Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (OK)

[elfruler]

Since I grew up in Oklahoma, I wanted to get a thread going on this nest.

Here's the link:
http://www.suttoncenter.org/pages/live_eagle_camera

[elfruler]

Today's massive snowstorm has hit Oklahoma hard.  My dad in Tulsa says they've gotten about a foot, and the wind is fierce.  The female eagle at Sequoyah is hunkered down to protect her two eggs, spreading her body and wings out as well as she can.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-RUysNnYEM

[kittenface]

That is so nasty looking poor mom hope everyone is ok thats why I want the FSV eagles to wait as long as possible to start laying eggs

[elfruler]

I'm sure this is not what she thought she was signing up for when she and her mate built a nest in hot, sunny Oklahoma!

[golden1]

The eagles seem to be giving each other breaks.  There sure is a lot of shifting and rocking going on as they incubate.  Almost seems like a hatchling may be coming or there.  They have been quick in switches and when up they have been facing 12 so really can not see what is happening.  Sounds like the snow will subside during the night and then it will begin to warm up.  This is a BIG STORm.......

[elfruler]

Two videos.  The first shows the nest from wide view, visibility near zero in the storm, wind 22 gusting to 34, temperature 16 degrees.  The second is an amazingly touching view of parents' teamwork.  The male had come in to relieve the female protecting the eggs, but she stays in the nest and tries to shelter both her mate and the eggs new eaglet and the second egg as they ride out the storm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOeJvdJWXFU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n8rFrSt3LQ

[Linda M]

That is really amazing of the two of them together; thank you for recording and posting it. It always makes me feel horrible when they endure weather like this with eggs or chicks.

[Nora in IA]

Boy that nest is really moving around in that wind.  That's a lot of snow for down there besides really cold.  We're used to it here in Iowa.

[elfruler]

It wasn't 2 eggs, it was an egg and a chick!

Watch the switch in this video, the female bringing prey (visible in the bottom right of the screen after she moves), then when he flies away the chick and egg are visible in the bowl, which is snow-free!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqLWljzDhvM

[golden1]

We thought we saw the eaglet at 13:04 cst.  Dad had lifted up to shift things a bit and it sure looked like eaglet fuzz.....so glad to see it, but sure wish the weather was better.  Have seen eagles stay well and keep every little ok through storms like this before.  Talons crossed that all will go smoothly here.  There may be a pip in the other egg....exciting.....

[elfruler]

Yes, you probably saw it coming, golden.  The snow seems finally to have tapered off down there, and these seem like good parents, so I have high hopes they'll be fine.  Will sure be watching in the next day or two for that other little chick to appear.

[golden1]

We saw the parents feeding the hatchling several times late in the afternoon.  It is sitting up to eat and moving about like any healthy eaglet should.  Glad to hear the snow is tapering off. 

[Dot]

That's good news Golden.  The wind was so fierce.  These eagles are so brave.  I am in awe of them.

[elfruler]

Today's massive snowstorm has hit Oklahoma hard.  My dad in Tulsa says they've gotten about a foot, and the wind is fierce.  The female eagle at Sequoyah is hunkered down to protect her two eggs, spreading her body and wings out as well as she can.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-RUysNnYEM

From what I can tell from other forums, the hatch came sometime around 9:00 this morning, in the midst of the storm, so my video in this earlier post shows the mom sheltering the new eaglet.  Really amazingly awesome.

[maple]

Thank you elfruler for that very touching video. It is so obvious that they care for each other. We are just starting to get the storm in eastern Michigan. Glad it's over for those brave eagles and their little one. Thanks again.