All parents, be they human or eagle, need an occasional break from parenting duties. Captain Mom came zipping past the nest with Captain Dad not far behind her. They flew hard and fast down the cove trying to be the first eagle to the tree. I think Captain Dad, the lower eagle, just barely won the race!
I found Dad Petruchio cleaning the nest and being watched by one of the chicks.
He soon left the nest and both chicks watched him go.
A while later, I first found Kate.
Then Petruchio, each on one of their favorite outlook perches.
Mom Godiva was up in the nest watching Dad Hershey fishing for breakfast for their chick(s). He flew out of sight and mom was hollering at him. I sure hope he caught a fish soon!
Two 4-year-old bald eagles came up from the Haw River and the chase was on. The lead bald eagle had a rather small fish tucked tight against its tail and the other eagle wanted the fish. Gravity exerted its pull on the fish. The lead eagle lost its grip on the fish. Instantly the sky fishing game was on as the following bald eagle sought to catch the fish … in mid-air. I have seen this happen (eagle on eagle or eagle on osprey) but never gotten even close to the half-way decent photos I captured this morning. My oh my! Aerial dexterity in the extreme. Oh, and did the eagle catch the fish……. the slideshow has the exciting answer!
This youngster had a fish in his right foot and was headed to the safety of the trees to eat it, when a second fish caught his eye. I don’t often see eagles or ospreys go after a second fish while they are already carrying the weight of a first fish. Not to mention the dexterity needed to hold on to one fish while grabbing a second one from the water. This youngster managed to keep both fish and made it into the trees. Pretty neat fishing!
doc ellen's journey 