Jordan Lake. While Captain Doug and I were out checking various nests we managed to watch the mom bald eagle from Captain’s Nest do a spectacular launch. In the nest photo that is Dad incubating. As you can see he looks small in the nest because all nests are constructed to fit the girth of the much larger bald eagle hen.
Jordan Lake: Captain Doug and I had just checked the nest and there wasn’t anybody at home. When all of a sudden high through the trees came Captain Dad. He was in a big hurry and he was headed upstairs, so to speak. As you can see he caught up with his lady. That’s Captain Mom in the lead in the photos of the pair in flight. They went up in the air, circling higher and higher and higher and finally got totally out of our sight. Eagles like doing that kind of flying! Especially together as a pair.
Jordan Lake: Food Fight! Triplet Bald Eagle Fledglings update: Dad tried to get a fish for the triplets to the nest, drop it and run, but he got caught in the middle of the fight. At one point there were 4 full-sized bald eagles in the nest! Eventually Dad was able to flee the nest, was exhausted, but appeared to have survived – it can be a rough life to be a raptor parent. The biggest fledgling, a female, won the fish. What a melee!
Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle Nest SUPRISE!!! at Captain’s Nest. You never know, during a bald eagle breeding season, how the cycle will end. Once in a while you’re completely surprised right near the finish … There were actually THREE chicks who fledged from the Captain’s Nest – usually there are 2 chicks. It is always difficult to track the number of eaglets while they are in the nest and Captain’s Nest proved just that. If you look just below the arrow you can see the face of the 3rd chick. We have now seen all 3 of the chicks fledged and enjoying their cove. Way to go Captain Mom and Dad! Triplets! My thanks to Captain Doug for sharing his photo and the Captain Nest journey with us.
This morning Captain Doug and I watched Captain Mom swoop past and catch a small fish. You can see the fish in the water just in front of her approaching talons in the first photo. Like the great mom she is, she promptly took it to the nest for her chicks.
You can see the almost white-colored chick stretching up towards his Dad’s tail while Dad is pulling a piece of fish free to feed the chick.
Dad has a bit of fish in his beak and is reaching towards his chick.
Dad gently gives the chick a bite of fish.
doc ellen's journey 