Decorah Bald Eagles

Raptor Resource ^ | 02/18/12 | Myself

[FrogMom]

I discovered this site last year and spent about 4 months mesmerized by this Bald Eagle family.

Raptor Resource has a camera equipped with infra-red, so you can watch this nest in Decorah Iowa 24 hours a day.

Last year, over the course of a week, Mama laid three eggs. We watched Dad bring her food or trade places with her while she left the nest.

Then the babies started hatching (at around 35 days) and we watched Mom and Dad feed and tend them for months until they all fledged.

Was an AMAZING experience.

Well, folks, Mama laid this years first egg last evening! There's no snow on the nest this year, so when she stands to stretch, you can clearly see the egg. She may lay a couple more over the next week.

If you love these magnificent birds, check it out!

[FrogMom]

Go look!

[FrogMom]

Have you seen this site?

[Aliska]

Alcoa Davenport Works has an eagle cam, too. There are 3 eggs this year. Somebody captured film of them mating and posted it on YT. Following is the link to the webcam (it's hard to see at night). Sometimes the eagles will look right in the camera. They know something is there but are used to it, also used to the constant whistles of trains going by. It was snowing on her the other day but today it is sunny and warm.

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

Just before she laid her second egg, she changed positions and seemed to nudge the egg with her beak into a new position, In the process I got to see it. They are smaller than I expected and offwhite IIRC. They seem to be monogomous which probably aids in their survival.

The pair used this same nest last year, hatched two eggs but one of the eaglets died shortly after.

[hope]

We can learn a lot from these eagles..like when to throw the youngins out of the nest to fly on their own. :D

[bolobaby]

My wife and daughter were watching these guys all last year. Nice to know there’s a new egg in the nest.

[FrogMom]

LOL

My grandmother used to say that God designed the teen years so Mom would want to cut the apron strings.

[FrogMom]

These two have never lost one of their chicks (knock on wood!). This is at least their 5th year together.

I’ve seen the egg about 4 times since I posted this. Will be interesting to see how many more Mama lays!

[KansasGirl]

Thanks.

Bookmarking for future reference.

[hope]

:) We can learn a lot from Grand Moms too!

[FrogMom]

Aliska, I went and looked them up, this pair have been together since the winter of 2007-8. She was about 4 years old when they first appeared.

They have successfully laid, raised and fledged:
2 in 2008
3 in 2009
3 in 2010
3 in 2011

So this is their 5th mating.

[KansasGirl]

Still waiting on another egg. :-)

[KansasGirl]

She laid the 2nd egg tonight!

I had no idea hat bald eagles mate for life! That’s pretty cool!

[FrogMom]

Looking at last years stats, I assumed she’d lay right at 72 hrs after the first, and darned if she didn’t!

I was watching. Her body start contracting like peristalsis - waves started at her shoulders and moved down her body. Then she shook her tail and stepped back - Wow!

She sat and looked at them for a while, her body language said to me, “Now why in hell did I do THAT??”.

Then it started to snow. She’s pretty well covered in it right now.

What an experience!

[KansasGirl]

I watched it live too! Her little chirps, tweets, and coos were sweet. It was amazing. I felt so sad for her when she was so exhausted and then got covered in snow. I know it didn’t bother her, but it bothered me!

My son and I have been waching this morning. Mom and Dad eagle have been very active this morning flying in and out and tending to the nest.