom and Dad Berry College Eagles did some pair bonding today, when Dad Brings Food For Mom (11:27):
Yesterday, I speculated that the White-bellied Sea Eaglet SE15 would do one of two things after falling to a branch below the nest: make his way back into the nest by hopping from branch to branch or by fledging. That would be in a world where things go well. Of course, there is a bad third option, which is for SE15 to fall to the ground. Here's the video SE15 Falls To The Ground (5:31):
The people that are studying this nest found him and he is getting care at an animal hospital. So far, he doesn't have any broken bones. They are still doing tests.
There are many more pictures available of the Africam Black Eaglet Kendi. I had been trying to include links each time photos are posted, but it seems that some pictures are added at links so there is becoming a mix of old and new. Please just check out the main page for the Black Eagles.
Mom and Dad spend a lot of time in the nest together. Bald Eagles bond while working on the nest together.
I like it when they come and go by the back door.
Dad is so tiny compared to Mom.
They take a break during the afternoon. Then they were both in the nest at dusk.
One of the parents had a bad landing in the nest while bringing a stick. I think it was Dad. Not only did he not stick the landing, but he also lost the stick. Check out Un-Stick The Landing (0:26):
There is some on-going drama at the White-bellied Sea Eagle nest. SE15 was hopping to the nest from the perch branch and missed the nest. He fell below the nest and spent the night there. During the day today, he has moved around some of the branches, but he hasn't fledged yet and still hasn't made it back into the nest. At one point, SE16 was trying to get away from a Currawong and flew right into SE15. But SE15 kept ahold of his perch and SE16 was able to untangle herself and fly off. Once SE15 is hungry enough, he will either work his way back into the nest by hopping among the branches or he will fledge and get back that way. Here's some video of SE15's Bad Day (11:37):
The folks at the Dyfi Osprey Project have cleaned up the nest. Check out their post about their work.
I was out of town the last few days. I am getting ready to build a house in Maryland and I had to make the trip to sign the construction loan. I have created a new blog for the housebuilding.
These are the Africam Black Eagle s'caps I couldn't find yesterday. The chick is hopping up onto the rocks. I guess this qualifies as branching...
These s'caps are from today:
Look at how pretty!
I caught the neatest looking frame of this chick wingercizing! It is facing 8 o'clock...
The chick caught a lot of air. The chick was actually higher in the next frame, but I like this one because you can see the legs in this one.
The chick spent time back up on the rocks.
It seems more comfortable today on the rocks. They perch on rocks, so this is a good development.
The IR Cam turned on without a fledge today. Maybe tomorrow...
I think the parents are doing fly-by flights, maybe with food, to encourage the chick to fledge. And the chick is paying attention. Check out the animated gif below:
I think this is Mom feeding the Big Sur Condor chick. Isn't she pretty!?
I have yet to see this chick poop. I don't know if the walls of the cavity look lighter at the bottom from poop or if it's from the wings rubbing. I'm thinking... poop! The Africam Black Eagle doesn't always shoot over the side, so what are the odds that this chick is aiming out that little opening?
I'd like to see a better angle on this cam. And the ability to pan/tilt/zoom. With a zoomer at the ready to pan, tilt, and zoom...
One of the Harrison Bay Eagles made a brief stop at the nest this evening:
But it looks like they have both settled into the large pine for the night.
One of the White-bellied Sea Eagle chicks did a big stretch. Look at those little tail feathers! On the wing tip, you can see the shafts (gray color) and the feathers (black) emerging from the ends of the shafts.
Some togetherness.
Still cute!
It's easy to tell them apart since SE16 has more feathers showing than SE15. And of course, there's the size difference...
The Dyfi Osprey folks have posted a great blog entry. Monty, the male resident Osprey, has begun his migration. There are some great pictures and charts and videos. Check it out!
The Loch of the Lowes Osprey folks have posted that FR4 is off the coast of Morrocco! FR3 is still puttering around in France. Here's a link.
I found a post that the Wildlife Center of Virginia made about Bald Eagle Buddy's 7th Hatch Day Celebration. There's a really great collage and a slide show. I also found the page where they are posting his training updates. I used to post about when there was a new entry, but the moved the page and I couldn't find it! Well, here it is, and there are several new entries, the most recent from last week!
The chick has to stand in the doorway to wingercize, so one wing is ouside the nest. The inside of the nest cavity is 4-5 feet, so this chick has already got a huge wing span!
Dad Dyfi is still hanging out around the nest. Here's a big wing stretch.
And here's one of these stretches that we see so many chicks do.
Such a pretty bird!
The Harrison Bay Eagle parents are spending the night in the big pine. They coordinated their arrival at the tree... Look first at the white blur in the bottom right hand corner.
Then follow it up to the branches where they like to perch.
Then a few seconds later, the other parent comes in from the bottom left.
Here's the video that these stills were taken from. It's neat at the beginning of the video to see a host of Sparrows take off when they see the Eagles Flying to the Big Pine. (0:54)
The parents are tucked in for the night.
I caught one of the parents at home at the NE Florida Eagle nest today. They laid their first egg last year on November 16th. That means nestorations are happening now. (I wish they would straighten up this camera!)
The White-bellied Sea Eagle chicks still like to huddle under Mom for warmth, even though they don't really fit any more.
The feathers are coming in nicely on the chicks.
I would have expected the smaller chick to feather out first. The reasoning is that the chick the has the smaller size when full grown would feather out first because it doesn't have to expend as much energy for growth. But SE16 is just leaving SE15 in the dust in every regard.
Both chicks got bites. It's been a while since I've seen sibling rivalry at this nest.
Look at how big their crops are! Neither one of these chicks is going hungry!
Their crops are so big, they both look like they've got sacks tied to their necks!
