We've gotten some questions on first flights. Here's a description, again from Bent:
"At last the day comes for the eaglets to leave the nest. Sometimes they do so voluntarily; but in some cases it seems necessary to use persuasion. In Dr. Herrick's (1924c) "first season with the Eagles the young seemed disinclined to leave their eyrie and were finally starved out and lured away." After two days of scanty feeding and two days of fasting, "as the old Eagle with the fish was circling just above the nest the Eaglet was jumping with legs rigid and flapping frantically; suddenly it leaped into the air, and for a second seemed to hang, as if poised over the eyrie; at that moment the circling Eagle began to scream, and swooping down at the hovering and now screaming youngster passed him within six feet; a minute later the Eaglet, still holding to the air, drifted fifteen feet or more beyond the margin of the nest; with vigorous wing-beats it began to move eastward, following the mother bird with the fish and made a full mile in its first independent flight; it finally landed in the branches of a tree on the edge of a strip of woods and doubtless was there allowed to feed on the tantalizing fish."
For some time after they leave the nest, probably all through their first summer, the young eagles associate with their parents in the home territory and frequently return to the nest or their favorite perches. But they are eventually driven out to earn their own living and seek new territory. They are never allowed to establish a breeding station near their parental home."
Update: Watch when the eaglets spread their wings. There's still a lot of down there, thus we need to see a bunch more feathers growing in before these critters are ready to soar.
6 comments:
I am a West Virginia kindergarten teacher and my class has enjoyed watching this site. I even shared this information when I was asked how I use technology in the classroom.
Thanks
Thanks so much for the information Steve. I love learning about what our babies are going to be doing.
5/5/06 7:45pm Jo MD
Around 7:30pm both adults were at the nest 2 different times within the half hour. Big Boy got a couple bites & the two younger ones seemed to feed themselves. I hadn't seeen the adults other then the pic Steve posted this morning. Was a warm day & a lot of panting was going on. I thought that if they flapped their wings more that they would cool each other. At least I can sleep tonight knowing that they were fed.
Jo-MD Sat 5/6/06 11:00 am
The video is down(weekend,I guess) but I have the Eagle Cam up & running. Adult came in twice & did bring brunch around 10:53am. All three shared in the feast! It's a beautiful day & shouldn't get as hot as yesterday. Even looks like a little shade over the nest.
Today is Sunday May7th and missing seeing the live cam while at work..lol No what really worries me is the fact " Big Boy" is flappin his wings for 1st flight and we might miss it!! "OUR" Eagle family sure has become a part of each and everyone of us watching them these few months. Can't wait to see them tomarrow live. Steve and all other's who made this possible a Gr8t BIGGGG thank you!!!
Monday 9:13am Video is up & Running! I had been watching the Eagle Cam thru the weekend & earlier this morning - The rain last night produced some wet feathered eaglets - Might not see the sun for awhile. They seem to huddle together when they need to!
Post a Comment