CATCHING UP WITH THE EAGLES

 

I spent part of a recent morning in the company of North Fort Myers' growing eaglets.    Both are doing well and are nearly as big as their parents. E-7 fledged April 16 and takes daily short flights around the pasture.  E-8, just a day younger, has not yet fledged.   He may be a little slow because he had some trauma during his growing days (see paragraph highlighted in red at this link).  

 

 

When I arrived at the pasture , E-7 was sitting on a branch above the nest looking proud of her(?)self. While I was admiring her through my view finder, she suddenly flew off the branch.  Of course, I froze  in awe and got nothing but sky in my  picture... but, fortunately, she didn't go far, landing on a snag tree just a few feet away.

 

 

 

The top two pictures are the closest I got to a flight shot.  She's just landed and it looks like she's looking down to see exactly how high up she is!  She sat there quite a while.   I looked back to the nest tree to see if I could spot E-8, the younger sibling. 

 

 

I found E-8   perched on a branch near the webcam apparatus.  But of course, almost as soon as I focused on him,   I heard some commotion and realized that E-7 had flown off the snag.  This time I  almost got a decent flight shot  -- the picture on the right above is  E-7 -- almost home to the pine and being chased by an inquisitive (or stupid) crow.     

 

 

 This picture shows the nest tree -- the shorter pine almost in the middle of the picture. To its right (in the picture) is the leaning  snag where E-7 landed (you can see both the eagles if you click to enlarge.)    This picture is taken without using the zoom lens and gives a better idea of how far away I was standing.

 

After that, both siblings hung out together in the nest tree for quite a while.  Do you think E-8 was asking his older sibling what it was like to fly off the nest tree?  Or do you think he was lecturing her because she left him all alone?

 

Harriet (earlier this season)

While I was there, Harriet flew in and out of the nest quickly.  She may have deposited food.  Both Eagle parents are practicing constructive neglect -- teaching the babies to get along without them.  But they will continue to bring food occasionally until the babies leave.   

I left the nest site after a while to go across the street  to get groceries for our own 'nest'.  Toward evening, it began to pour down rain .  Glad to be home and dry with plenty to eat, I hoped that both babies were snug in their nest and did not spend the whole rainy and breezy night on that branch.

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LINKING to SEASONS (thanks Jesh); to OUR WORLD on Tuesday (thank you to Lady Fi, Gattina, Arija, Sandy, Sylvia, and Jenn); to NATURE NOTES (thank you Michelle); to WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY (thank you Stewart) and to Nature Footsteps TREES (thank you Monica).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Gaelyn]

This is such a thrill to watch. Your shots are amazing!

[Gunilla]

How wonderful to be able to watch the eagles grow up. They're handsome birds.

[orchid]

Dearest Sallie; How interesting to see the pictures and read your observation of growing sibling eagles♪　Lovely personifying (hope the right word) to guess how the siblings making conversation and "constructive neglect" sure must be important for the animals living in nature; the word itself was educational for me :-) I always feel secured coming back to my own 'nest'after the long away from home or tiring shopping, p:-)

Have a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend, Dear friend.
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

[Terri @ Coloring Outside the Lines]

Wow- these are great shots and what a delight to get to see the eagles so close. I am still waiting to see an eagle here.

[Amy]

Love these photos! This is a bird we most definitely don't have in NZ

[Eden Hills]

Wonderful images! It's been a while since I've seen any eagles around my place.

[NatureFootstep]

you are so lucky to be able to get so close to the eagles. Love your images :)

[Sharon Wagner]

You caught the big guys today. It's so wonderful to have so many successful eagle nests now. And so many sightings.

[craftygreenpoet]

great photos, eagles are such amazing birds

[Pat]

Great post Sallie! I am also jealous for your experience with these majestic birds. There are no bald eagles down here, BUT I recently read that a couple have been spotted recently. That would be awesome.

[Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers]

Such a privilege to be able to see these young eagles being reared at such close quarters. Looks like the siblings are doing well. Hopefully the younger one will catch up very soon. My favourite shot is the two of them having a chat! :)

[Lois]

You got some great shots there. I have to say that I'm jealous that you get to see them in person!

[Debbie]

What a great story, I enjoyed all the funny details! I think perhaps e-8 was asking for advice or maybe even directions!! It is just wonderful to have this to watch and follow. I found an eagles nest in my home town, one that does not seem to be getting any press. We have visited a few times but I can't get any good pictures....but the memories are good enough for me!!

Your images are beautiful, the one with the soft pine needles is amazing. And what the heck was that crow thinking, must have been male for sure!!

[Penny]

I ams so happy to see your update, Sallie. Such drama and action a in just a short time for these eaglets. Your photos are amazing. May your next stay dry.

[Neil]

Great series.

[Hootin' Anni]

You have certainly beautified blogland with these magnificent images Sallie.

[DeniseinVA]

What fun to be able to see them develop. Great photos Sallie.

[Dianne]

One day to my amazement, a group of crows flew over my head chasing a huge Barred Owl. They had roused the owl from his daytime slumber in my neighbor's tree. I learned after that owls and other birds of prey are mortal enimes of crows.

[Margaret Birding For Pleasure]

fantastic series of images of this magnificent bird

[Andrea @ From The Sol]

I love your eagles and how wonderful that you have been able to follow their growth and their successes. E7 seems considerably bigger than E8 which would tell me that you are right about E7 being a "she". Love your pictures ... went back and read about E8's injury. He was lucky that there were rehabbers there to help him. In real life that wouldn't have turned out so well. Thanks for the series ... I love eagles (and who doesn't) so I really enjoyed your post.

Andrea @ From The Sol

[Gattina]

I think I have never seen an eagle in freedom, only in a zoo. What beautiful pictures !

[nancy chan]

Wonderful to be able to watch the eaglets grow and keep track on them with the photos. They are beautiful and strong birds.

[Michelle]

Lovely to see them doing well as I no longer watch any nest cams or keep up...too much upsetting stuff for me... I am starting a nature library for little Blake hoping that we will be able to spend time nature hunting together...Michelle...

[Rajesh]

Great series of images of the birds in such a nice place.

[Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti]

How wonderful to have your own eaglets to watch, Sallie, and it is exciting that they are beginning to fledge! I enjoyed your photos of them.

[Al]

What spectacular birds - always amazing to see them.

[artmusedog and carol]

Oh how blessed you are to photography these majestic birds and great photography and post ~ thanks ~

Happy Week to you ~ ^_^

[Photo Cache]

This should happen more often. A few birds build nests under my eaves last year. They came back this year and rebuilt it. And they never pay rent.

[Ruby]

Lovely to see the eagles and eaglets,they are really magnificent birds. So interesting....thanks for sharing this!
Have a great week Sallie!

[Colleen@ LOOSELEAFNOTES]

They look so official and imposing!

[fun60]

Thank you for sharing these photos so we can all marvel at the growing eaglets.

[Jesh StG]

I smile, because now you give them names:) I guess you had been waiting for some time to take these photos! Can't believe a crow chased them -didn't know they are so brazen!

Many thanks Sally for being part of SEASONS with this post! (you have warmed up well to the new meme/challenge, wink, wink). Can't wait what you will post for next week. Have a happy one- this week:)

[Penelope Postcards]

Lol … I like that term “constructive neglect”. Seeing the twists and turns of eagles in the wild is never dull and a little like watching a reality show in nature. Lots of drama and hopes that all eaglets will survive and thrive.

[Linda]

Your moon photos are STUNNING!

It's so much fun see the eagles!

It's still cold here. I'm tired of the cold.

Linda

[Lady Fi]

Wow - how amazing to see the eagles and their young. Great shots.

[Linda]

These are gorgeous and magnificent, Sallie! Thank you so much for sharing.

[Sondra-SC]

Boy they grow up so fast yet don't get the tell tale white until 8 yrs of age is what I've read...I think this nest has been very successful in adding to the Eagle population.
We finally had rain yesterday!

[JennJilks]

So fascinating!

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie, awesome post on the eagles and eaglets. They have grown. It is always awesome to see an eagle in flight. Great photos!
Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

[Stewart M]

Just being able to spend part of the morning with eagles seems so great!

Nice post.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

[Keith Alfred Wynn]

Such amazing and majestic creatures...love your captures!

[Ratty]

Eagles are fun. Seeing the bigger birds is always an exciting experience, especially when there are pictures to share.

[Chandra@GreenComotion]

Sallie,
You are Sears Portrait Studio for all these birds - Well done!!
I am really surprised to see a Webcam next to these big birds, on the tree -wow.
Have a Happy Week ahead.
Peace :)

[bettyl-NZ]

I'm sure it was a great day out to watch them go about their day. You captured them well. I'm sure you will get your perfect in-flight shot soon. FYI, most of my 'flight' shots are not at all calculated--just lucky shots with no expectation!

[KL]

These are some absolutely beautiful shots. So lovely to hear the story. In front of our main door is a new nest of Blue Jay. I can just spend all day watching her/them. By the way, how did you choose the names for the eagles? Perhaps I should also name by blue-jay.

[Yogi]

I love this post. Glad to see you are one of the legion of people who care. (I knew already that you did.)

[ellen b]

Fabulous photos Sallie. So glad you stocked up and headed home to cozy up out of the rain!

[Lowell]

These are all wonderful, Sallie. I especially liked the one of the siblings with the soft surround...what great fun to get to see these magnificent birds. And thank you again for your very nice comments on my blogs!