Captain Doug and I were out cruising the lake last week. We found a young bald eagle surveying the shoreline. We could see that it was at least three years old – heading towards four. The first photo is the left side of the face. The in-flight photo shows you the right side of the face. I think the plumage patterns in the three-year-olds going towards four-year-olds are some of the most spectacular looks on an immature bald eagle.
Fledge! The bald eagle chick on the left of nest brim thought hard. Launched. Set feet and wings for first landing! Disappeared as Captain Doug and I watched its very first flight! Check 1st photo again, go right of nest and see the other fledgling watching its sibling.
The bald eagle chicks at the HP nest are always a challenge to photograph … the nest is literally adorned with a multitude of pine cones. Capt. Doug and I slowly eased past the nest, keeping the large chicks in sight, and shooting between the pinecones the best we could. These chicks are almost old enough to start branching.
In the first photo you can just barely see the bright white sliver of the top of the chick’s head above the blue arrow. The white tail to the right of chick’s head belongs to Dad Bard. The other 3 photos are Bard leaving the nest and in flight.
HP Bald Eagle Nest, Jordan Lake, is always way ahead of other nests at the lake in producing chicks. Mom eagle is checking out her two chicks who are about 5-6 weeks old. You can see both chicks in the 2nd photo, above the red arrows.
About one year ago this young eagle was making the transition from being egg-bound to breathing air! This photo was made at Jordan Lake in late December 2024. The eaglet has survived, thrived and is eager to face the next year of life. Happy New Year young eagle!
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