Even with the North nest falling, it was a great year for Norths! Come join us for the last chat of the 2023/2024 season on Friday, August 2, from 3:30 to 5PM: https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/decorah-north-nest/. We’ll be celebrating DN17 and DN18, reliving the year, and chatting about our plans!
While the Norths and Hatchery Eagles are in the ebb of their year, we’re still seeing both couples in and around their nesting areas, including a thrilling visit by HD on July 26. Kick up your feet and grab something cold…it’s time for NestFlix!
Decorah North
July 28, 2024: Mr. North & DNF around – https://youtu.be/2O4lyNJLD3s?si=t0D5g4OYptPpn6w5. The video opens with DNF across the stream, switching to a view of Mr. North in the nest tree at around 29 seconds. He flies out at 2:28 and the camera moves to DNF, well-shaded in an oak tree bower.
July 28, 2024: Frolicking fawns! https://youtu.be/c0AMarFeeyw?si=Hg947k-LSmmiSy8E. Go to 5:20 to see some fawns and a doe frolicking in the nice cool water of the stream! I especially enjoyed the rambunctiousness of the fawns, who seemed to be having a great time playing and splashing. So cute!
July 26, 2024: Birds and deer – https://youtu.be/cdoxnZucBqY?si=TtVrQ2W5LFgMOh7b. A lovely look at some North nest neighbors, including an indigo bunting, an American goldfinch, a doe and two fawn deer, one of the Norths, a red-winged blackbird, and a downy woodpecker. A beautiful, relaxing video!
You’ve been asking about the ‘chinstraps’ beneath Mr. North and DNF’s beaks. We see this during bad blackfly years. The two are scratching quite a bit and it is leaving marks. This hasn’t yet caused any problems, but we will be keeping an eye on them. The blackflies should start diminishing in numbers soon.
Decorah Eagles
July 27, 2024: HD perches on the hanging branch near N1 – https://youtu.be/fUxqtPfaG6Q?si=ZLKEGHNuxbKOFR32. HD is obscured by leaves, but it is great to see him in the N1 tree again!
July 26, 2024: HM comes to the Y, than the nest – https://youtu.be/jHJXsO766EU?si=LHj_EY6_nVAYc5KU. Hello, HM. It’s great to see you! HM flies into the Y about ten seconds into the video. We get a lovely close-up look at from the ninth minute of the video on. She looks simply spectacular as she perches and soaks up the wind and the sun. She flies in at briefly explores the nest at 39:40. It’s still open, HM!
July 26, 2024: Handsome HD – https://youtu.be/rK4UvEDmygY?si=x5EiowLfQZpXEz8H. Handsome HD perches and preens in the spooky tree not far from the nest.
We’ve been seeing HD and HM around the valley: along trout run northeast of N1 and N2B, on the bluff perch, on the spooky tree, on the hanging branch, and elsewhere in the valley. We’re crossing our talons for a return to N1 or a season at N2B!