H&G nest

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By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest: H&G nest, 5 photos 06-14-2019
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle nest: H&G nest and Shadows
This morning Hershey, like me (see earlier post), found his own shadow.
His face was bisected by the leading edge shadow of his wing.
Hershey then flew out of the shadow on the next wing beat.
Flew into the shadow of his wingtip which cradled his face.
Flew out again.
The last I saw of him, his wingtip shadow was edging across his chest as he flew into the shadow of the tree at the bend of the shoreline.
He was headed toward his nest.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Fledgling: H&G Nest 06-01-2019
Well, Dad Hershey had made this landing look easy and so his fledgling gave it a try.
But sticking a landing on a small round jagged top of a snapped-off tree trunk is an exercise that takes a lot of practice.
Just where do you place your feet when there is no limb which you can wrap your talons around?
This fledgling finally got both feet on the snag and was very proud of himself.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest: H&G Nest, 10 photos, 05-30-2019
H&G Nest
 
Mom Godiva had been lurking on a high perch when she jumped and streaked to just above water level.
Her direction was taking her straight down the shore line.
I heard a great blue heron give its grumpy annoyed don’t-you-dare-disturb-me yell.
Floating behind the heron was a dead fish.
I realized that the eagle’s flight path was straight for the heron.  Both birds wanted the fish.
I wondered if a collision was eminent.
But, no.  Godiva lifted up over the heron, glanced down at the fish and kept moving past.
I continued to track Godiva and when I looked back to the heron, it had flown almost out of sight, fish dangling from its beak.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Fledge: H&G nest, 9 photos 05-28-2019
H&G Nest
 
I found Godiva sitting to the far left.  One chick on the rim of the nest.  One chick to the far right on a branch.
Mom Godiva flew out and I tracked her only to realize that one of the chicks had flown too!!!
I don’t know if the chick had fledged yesterday or today, but I am happy for the new flier.
The fledgling flew, circled, got tired and even though about 500 feet from the nest, dropped his feet for landing.
All fledglings make controlled crashes for landings.  This fledgling almost forgot to put on the brakes!
He was still going full speed when he disappeared from sight behind the main trunk.

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!