We have your NestFlix and news! The dynamic North nest duo turned 65 and 64 days old today. As we mentioned in an earlier post, fledge could happen in as little as five days, but is most likely to happen until ten or fifteen days from now.
A few people brought up blackflies. Female blackflies, like female mosquitos, take a blood meal to obtain the protein they need to lay eggs. They are a normal part of nest life and we don’t know how problematic they will be this year. In 2019, blackflies chased DN9 from the nest at 68 days of age. She wasn’t injured – 68 days old is just short of fledging age – but went to SOAR because of blackfly bites, anemia, and emaciation. She was treated successfully and released in September. If blackflies ground DN17 and DN18 prior to fledge, we will find and assess them. Talons crossed!
Decorah North Nest
May 28, 2024: Landing on sibling, 2nd attempt is better – https://youtu.be/SoEeUxvQ8G8?si=P-nMUNdwEsLIiTqi. The early bird catches the sibling! The eaglets have been practicing flight skills – take off, landing, and flapping! – as they trampoline around the nest. It’s a busy practice pad and sometimes siblings get in the way! Look for a really nice leap-eagle at 22 seconds.
May 27, 2024: Kids being kids! DN17 top, DN18 bottom
May 27, 2024: Flappercizing, beaking, allopreening, being kids – https://youtu.be/c3_7YjXpjBs?si=gtIA9RDN_vdpxIJr. I love watching the final days of nest school – flight practice 101, eagle table manners 301, allopreening, beaking, playing house – as DN17 and DN18 learn from and imprint/unlock behaviors together. This is a great look at the kids being kids! I especially enjoyed the close-ups that opened the video, the flight practice beginning at 1:48 (look for a nice leap-eagle at 3:48), and stick play starting at 4:32. Check out 6:30 for a look at DN18’s new decoration. Sticks are for building, not wearing, you two!
May 28, 2024: Nest School is in session! DN17 and DN18 are refining their eagle table manners – an important skill for Eagle College! Professors and students aren’t as forgiving there.
May 27, 2024: DN18 claims fish, defends it from DN17 – https://youtu.be/dw0-z6tC7xQ?si=vdaXbLtudz5B2Gyb. Nest school is in session! Mr. North delivers a fish at 10 seconds, carrying it the nest in his beak. DN18 immediately claims it and the hunger games – eagle sibling version! – begin. DN18 mantles and screes dramatically while DN17 looks on, clearly interested but not enough to go for the steal until 3:26 into the video. DN17’s attempt is solid but unsuccessful and DN18 finishes the fish!
May 27, 2024: Siblings are for snuggles! Now that DN17 and DN18’s nest time is nearly over, I find their sibling relationship especially poignant.
TE1 and TE2 are also busy practicing eagle table manners! Check out https://youtu.be/u014DKp69ek?si=KnvMOP6w6pj6WQl6. As the eaglets learn to self-feed, Mr. T learns restraint – at least when it comes to taking fish away from his squeeing offspring. It took a bit, but he’s becoming an excellent eagle Dad! https://youtu.be/q3kTDhpjutg?si=ytAz_lHikDyF8U3W.
May 27, 2024: DN17 and DN18 plot world domination!
May 25, 2024: The duo size comparison 18L, 17R – https://youtu.be/3xhBhL0R_JQ?si=EFdRe9nKKqN5Y45C. A nice side-by-side look at the dynamic duo! Look for size and feather differences.
Wisconsin Kestrels
The Wisconsin Kestrels began hatching 11 days ago. Kestrels typically depart from the nest at 28-31 days, which means they are already at least a third of the way through nest life and growing like enchanting and funny feathered weeds! Watch here: https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/american-kestrels/ and catch up with the goings on below.
May 28, 2024: How do you brood your young when they are collectively larger than you?
May 22, 2024: Feeding the babies, cuteness overload – https://youtu.be/Nci_uqYVs_c?si=wwHTbHUjAn_A1yzc. Adorably tiny falcons, a fabulous feeding, and a wonderful look at Mom’s plumage. I love the noises that kestrels make. If Peregrine Falcons live life at 16x, American kestrels must live it at 32x!
May 20, 2024: Periscopes up! A hatchling peeks out from beneath Mom’s warm feathers.
May 20, 2024: Kestrel Nestling Pokes Heads Out From Under Brooding Female – https://youtu.be/I0Su5hB0GKg?si=8KyJidbqKg5Vw_IV. Periscope up! I never considered it before, but I have to think that five nestling kestrels could make for quite a rumpus room!
May 19, 2024: Final Kestrel Chick Hatches! Five Chicks Perk Up For Morning Feeding – https://youtu.be/Pl5wr7OQnFQ?si=UIW-Jx6IWH7B8KHQ.
May 17, 2024: First American Kestrel Chick Hatches, Revealed Wearing Eggshell Helmet In Wisconsin! https://youtu.be/2piya6K1Zl8?si=HTCncp6b0BtymwRc. We already shared it, but if you haven’t seen it, it’s cute overlaod! Tiny falcons are *swoons*.
The Raptor Resource Project