The Bald Eagle pair continue to watch over the eaglet as it grows larger each day.  Today provided an opportunity to join others and watch the eaglet flap around the nest and perch on a number of nearby branches.  An adult returned to the nest with more food and helped the eaglet with tearing the prey apart.  Another adult arrived and then, possibly a third came by the nest site for a short visit.  One of the adults circled around the nest a few times allowing for a series of flight shots in beautiful late day light!

7 photos posted of adult in flight mode: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150884226   Click “next” upper right to advance frames

6 photos posted of adult and chick in nest:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150884215    Click “next” upper right to advance frames

5 photos posted of chick in nest moving around and flapping all over: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150884203    Click “next” upper right to advance frames

Stopped by the Eagle’s nest Thursday morning under heavy overcast skies and found both an adult and the eaglet in the nest.  The adult had likely just returned to nest with some type of prey offering.  The eaglet spent some time eating and then flapping its wings while moving around the nest!

4 photos posted:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150787544   Click “next” upper right to advance frames….enjoy!

The eaglet is closing in on the fldge date!  According to Birds of North America, nest departure can occur at 8–14 wk. Variability in departure date related to effects of sex and hatching order on growth and development   Adults may “encourage” nest departure by flying around nest with prey item vocalizing when young are hungry.  Fledglings may continue to use nest as feeding platform for several weeks as they gain flight and foraging skills.  Juveniles continue to grow and develop postfledging.  Mass may actually decrease or remain stable postfledging, depending on food availability and foraging ability of individual. Skeletal growth and development minimal postfledging. Muscle mass continues to develop and flight feathers fully emerge. Little data on when growth is complete in immatures.  Fledglings follow adults and may be fed by adults up to 6 wk after leaving nest

3 photos posted from early morning visit with challenging light conditions: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150743519   Click “next” upper right!

Young eaglets grow rapidly and may eat up to two pounds of fish per days!   Eaglets are fed a steady diet of fish, occasionally supplemented by water fowl (ducks, geese) or water birds (gulls, cormorants).  About 85% of a chick’s diet will typically consist of fish such as carp, white sucker, shad, bullhead and sunfish.  The adults capture and tear the fish into small strips, offering them to the chicks. The chicks snatch the food from the adult’s beak and swallow it whole. An eagle chick will eat as much as it can at a single feeding, storing food in its crop. The crop, an organ located near the base of the bird’s neck, will enlarge as it fills, resembling a golf ball.  About ten weeks after hatching they begin to make short flights from the nest spending much time with the parent birds observing the adults as they find, cathc, and eat food.

4 photos posted from today:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150523490   Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames…..enjoy!