Africam Black Eagle Day 107 Fledge Watch Continues, Big Sur Condor Day 120, Harrison Bay Eagles Stick Squabbles, White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 38

The Africam Black Eagle chick got a meal in the nest today. Look at that huge crop! (Thanks for the zoom!)

Still no fledge today. I really had thought it would be today. I guess that just increases the odds that it will happen tomorrow!

 The Big Sur Condor chick spent a while looking out at the world.

Mom and Dad Harrison Bay Eagles were in the tall pine today.

And (YAY!) they came to the nest. I love this shot of them! Feel free to save a copy!

They had a little testy moment...

They had a little time out before returning to the nest.

But they still had some Stick Squabbles (1:31) while fluffing the nest.

Eventually, they took to the branches and settled in for the night.

White-bellied Sea Eagle chick SE16 was flapping away today!

 

Dad brought a stick to the nest and then repeatedly pokes the babies while trying to place it.

Africam Black Eagle Day 106 Fledge Watch Continues, Big Sur Condor Day 119 Branching!, White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 37, Wildlife Center of Virginia's Coverage of Yesterday's Bald Eagle Release

The Africam Black Eagle chick greeting the morning with a big stretch.

I haven't seen any food in the nest in a few days. The chick is going to be lean and hungry - fledge ready... Some people  think that parents push their babies out of the nest. They don't. But there are other ways to encourage them to jump. Lack of food in the nest is one. And frequent fly-bys like yesterday are another.

Once the chick fledges, they will continue to use the nest as a home base, bringing food to the nest. I haven't watched this nest post-fledge, so I don't know if the chick will continue to sleep in the nest or if it will choose to perch on the rocks overnight with its parents.

The chick got some big air here. I think fledge is coming soon. Maybe tomorrow...

The chick is taking a lot of interest in what's beyond the nest.

But we finished the day, again, without a fledge... I'm thinking the chick was waiting until the weekend when more people could watch...

I saw something new today at the Big Sur Condor nest. The chick started standing in the doorway.

She actually climbed up a little bit.

Suddenly, she was gone! Check out this video of her disappearing act, branching for the first time (that I've seen). Branching (1:05):

The chick picked a funny way to lay down, with her head all smooshed into the wall.

At the White-bellied Sea Eagle nest, SE15, while trailing behind in the feather department, is looking like he's catching up in the size department. Or maybe it's how they are sitting or proximity to the camera...

I see them both get bites during the feedings.

There's a moment of golden light with the rising sun hits the nest just right.

There is a difference in the size of their heads and shoulders in this close-up.

SE16 is showing a fat crop.

It looks like she swallowed a golf ball!

SE15 has a fat crop too!

I didn't see any sibling rivalry today.

Here's a link to the Wildlife Center of Virginia's coverage of yesteday's Bald Eagle release. Dr Dave wore a GoPro camera on his chest for a bird's eye view of the release. Here's the link.

Africam Black Eagle Day 105 Fledge Watch Continues, Big Sur Condor Day 118, Harrison Bay Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagles Day 36, Dyfi Osprey Dad Leaves For Migration, Loch of the Lowes Osprey FR4's Travels, Bald Eagle Buddy News!

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!