Welcome back, DNF and Mr. North! The warm weather brought several animals out and about: Mr. North and DNF showed up on and around the north nest, Canada geese rested in the snow by the stream, white-tailed deer and an opossum foraged for food, and a young adult intruder made an appearance before Mr. North chased it away! Temperatures are supposed to stay (winter) warm through the next seven days or so, although a Friday snowstorm might have Mr. North and DNF clearing more snow. It was good to see them again!
Decorah North Eagles
January 12, 2022: Splish splash, DNF takes a bath!
January 12, 2022: Splish-splash eagle bath! https://youtu.be/HfUzkw41nqE. It feels so good to get clean again! DNF floats in dark water on a warm winter day, submerging her head and flicking her wings to get every single feather washed. The water is right around 37 to 44F, the air is a balmy 45F, and the bright sunshine will dry her off quickly!
January 12, 2021: Opossum in the snow and close-ups of Mr. North – https://youtu.be/6gdP4qH42j4. Stunning close-ups begin at 1:24!
Look really closely at 2:03 and you’ll a dark shape flit out beneath Mr. North. This could have been a distant bird, but it could also have been a winter-active insect! Insects that are active during warm winter weather – usually 28F or better – include snow flies, winter stone flies, springtails (aka snow fleas), and some owlet moths! If the temperature is 28F or warmer, look for stone flies and owlet moths on the wing, and snow flies and springtails on the ground.
January 12, 2022: Handsome Mr. North gleams in the bright sunlight.
January 12, 2022: DNF and Mr. North Visit – https://youtu.be/JcQsTgcvBrM. It’s good to see you again, DNF and Mr. North! The video opens with a look at a young adult intruder perched on a tree across the field. DNF flies into the nest and begins vocalizing. Mr. North chases the intruder out at 2:47 and we get close-ups of DNF in the nest at 3:50 and on the babysitting branch at 7:14. She flies into the nest at 9:59 to join Mr. North, who has just arrived. We get beautiful close-ups of both as they move around the nest, dig, and nibble at a few strands of grass. Both of them seem very alert, although we can’t see what they are looking at. Mr. North flies out at 21:44 and DNF follows him a few minutes later.
January 12, 2022: An opossum foraging around – https://youtu.be/1Rmsn_WLRno. It always amazes me to see opossums in the winter. They slumber through periods of extreme cold and forage when the temperature rises. You can see how this opossum keeps its tail up above the snow as it searches for food: fallen seeds, dried fruit, insects, bald eagle leavings, and whatever else it can find. Mr. North is perched in the trees above, alternately watching the opossum (he can see it from his perch) and looking out across the field.
January 12, 2022: An opossum forages in the pasture near the nest tree.
Odds and Ends
The MN DNR is taking steps to outlaw lead tackle and ammo is Minnesota Scenic and Natural Areas and some state parks. It’s a baby step, but it’s a step. Thanks to all of you Minnesota peeps who signed the petition! https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-dnr-takes-steps-albeit-baby-steps-in-banning-lead-ammo-for-hunting/600133334/
If you’d like to keep up with news on the lead issue, check out this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/121595381279639/posts/4279500258822443/.
The Raptor Resource Project