BALD EAGLES NESTING ON MY PROPERTY

[scratch'n'peck]

I saw this on the news. It amazing.

That's amazing. It is such a powerful image considering that the national cemetery is the last resting place of so many veterans.

 

[NickyKnack]

Yeah, it gave me chills. It's like he's paying his respects.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I had to look up the story behind the photo: http://www.startribune.com/memorial-day-look-back-eagle-photo-touches-hearts/127347018/

 

[NickyKnack]

I thought you'd like it too. Thanks for the better back story.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I have not updated on the bald eagle nest in a while. With the dense foliage here, especially around the nest, I hear the eagles and their eaglets more than I actually see them. But I am happy to report that the eagle pair did hatch eaglets. I could not see the eaglets at all when they were younger and staying in the center of the nest bowl, but as they near two months, they start to perch on the edge of the nest. If I am in just the right position to see through the many branches, I can view the nest edge. If lucky I can see an eaglet perching on the edge. Once I was very luck and saw two eaglets there with their dark eaglet heads. Typically eagles lay two eggs, so this pair have done quite well raising their young so far. I think by now the eaglets have fledged from the nest but return frequently to get fed by the parents there. I hear them calling from around the nest pretty often. I can't say that I have seen them fly from the nest, but from what I have read on typical development of bald eagles I expect they have flown by now. Hopefully I will have some more luck and see the eaglets in the area near the nest. Eaglets tend to stay around the nest area for a couple months after fledging.

Here are some photos of the nest with eaglet in view. I wish I could have gotten a better photo, but it is tough to focus with so many branches in front of the nest.

 

[Outpost JWB]

Very nice! I enjoy checking in now & then and seeing all the updates. Thanks for keeping us posted.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Just yesterday I was really lucky and got some photos of one juvenile eagle. I heard their calls close to the house and started looking out the windows. If the eagles were silent, I would have not know they were there. One juvie bald eagle and a parent were in the tree near the living room window, but partially obscured by leaves and branches. I figured out I could get a better view of them from the guest bedroom. As I was taking photos the other juvie flew by and landed in another tree out of view. So I know both fledglings are doing well. I struggled to get photos of the eagles without twigs and leaves in the way. They were pretty tolerant of me opening the sliding door screen. They clearly knew I was there, because in some of the photos they are looking at me. I did not have a telephoto lens on the camera, but it does have a good zoom.

Juvenile bald eagles have a dark head, but are as large as an adult once they fledge.



The parent gets tired of me watching and takes off.


The juvenile sticks around for several more minutes.


The juvenile bald eagle has mottled brown and white feathers on the body.

 

[NickyKnack]

Wow! Those are some really good pictures!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Wow! Those are some really good pictures!

Thanks. I was so glad that they posed for me outside my window. There were times I wish I could have told them to move their head so a branch wasn't in the way, but I just had to be patient until they shifted.

 

[Suzie]

A little belatedly...just to say I have been updating my knowledge of what has been happening in my absence...this is an amazing story...thanks so much for imparting your wonderful images and knowledge of this incredible event!

Suzie