bald eagle chick

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By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: H&G nest, 9 photos, 05-16-2019
H&G Nest
Dad Hershey had walked out on a big branch to the right of the nest to check on one of the chicks.
I heard an angry alert call from both Hershey and Godiva (unseen).
A two-year-old bald eagle was headed toward the nest.
Juvenile eagles will try to steal chicks from eagle nests and Hershey and Godiva knew this.
Hershey launched and the two-year-old eagle quickly saw it was in trouble and it turned and fled the cove.
Hershey returned to a tree near the nest and the two chicks went back to branching.
Mom Godiva showed up and took over guard duties while the two chicks watched the world.
Hint: to find branching chicks, look for their feet first then look for the beak!

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: Ranger Cove nest, 10 photos 05-14-2019
 Ranger Cove Nest
One of the chicks is branching.
It is getting strong enough to develop lift with its wings and bounce with its legs.
Suddenly it was in the air and popped up to a branch just above its head (the branch is on the other side of the trunk from us).
It was quite pleased with what it had done and proceeded to practice several more branchings.
Soon it will take the leap and fully fledge away from the nest.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle nest report: H&G nest, 4 photos
H&G Nest
 
The two chicks are branching now.  Wing wapping and jumping from the brim of the nest to a nearby branch.
 
Mom Godiva is ignoring the youngsters.
 
 
Taking a break.
 
 
Wap.  Wap.  Getting the muscles stronger.
 
 
I am not sure what got Mom Godiva’s attention.  Maybe that the one chick is about to jump back into the nest.
 
 
 

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 4 photos, 04-10-2019
 
First Nest
 
The pine pollen has not abated and the lake level has risen.
Both situations make watching the nests a difficult task.
 
Oh what a determined face as Caramel contemplates maybe making a try for the other side of the nest.
 
Uh, maybe I ought to think some more about heading across the nest.
 
 
I wonder if that human down there has noticed me.
 
As if you haven’t seen enough pollen this week … this is what the lake looked like this morning!
 

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest, 4 photos, 04-09-2019
Drat!!! Pollen!!! I found Caramel on a branch above the rim of the nest.
This activity is called branching and will lead to jumps and flights to higher limbs directly above the nest.
The branching can go on for up to about 2 weeks or last 2 days; depends on how precocious the chick is.
The next step is flight from the safety of the nest: fledgling.
I just wish the pollen hadn’t obscured the first photo.  Sigh.
 
Caramel is standing of a branch that is unseen.  He seems a little startled that he is above the nest.
 
 
Okay.  Now to get back to the safety of the nest. Jump and flap.
 
 
Look at me! I have landed!  I am safe.
 
 
Wow!  I really did it.  Branched a whole two feet or so from branch to the nest.  Oh, wow!