May 15, 2021: Day Trip to Decorah

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Story and photos by Robin Brumm

I last went to Decorah 2 weeks ago, so of course, I had to go on Saturday. RRP believes that the eaglets started hatching around April 4th or 5th. That would make D37 about 6 weeks old now. The eaglets grow so fast, I didn’t want to wait too long to go visit. I think I picked the gloomiest day to go, but any time I get to see the DE family is a good day!

May 15, 2021: Mom, DM2, and the eaglets. Everyone is home!

May 15, 2021: The whole family! DM2 top, Mom right

When I got to the new nest (N3) Mom was on the nest and D37, D38 & D39 were all sleeping. I had checked the cam earlier and Mom had been at the hatchery, so maybe they were all in a food coma! I could see Mom in the middle of the nest, and a lump of feathers on her left, and a lump of feathers on her right. As I was watching I saw a wing stretch by one of the eaglets, and it whacked Mom on the head! It didn’t even phase her. Mom is always so patient with her eaglets.

May 15, 2021: Home alone

May 15, 2021: Home alone

After quite  while, Mom flew off, did a fly about, and flew back and landed in the tree next to the nest tree. One of the eaglets got up to stretch and did a little wingercising. It stood there looking out over Mom and DM2’s territory imprinting on everything as far as the eagle eye could see. Mom eventually flew back to N3 and landed on a bouncy branch above the nest. All three eaglets got up and were moving around the nest. When they walk, they always remind me of someone pacing the floor with their hands behind their backs, lol.

May 15, 2021: DM2 and the eaglets

May 15, 2021: DM2 and the eaglets

Mom kept an eye on the eaglets from above for a while. All of a sudden she called out. I looked over to the dead tree and DM2 had flown in. Mom must have been saying hello, lol. A few minutes later, Mom flew off and DM2 flew to the bouncy branch above the nest. The eaglets were up and down and flapping their wings, moving some nesting materials around, and napping. Finally, Mom flew into the nest. I believe she had food because it looked like there was a short feeding going on. A few minutes later, Mom flew to another branch of the nest tree. All three eaglets were up, and it was a perfect opportunity to get a photo of the whole family! Mom didn’t stay long though before she flew to the nearby dead tree. DM2 followed but flew off.

The eaglets finally settled down for another nap, so I decided that it was a good time to head home. I’m hoping the next time I am able to visit I will see more wingercising. I love to see the white patterns under their wings. Wingpits are one of my favorite eaglet things, lol.

Note: When the new nest was first found, I was asked by RRP to help positively ID the eagles as Mom and DM2, so I was shown where the nest was. Although the nest is on private property, it can be viewed from a very long distance away on public property. I zoom in as far as my camera can go, and then usually crop the pictures a little to make them bigger to see.

RRP appreciates Robin’s generosity in sharing her photos and reminds you they are copyrighted and may not be downloaded without her express written permission. Thank you, Robin! And Amy apologizes for sharing this post so late.  I promise to share the next one a little sooner!