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...

Berry College Eaglet Day 78, Nest Cam Round-up: Hays, Two Harbors, White Rock, Loch of the Lowes, and Berry College Bluebird

Today is day 78 for the Berry College Bald Eagle. When I brought up the camera this morning, I could barely see the eaglet on its favorite perch.

So I brought up the approach cam.

 
I checked back later and found the eaglet in the nest.

It must have been partly cloudy at the nest because there were moments when the harsh shadows were gone. Here the eaglet has a mouthful of the soft nesting material.

I like this view of the eaglet's white armpit. The eaglet was stretching.

The eaglet found a new toy. It's at the eaglet's feet here.

The eaglet kept picking it up and dropping it. I think this is metal banding tape. I was surprised to see this in the nest. Osprey will bring all sorts of odd things to a nest, but Eagles don't typically do this... Either way, I'd rather not see litter in nests!

This eaglet does more of a hop onto the branch than a little hop/flight that I usually associate with branching.

And once again out of sight...

So I go back tot he approach cam...

...and the eaglet hops back down into the nest. But it gave me a chance to take these silhouettes.

Tonight, the eaglet is perched on its branch.

I spent a lot of time in front of the computer today. You know what that means! Lots of screen captures!

The Hays Eaglets are growing like weeds.

It's so hard to get a s'cap where all three are facing the cam. And of course there's a stick in the way!

Two babies are doing wing stretches here.

 

I also like profile shots...

Look out below!

Not pooping here... Just investigating something in the nest.

I checked in at the Two Harbors nest earlier in the day today and the lighting is much nicer.

There's still splotches on the camera though.

The tail feathers are coming in nicely.

This is universal for keeping cool... Spreading the wings.

The parent was watching over the sleeping babies from above this morning at the White Rock nest.

I checked in later and found Mom was shielding the babies from the hot sun.

Much later: Where are the babies!!!

There they are! They won't be able to hide behind a parent for too much longer.

The adult is fussing about something, I don't know what...

The babies seem to be sleeping through it. Look at that little wing sticking out! So cute!

 It's a pretty day at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes Osprey nest. They are reporting that the male today left the eggs unguarded for over a half hour. Fortunately, the crow (or other predators) did not harm the remaining two eggs.

I did get to see the eggs today when the adult repositioned.

Today was a milestone for the Berry College Bluebird. It's day 9 and its eyes are open now. Hello baby!

 It's starting to look like a bird now.

 

It's still all mouth! 

If you don't watch this nest, you may be wondering why there's never any poop in the nest. Each time an adult feeds the chick, they stay and watch it, sometimes even nudging it. They are trying to prompt it to poop. A baby bird's poop is contained in a packet. The adult will take this poop-packet and discard it away from the nest. And I finally got a s'cap!