HC is in the nest and Coffee is way UPSTAIRS, almost at the top of the photo.
Both chicks are branching: jumping, climbing and wing wapping from branch to branch above the nest.
They keep the nest below them or just to the side as a safety net
as they build up stength and coordination for their upcoming first flight.
I watch for their yellow feet: sometimes this is the only way I can find them!

 

I am celebrating: several decades ago, on March 24, my parents gave life and breath to me. They taught me to care for the Creator and creation. The joy I have in sharing my work with all of you comes from them. I miss my parents Hubert and Lucille Tinsley, but hopefully they live on in my efforts to bring a sampling of the vibrant life around me to each of you.

Today at the First Nest I took this photo and captured the two chicks on a video as they worked to strengthen wings and bodies for their coming first flight. The chicks bounced everywhere!  Video is here https://youtu.be/tCCROQ4ksYw

Bald eagles and their growing chicks thrive on cold windy weather.
On the other hand, doc got kinda sorta wind-blown and chilled today –
but that’s ok because the winds blew the limbs aside and gave me a better view of the nest.
Coffee is on the left, hollering something to H.C. whose back is turned toward us.
 
H&G Nest
In the wild winds I only managed to get one chick in view – don’t know if it is Granola or Raisin.
Notice that it is starting to replace its grey fluff with dark feathers around its face.

Godiva is just in front of the nest.
The 1 year old bald eagle to the far upper right made the mistake of flying too close to the nest.
I sure wish I was equipped to be able to show all of you better photos of this nest.
There are only a couple of viewing points that will not disturb the nest –
they are more than 1000 feet across the cove from the nest.

Hershey is bringing in a fish for his chicks.

There are 2 chicks in the First Nest!
See the fuzzy light grey head and eye of the chick just to the right of Kate.
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One of the chicks is just to the right of the big limb between it and Kate.
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Kate is holding a big shiny crappie fish.
Look in the area between the fish and Kate’s legs and you can see a chick in the shadows.
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 Way over to the right you see a chick right at the edge of the nest –
I think it is the smallest of the 2 chicks
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Carefully watch directly in front of Kate as she feeds 1 chick.
Then she feeds the second chick which is just past her head to the left.
Both chicks vie for bites of fish.
Video is courtesy of one of the other nest monitors.

As most of you know, I visit many different places on Jordan Lake.
For the first time in a long while, yesterday I found myself at the dam.
The sun was wintery, and as usual at the dam, the wind was howling and it was cold, cold.
I sat down on the top of the riprap, half way between the dam and the end of the riprap.
Long hours through several years have taught me this:
going any further down river just chases the eagles further away.
Winter seems to stir eagles up and push them all over the lake.
Go to your closest boat ramp and look!
This 2 year old bald eagle appeared over my head and did a couple of what I call “sky jinks”.
He turned himself inside out, all mid-air, and then was gone over the horizon.

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