Photos and story by Robin Brumm
The weekend weather finally cooperated so I could go to Decorah, Yay! I got up at dark o’clock and headed out the door. Well, maybe it was closer to dark thirty! When I got to Decorah, I headed to the hatchery. There was nobirdy at the hatchery when I got there so I drove over to N3. Once I got there, I stopped along the road to look and see if anyone was home. I looked through my binoculars and saw somebirdy bringing in a stick to N3. It was really far away, so I couldn’t tell who it was and couldn’t get any pictures. There was another large bird that flew over the nest, but it kept on going. The eagle that brought the stick stayed in the nest so I decided to park and walk down the trail. By the time I got to the nest, the eagle was gone.
February 20, 2022: A young eagle near N3
I checked all their favorite places to perch and noticed a young eagle on the perch tree next to N3. It looked very young, maybe 1 or 2 years old. It made me wonder if it could be one of last year’s juvies. I know we will never know if it was one of ‘ours’ since they were not banded, but it sure is fun thinking that it could be. After watching the juvie for a while, an adult eagle came along and the juvie flew off. The adult perched in the dead tree for a few minutes and then flew off.
February 20, 2022: Mom on the Maple Tree
I waited a while and no one showed up so I drove back to the hatchery. When I got there Mom was on the maple 2 tree. I stopped at the intersection, rolled down my window and took a few quick pictures. I parked the car and was able to get several photos of her. She quickly flew off toward N3. I drove after her and by the time I got around the corner, I couldn’t see her anymore. I think she has an invisibility cloak that she wears once she flies off! Lol
I drove over to N3 to see if she went there, but no one was there. I decided to go grab some lunch and when I got back to the hatchery, she was back on the maple 2 tree. As many times as I have been to the hatchery and taken her picture, it still takes my breath away when I see her in person, on the maple tree. And it still surprises me that with all the people that are at the hatchery, many of them don’t see her perched there, lol. After a short time, she flew off.
February 20, 2022: DM2 on the Y branch
I sat and finished my lunch, waiting to see if anyone would come back. A friend of mine messaged me that she had the cam on and heard vocals near N1. I went over to N1 and DM2 was on the Y branch! Yay, I got to see both of them! DM2 is very elusive and I don’t get to see him close enough to get many pictures, so it is an awesome day when I get pictures of them both. He didn’t stay too long and then flew off.
February 20, 2022: A parent incubating at the Bobway nest
I waited for a while and drove over to N3 but nobirdy was around. I figured since I got pictures of them both, I would leave while I was ahead. Lol I decided to stop at the Bobway nest on the way home. For those of you who don’t know, Bob Anderson, the founder of Raptor Resource Project (RRP) told me about a back way to go home. On that route, there is an eagles nest out in the middle of nowhere. I call them the Bobway eagles. When I stopped at that nest, there was a parent incubating eggs. The Bobway eagles are typically one to two weeks ahead of the Decorah Eagles for egg-laying, so hopefully, that means Mom will lay eggs soon, or maybe she has already laid eggs since I have been there! Guess I will just have to go back soon to check! I hope the weather cooperates!
RRP appreciates Robin’s generosity in sharing her photos and reminds you they are copyrighted and may not be downloaded without her express written consent.
The Raptor Resource Project