Tag Archives: Development

Learning Eagle Table Manners

May 10, 2022: Learning Eaglet Table Manners

We were asked about eaglet growth and development during our explore.org Bird Week chat yesterday. Bald eagles spend about the first half of nest life – say, 35 to 40 days – gaining weight, growing limbs and feet, and growing and replacing feathers. In stage two – about 40 to 75 or 80 days – they begin preparing for life beyond the nest by building muscle, exploring their new wings, learning to unzip prey and feed themselves, and practicing their

Read more Decorah North Eagles, News

Eaglet Growth and Development: Week Four

April 19, 2022: DN15 and DN16

We’re writing a series of blogs about the first few weeks of an eaglet’s life. An eaglet spends roughly 75 to 80 days in the nest. For about the first half, it grows and gains weight. For about the second half, it grows flight feathers and starts developing the skills it will need post-fledge. We will focus on week four in this blog. DN15 and DN16 turn 25 and 24 days old today. During week three (fourteen to twenty-one days),

Read more Decorah Eagles, News

Oh poop shoot!

April 16, 2018: Poop Shoot!

Oh poop shoot! As the eaglets get stronger and more coordinated, they begin to paint the nest and crib rails white with slices, splashes, and stripes of poop. But sometimes parents – DNF in this case – get in the way! DN16 does its very best to shoot poop out of the nest, but hits DNF instead. Wonderful moments like this inevitably lead to questions like “What is bird poop?” and “What do eagle Moms and Dads think about this?”.

Read more Decorah North Eagles, News

Monday Morning North Milestones and Eaglet Movie Marathon!

Sibling love! DN15 (right) gives DN16 an adorable wing hug.

We have your Monday morning North milestones and movie marathon! The Decorah North eaglets turn 16 and 15 days old today. While the wet, chilly weather put a damper on nestploration in their second week, we thrilled to several milestones, including a first fish tail (DN15), a first pellet cast (after the fish tail), emerging thermal down, and huge cropzillas on both eaglets! Pellet Casting Why is pellet casting a big deal? Eagle parents feed their hatchlings ‘baby food’ –

Read more Decorah North Eagles, News

Eaglet Growth and Development, Week Two

April 5, 2021: DN13, left and DN14, right

We’re writing a series of blogs about the first few weeks of an eaglet’s life. An eaglet spends roughly 75 to 80 days in the nest. For about the first half, it grows and gains weight. For about the second half, it grows flight feathers and starts developing the skills it will need post-fledge. We will focus on week two in this blog. In their second week of development, the eaglets will gain roughly two pounds, experience rapid growth in

Read more Decorah North Eagles, News
« Older Entries