It’s NestFlix Time!

Welcome back to our nestflix round-up! While we didn’t see either eagle couple today, we have some wonderful video of bald eagles at the Flyway and a very satisfied squirrel at the North Nest! I liked all of these videos, but I especially enjoyed ‘Eagles tangle talons’ on the Flyway and the squirrel at the North nest. As always, thanks to our camera operators and video makers for finding and sharing such special moments, and to you for watching, sharing, learning, and caring! Have a great day!

Decorah North
October 6, 2020: A squirrel eats hemp at the North Nest

October 6, 2020: A squirrel eats hemp at the North Nest

October 6, 2020: A squirrel is eating seeds!https://youtu.be/01iFxam-smA. Hemp seeds, to be exact! I laughed pretty hard, but hemp seeds are a very valuable source of protein and fat that reach their peak as animals are gaining weight for the winter (fat squirrel contest, anyone?) or preparing for migration. I suspect that hemp plants don’t affect squirrels, since they aren’t grown to maximize intoxicating elements. I know that this squirrel seems quite happy to have found a delicious, nutritious treat right outside its doorstep!

Mississippi Flyway
October 6, 2020: Sandhills on the Flyway

October 6, 2020: Sandhills on the Flyway

October 2, 2020: Greater White-fronted goosehttps://youtu.be/L64zRjWfpNo. From Cornell: Greater White-fronted Geese breed in the tundra near wetlands, rivers, and ponds. During migration they forage in wet sedge meadows, tidal mudflats, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. The sandbars and islands of Pool Seven provide a perfect snackbar for a hungry goose on its trip to the Gulf of Mexico. If you are like me, you might wonder why this greyish goose is referred to as a white-fronted goose. The bird’s name comes from the white feathering around the base of an adult’s bill.
I also really enjoyed the American White Pelicans, gulls, and vocalizations throughout this video. Listen for sandhill cranes toward the end!

October 2, 2020: The Mist, The Sky, The Water and The Eagleshttps://youtu.be/ZIqGXC9xSvU. This music video by Luceforall features eagles in the mist, eagles soaring, and sandhill cranes. I enjoyed the scenes and beautiful song.

September 23, 2020: Eagles tangled talons mid air and a cool flight close byhttps://youtu.be/q9saCnOko-M. Look for the talon tangling to start at about 15 seconds as an adult eagle swiftly overtakes what appears to be a juvenile eagle (based on overall brownish color) and tangles talons for a brief cartwheel through the sky! The adult chases the youngster for ten or twelve seconds, but doesn’t engage with it again. We get a very cool flyby: slow the video down to see how an eagle’s wings and feathers respond to each stroke and how they use wing slots and wing positioning to control flight. This is a very cool video!

Talon locking is sometimes referred to as ‘nuptial flight’, but locking and whirling can also be antagonistic, playful, or social, depending on the circumstances. Blog here: https://raptorresource.blogspot.com/2014/02/do-bald-eagles-mate-in-flight.html