We have nest news and nestflix! DN13 and DN14 are nine and seven days old today. The age-based difference between the two is very apparent, with DN13 weighing roughly 25% more than DN14 right now. The two eaglets are busy eating, scuffling, cuddling, sleeping, and escaping the bright sun under Mombrella and Poptent. Please feel welcome to join us for a special Easter chat tomorrow from 5-8p.m. to celebrate them!
Looking forward to falcons? We’re still waiting for eggs at Great Spirit Bluff, but falcons have started laying at Red Wing Grain and Great River Energy, and we’re looking forward to an egg at any minute at our new US Bank La Crosse site! Visit https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/additional-falcon-cams/ and scroll down the list to see US Bank and Red Wing Grain.
Thanks so much for watching, sharing, learning, and especially for caring! I hope you like these North Nestflix as much as we did!
Decorah North Eagles
April 3, 2021: DN13 left, DN14 right
April 3, 2021: Some cuteness and the escape! https://youtu.be/nLEjymbe-9c. DN13 makes a break for it! It looks to me like the eaglet was attempting to sprawl to cool down – see all the panting? – when it tipped forward, falling forward and tumbling over the edge of the egg cup. It wandered back in and both eaglets sought shade under Mombrella.
April 2, 2021: some close ups – https://youtu.be/8WJkkeB_1sY. Just what the title says! I loved this whole video, but I especially enjoyed comparing the size difference between the two eaglets. DN1 and DN14 are going through their fastest period of weight gain right now, going from about 3.2 ounces to about 16 ounces in just one week! DN13 is two days older than DN14, which means it weighs about 25% more. In addition to the cute peeks from beneath the pop-tent, you can really see the difference in size right now!
April 2, 2021; Mr. North loves his sticks! https://youtu.be/DxLxGi4FNNo. Mr. North knows that it is time to raise the crib rails! He brings a very large stick into the nest and works on placing it before DNF hands brooding over to him.
April 1, 2021: Cute close-ups of the two bobbleheads – https://youtu.be/T9WO8A1O90U. Do you need more cuteness in your life? This video is for you! I especially enjoyed the tiny wongercizing at 1:37, the close-ups 2:05, the family portrait at 5:55, and Dad wanting to help with nesting at 10:37.
April 1, 2021: Mr. North takes the leftover – https://youtu.be/aRNWduT7Sbk. DNF does not care to share food! She has two fresh fish right behind her, but objects to Mr. North removing a flat-as-pancake UFO from long-term storage. Despite her objections – she fluffs herself up and puts the teakettle on! – he flies off with it.
March 30, 2021: The duo is growing fast and eating well! – https://youtu.be/ely20iQ1xAM. The video opens with the tiny two engaging in a beak beatdown battle as DNF gets breakfish ready. She stands patiently, food in beak, as the two sort their pecking order out! Mr. North comes in with nesting material at 1:27, settles in for brooding at 1:51, flies in with a big fish at 2:28, and feeds at 2:52, 4:03, and 10:01! I especially enjoyed sleepy DN13 peeking out from beneath Dad’s dark feathers at 8:33. Look at those dark little earholes now – we won’t get to see them for much longer!
March 30, 2021: 1:15pm feeding, DN13’s crop is huge – https://youtu.be/dDwy6LCtNck. Run for your lives – it’s the return of Cropzilla! These special inflatable pouches allow eagles (and other birds) to store food until they are ready to digest it – sort of an on-demand snack service that is especially helpful for growing, always-hungry eaglets. DN13’s crop looks almost as big as D13!
Why is DN13, who looks like it can’t take another bite, monopolizing the food line? And why does DN14 put up with it? Mr. North and DNF are feeding ten or more times a day, so both eaglets are getting plenty of food. By submitting quickly, DN14 avoids a battle now and still gets food later on. We’ll write a little more about eaglet hierarchies and food strategies next week.
Odds and Ends
When the biggest baddest bird in the wild is on the brink of death, one couple will do anything to bring her back home. This is a wonderful episode from one of my very favorite podcasts, and I think you will like it too! https://snapjudgment.org/episode/birdzilla/.