We have your news and NestFlix! In Decorah, HM and HD are continuing to work on their new nest, but also giving us cause for celebration and hope as they check out N1. At Decorah North, DNF and Mr. North are hard at work on their nest, but DNF takes a break for some much-needed spa time and two beautiful north nest neighbors make a brief appearance! I loved all of these videos, but don’t miss HM near N1, the wonderful close-ups of DNF on December 14, or the visiting house finch at N1.
Decorah Eagles
December 18, 2023: HD visits N1.
December 18, 2023: HM near N1 – https://youtu.be/41Iep8R-J34?si=y-rikbfNTaK3MdtD. We get a wonderful view of HM perching on the north side branch near N1. While HM has visited the nest and nest tree, HD has been more reticent. It was wonderful to see him here and we’ve got our talons crossed for their return…even though they have continued to work on their new nest. We can hope!
December 18, 2023: HD near N1.
November-December: Hatchery pair and autumn mood – https://youtu.be/3xYKPY0sF8A?si=D4ewboKj6urSm4-I. A nice chillhop style video featuring HM, HD, and late autumn. A relaxing video and very nice look at their world!
Decorah North Eagles
December 18, 2023: Fishie Breakfast at Decorah North – https://youtu.be/fU21Y5dctqE?si=TDJZ4J3wYOuff05f. DNF enjoys a breakfish on the North nest, which is softly carpeted in dry golden grass and shredded cornhusks. Close-ups begin at 3:14!
December 14, 2023: a closeup of beautiful DNF!
December 16, 2023: Red-tailed Hawk stops by the nest – https://youtu.be/9jZu7QMBv_Q?si=F_86ot_wtx66Yzeg. Very cool! A wary adult red-tailed hawk perches by the side of the nest and vocalizes several times before flying off.
What were those vocalizations? They sounded very much like courtship calls! While red-tailed hawk vocalizations seem to group into three or four distinct calls, they have quite a bit of variability within them: vocalizations can warble, trail off, be higher or lower in pitch depending on sex and the individual, and so on. Here’s another example of a courtship call that sounds quite similar: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/150733861.
December 16, 2023: A red-tailed hawk briefly visits the North nest.
December 16, 2023: DNF takes a long, meticulous bath – https://youtu.be/YiRrZQHY9L8?si=EI7FwNoin0Z9fxvJ. It’s already raining. Why not get truly, deeply soaked? DNF takes a long bath, rolling in the water, splashing water up over her back, dunking her head, and generally making sure that every feather is clean!
December 14, 2023: A spa day for DNF!
December 14, 2023: Close-up head shots of DNF – https://youtu.be/5xzZwK1IIhA?si=CzShfBsxZfr31udd. A truly incredible look at DNF’s head and face! We can see the flecks in her iris, the overlapping pattern of her white head feathers, the sleek feathers that lie over her ears, her smooth yellow orange beak, and the folds and wrinkles of her ‘beak lips’ aka commissure. Unbelievable!
December 14, 2023: Super cute house finch near Decorah north nest – https://youtu.be/_uobfsFCDgg?si=UgM-3zttQHEwX-XV. Exactly as the title says – I lovely minute of house finch bliss accompanied by tapping woodpeckers and the neighborhood crow watch sounding an alarm in the background!
The Raptor Resource Project