Spring is in the air! We have Nestflix from Decorah, Decorah North, and GSB tonight, but first I want to encourage people to start watching the Flyway cam at https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/flyway-cam/. Winter finally arrived in February, putting a damper on Flyway activity. But it looks like the ice is starting to go out and birds are beginning to move north! The spring migration is much quicker than the fall one, so you’ll want to keep track of the ice to catch it. Birdcast can also help you keep track of what’s winging through! https://birdcast.info/
In addition to videos, we have a blog on embryonic eagle development. The last Decorah egg is 22 hours old, the last Decorah North egg is 9 days, 23 hours old, and the last Fort St. Vrain egg is 12 days, 22 hours old. This blog addresses development in the first four days: https://www.raptorresource.org/2020/03/05/peek-inside-a-bald-eagle-egg-4-days/. Have a great day, everyone – and Happy Fri-yay to all of you who follow our blog!
Decorah Eagles
March 5, 2020: DM2 protects his eggs
March 5, 2020: DM2 in full protective mode – https://youtu.be/1nBIjRb99XI. The video opens with DM2 peering alertly around the nest. He’s clearly paying attention to something up above him, and we can hear what might be starlings, although they aren’t especially close to the microphone. At 1:35, DM2 wingslaps. Check 1:45 to see him from above as he spreads his wings to protect his eggs. You can see almost every feather, including one (S3, maybe?) that will be molting soon. DM2 continues to remain alert. We can hear the neighborhood crow watch in the distance and we hear Mom vocalizing nearby at 2:39. DM2 continues to remain alert throughout the video.
March 5, 2020: Mom brings new grasses, takes over incubation – https://youtu.be/KG2kwV_29gM. Watch DM2 watch Mom as she flies in, starting at maybe 28 seconds. She lands in the nest with a talonful of grass. DM2 vocalizes a ‘hello’ and quickly gets out of the way in a very cool float-off. Mom settles into her oh-so-comfortable bed and shimmies into place before starting to fine-tune the nest to her needs. Did Nest Depot have an irresistable sale? The day was windy but very warm, which may be why she placed her newest clump of material to the side instead of tucking it into place around the egg cup.
March 4, 2020: Mom gives us a beautiful view of her three eggs! – https://youtu.be/yR_uKbEc0RE. Exactly what the video says! Watch through and you’ll see her roll the eggs from a line into her customary triangle, which I thought was extremely cool to see! Eggs arranged and nest fine-tuned, she settles back over them.
March 4, 2020: DM2 brings grasses in after the 3rd egg arrives – https://youtu.be/oIjG5hM5gTg. This is just sweet! DM2 arrives at 1:09 into the video with a clump of soft grasses. DM2 seems quite curious about the events in the nest, but Mom isn’t inclined to give him a look. They sit comfortably side-by-side for a few minutes until DM2 flies out.
Decorah North Eagles
March 5, 2020: Mr. North dresses DNF in cornstalks
March 5, 2020: Dad North gets eggie time! https://youtu.be/KXWncoTYa80. Mr. North really likes to dress DNF up! He piles cornstalks on her head – something she doesn’t seem to appreciate – and shifts them around the nest as he waits patiently for his shift on the eggs. Despite the cornstalks, DNF doesn’t seem to see or hear him, meaning she’s not quite ready to get up yet! The two listen to a cacophony of Canada geese and several other birds (I hear a chickadee, but I’m not sure about all of the others). At 3:55, DNF finally gets up. She mantles over a piece of fish while Mr. North shimmies into place for some eggie time!
Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
March 5, 2020: A falcon at Great Spirit Bluff
March 5, 2020: Newman chases an eagle – https://youtu.be/vEok0_icSeI. Newman takes off at 52 seconds and the camera operator finds an eagle. I had a very hard time seeing Newman, although I slowed the video down, but the eagle appears to be taking evasive action against something that can fly a lot quicker than it can. I highly recommend slowing the video down to really see its flight – for an eagle, it is really hauling tailfeather!
The Raptor Resource Project