We have your Monday NestFlix, but let’s look at the week ahead before we put our feet up and chill! We’re looking forward to hatch beginning at Decorah North on Saturday or Sunday, first eggs at peregrine falcon sites (my bet’s on Dubuque for the first egg at a nest we monitor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFtQqGanrX0) and a possible return of winter weather later this week! Well, we’re not really looking forward to that last one, but we are curious about what egg-laying will look following one of the most unusual winters any of us remember!
I enjoyed all of these videos, but I especially liked the two from Decorah North (bejeweled DNF and a nice look at the eggs), Mrs. T surprised by a strong tailwind – she handled it very well! – and the geese responding to HM near N1. You know, HM, you and HD could have kept the nest instead of building a new one last fall. Keep N1 in mind for 2025!
Decorah North Nest
March 15, 2024: A quick glimpse of an egg. They are usually hidden behind the North’s Great Nest Wall.
March 17, 1014: Evening shift change, DNF arrives – https://youtu.be/ogMJbH39fHM?si=nxea4oCrxr_ZLo1L. It’s windy enough that the oak tree is creaking and rocking as the video opens. Mr. North looks around alertly as birds sing, looking very comfortable in the deep, fluffy nest! He sees something and gets up at 3:04, just as we hear DNF fly in. He flies out quickly and she shimmies in to the sound of blackbirds and the blowing in, which ruffles up her feathers at about 5:05. She gets up to roll the eggs at about 8:00 and we get a nice look at them, still pretty and white!
DNF took a break yesterday. Where did she go: Nest Depot? Beaks, Bath, and Beyond? TailMart? Wherever it was, she was gone long enough for some watchers to get nervous, especially when Mr. North called for her and she didn’t answer. Whatever went on, she finally returned to take her shift at 12:04 while Mr. North defended the nest from something nearby and went fishing!
March 14, 2024: Beautifully bejeweled DNF incubates through a light early spring rain.
March 14, 2024: DNF hovers, asks for a break, Mr. takes his time – https://youtu.be/AzjvkdisLDA?si=6W1yRPhZZxpu8Od6. The video opens with a beautiful look at DNF’s raindrop bejeweled back and head. She gets up at 6:40, stretches, and shakes off the rain while the camera operator zooms in for a look at the eggs, still concealed deep within the egg cup! She follows up with a call for a shift change and briefly hovers as she continues to shake it off. After one more call, she flies out at 8:45. Mr. takes his sweet time about replacing her, but it isn’t especially cold and he does fly in to take his turn!
Trempealeau Eagles
March 18, 2024: Mr. T brings a snack to Mrs. T – https://youtu.be/VH54EK6tKLs?si=WmVXgn5YDnE3HWXH. Who could resist her soft vocalizations and the look on her face? She steps over and Mr. T gives up the fish and flies to a nearby branch, vocalizing. She eagles down the delicious snack and flies off to join him!
March 17, 2024: Mrs. T just before things got very windy!
March 16, 2024: Mrs. T gets caught by the wind – https://youtu.be/GFfzw69DIgo?si=1I-NCvt2qDHPS4LF. The wind is blowing lightly at the beginning of the video but a sudden strong gust whirls around to catch Mrs. T from behind. The tailwind – literally – knocks her off her eggs, although she doesn’t step on them and shifts her position, tail to the lee of the tree.
Decorah Geese
March 18, 2024: HD visits the N1 tree, upsetting the geese.
March 16, 2024: The geese loudly protest to HM above in the tree – https://youtu.be/N3Yv8NKo8kc?si=4gzWNL4MxMJNXUWq. Warning – it is loud! You know, HM and HD, you could have nested here this spring instead of building a new nest last fall. Just saying! However, the goose response is pretty impressive. They aren’t intimidated by much! HM also visited the geese on St. Patrick’s Day: https://youtu.be/drLt6CCiuJc?si=qVxABIxyjgA0FIWV and HD stopped by just this morning! https://youtu.be/7kwJEEUZIJY?si=yy-jYqXBmSyKctD2.
March 18, 2024: A sixth egg for Mother Goose!
March 15, 2024: Mother Goose now has 4 – https://youtu.be/21V6_pg0Vg4?si=ctId8TmZt1z19mrD. Wait, we meant five! (on March 16): https://youtu.be/qE3qPs93xdQ?si=-ClQFlx4SliZh34x. Oh wait – it was six just this afternoon! Silly goose…https://youtu.be/LGun3AVXsAE?si=uwcF-VUzoLNpwZsq.
Lisa B has been keeping track of the goose eggs. We don’t know how many more she’ll lay, but here’s her laying scorecard so far:
- Egg #1: 3/9/24 @6:22 PM CT | 1st egg to 2nd: 46 hrs
- Egg #2: 3/11/24 @5:05 PM CT | 2nd egg to 3rd: 41 hrs
- Egg #3: 3/13/24 @10:35 AM CT | 3rd egg to 4th: 44 hrs
- Egg #4: 3/15/24 @7:17 AM CT | 4th egg to 5th: 36 hrs
- Egg #5: 3/16/24 @8:00 PM CT | 5th egg to 6th: 43 hrs
- Egg #6: 3/18/24 @3:12 PM
Mississippi Flyway
March 15, 2024: Pelican fancy flights – https://youtu.be/k9niGPuf1EE?si=ucCf-6fygRp6WrOV. I enjoy the pelicans up close, but I loved the squadron soaring through the air at 4:47! They are such wonderful formation fliers and their pods are huge. Amazing birds!
The Raptor Resource Project