Raptor Resource Project Forum
RRP's Birds: Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, American Kestrels, Ospreys, Turkey Vultures, and More! => Bald Eagles 2025 => Topic started by: STLbf on January 01, 2025, 12:07:51 PM
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Happy New Year from the Norths and me to all of the North-watchers, camera operators, and everyone at RRP
DNF and MrN are starting the year with more sticks for this new nest.
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Thanks, STL, and the same to you and all here!
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Canada Geese foraging in the creek area this morning. DNF and MrN brought more grasses to the nest around 11 AM, then MrN brought an oak leafy branch at 11:30-ish.
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No more chat?
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Great question Ruby! I'm sure there will be chat here for the North nest site but have not seen any messages about a schedule yet. Meanwhile, please share thoughts and photos here on the Forum.
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The Norths valley is dry but very cold this morning. DNF and MrN came to the nest just before noon to dig a bit and try out the fit. It's mostly a good day to conserve energy.
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Top down view of the nest this morning about 8AM. None of the creatures are stirring, not even a mouse, too cold! ;)
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January 7, 2025
4 am owls calling - makin quite a racket!
At least 2 owls - maybe more
5 am both barred and GHO owls calling -
coyotes yelping -
some other sound earlier
This is the noisiest night in a long time!
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sheph What time zone are the mentioned times?
P
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Decorah is in the Central Time Zone. MrN spent the night perching right near the nest, possibly to guard the frozen prey, guessing rabbbit brought sometime yesterday. On the rewind, I heard owls, too, maybe around 3:00 AM. A male red-bellied woodpecker pecked at the prey, flying away as DNF came for breakfast. She worked on the frozen carcass for a couple hours.
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Thanks again Shep - I just wondered if my current time, your quoted time, and posted time were in sync. We're all CT. But I found the post which is good in the overall end.
Hugs
P
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DNF, MrN, and RBW made appearances at the nest this morning. Also a nuthatch but too tiny for a decent pic about the same time as the RBW.
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The Norths overnighted in the Love Branches. Just after the color cam turned on, DNF brought a nice trout to the nest for breakfast and ate the whole thing. Might be rainbow trout that spawn in January.
MrN brought a stick to the nest about 10:00 with a great view of fly-around, landing, then flying away. He did the same again about 10:15.
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January 10, 2025
4.45 am 2 barred owls 'sing' a duet
- not very far away
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January 10, 2025
4.45 am 2 barred owls 'sing' a duet
- not very far away
Found the capture easily this a.m. Shep.
Has my concern now moreso. Our pair has been getting closer to eggs. Then there's the hatching. Owls seem to be setting up for the nest attacks already. >:(
Thanks for the report.
P
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Winter is the season for owls in Iowa for sure. Several species of owls harrass the adult eagles during nights when they perch on the Love Branches, and occasionally swoop on the nest, but I don't recall an owl ever getting an egg or an eaglet from the North's nest in the 8 years or so I've been watching here. RRP will have records available and maybe Amy will respond here on the Forum.
Owls definitely prey successfully at times on the peregrine falcon nest box at Great Spirit Bluff, especially Great Horned Owls.
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Cattle grazing this morning, red squirrel foraging under the nest area early afternoon, Canada geese in the creek about 3:00, no eagles on view.
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Saturday, cold, dry, good weather for nest work by the Norths. Early on they brought grasses, then several sticks and cornstalks. Canada geese have been foraging and resting in the pasture; the Norths go on alert watching them. Cam ops provide great closeups of the Norths -- Thanks! :D
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Decorah North Eagles
Jan. 12, 2025 7:17 AM CST
The Norths , doing some light housekeeping early this morning.
(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/1/12/20250112T131727_2882709.ts.jpg)
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STLbf- really great captures of The Norths and their neighbors. Oh-O!! Those darn barred owls. Our bald eagle pair can thwart any
attacks when it's time to lay and hatch. :-*
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From watching yesterday's nest actions PHYL - - Add that to the calls today - - If they start bring in a new supply of the soft stuff today - - it might mean NN/they're getting into the egg routine soon? ::)
Just a wild hopeful guess.
P
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Another cold, dry, windy day for the Norths. Both brought corn husks to the nest. They aren't staying long.
Nest records on the live feed page tell important dates such as egg laying, hatching, fledging. Last year first egg laid on FEB 15th.
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DNF brought new grasses to the nest about 10:15 this morning. MrN came to help, and both dug with their feet and tested the fit. Watch on the rewind if you can.
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Hello to 2025 forums - thanks Amy
here is my list of bookmarks that I post each year for the 2 lounge forums and the 2 Decorah forums. These bookmarks will automatically go to your last read post in each forum.
Decorah Eagles 2025 Forum - https://www.raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?topic=2926.new.html#new
Decorah North Nest 2025 Forum - https://www.raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php/topic,2925.new.html#new
Cheers 2025 Forum - https://www.raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?topic=2928.new.html#new
Beak Room 2025 Forum - https://www.raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?topic=2927.new.html#new
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I see that Amy kind of buried this year's thread.
Didn't last year's have a direct link on the home page?
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Ginger, Amy grouped the eagle nests under a single tab then a list when you click on it -- that's for viewing the nests on live feed. She did the same with other collections like the falcons for live feeds. Here on the Forum page, there's new organization also for 2025. Think of it as a small challenge for our brains. ;) OldGuy has some different order in his links posted a day or so ago at DNN and Decorah, maybe some others that I don't follow.
Really cold but dry around Decorah. DNF and MrN visited the nest briefly this morning, separately. MrN perched for a while on the broken branch before flying away.
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STL -- I understand how Amy organized things but I find it more cumbersome than before and given that DNN is the most watched nest, i would have thought it would have its own link from the home page. JMO.
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Ginger, ya, me too. I try to think of reorganizations as little mental challenges and brain exercises. The Norths are at the top of the list when you click into the Bald Eagles group.
Busy day for the Norths in milder weather today. Stick work on the nest, DNF ate fish for breakfast at the nest, food gift from MrN to DNF (pheasant) at lunchtime, lots of togetherness. Rewind shows several fly-arounds as they harvest sticks from the trees in the area.
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Breakfish and pheasant for lunch.
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Closeups of the Norths today
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Temperatures warm enough for a bath in the creek for DNF at noon. And she had company, a sub-adult in checker-brown feathering. They flew to the Claw Tree for drying off, then another adult eagle flew in, bumping DNF who flew to the high Love Branches. I thought maybe it was MrN but seeing later views, I think it's a different almost-adult visitor, who showed up on a Lower Love Branch for an hour or so of preening. This bird has more dark headfeathers than DNF. It's a little confusing at time of posting pics at 1:20 PM.
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Around sunrise a loud echoy gunshot was heard, just as MrN flew away from the overnight in Love Branches, leaving DNF perched there. The shot seemed distant from the nest area, like nearer the cattle farm side of the creek. Any info?
The 4th pic below is the eagle preening on a lower Love Branch, that I think is an almost-adult visitor, not DNF. Right or Wrong??
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About 2:00 this afternoon, DNF landed on the Lower Love Branch with a talonful of nest materials. Another eagle arrived to a higher branch, MrN, I think. DNF flew her load to the nest and ate more pheasant bones (good for strong eggshells). MrN joined her to move some sticks. He had a Y stick and she had that long T stick from yesterday.
They fuss with positioning until the stick no longer moves when tugged, resulting in strong rails. Notice that there are no gently sloping limbs for easy access by eaglets-to-come, like the Ladder Branch at the old nest. No problem; eaglets will not miss what they never have.
Gunshots can still be heard, but sound farther away than early this morning. Do I remember correctly that there is a firing range in the general area?
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Very cold today, and the eagles were mostly out of view. DNF spent a few minutes arranging cornstalk and husk at the nest, then flew away. At the same time, MrN was perching in the high Love Branches, and he flew away at the same time. Hope they have a warmer place to hang out.
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Brrr Below zero today. Cam ops showed two top down views of the nest at about 9:00 AM and again at about 10:00, just before DNF brought a load of grasses. She didn't stay long. At about 2:00 PM, DNF brought herself a fresh-killed rabbit and ate the whole thing. Lotsa warm fur for the nest and lotsa good bones for eggshells.
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Another frigid day for the Norths. No eagles or any other creatures in view as of noon. One furry view of the nest.
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The Norths are back at work on the nest this morning, despite the cold and a bit of snow.
In the early daylight hours, there might have been an adult visitor perching in a creek tree; all white head with a dark spot right on top.
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About 10:30 this morning, DNF and a sub-adult perched in one of the trees south of the nest. They sat for an hour or so, neither moving much until finally the sub-a flew away. All this time, DNF was holding a frozen, partial carcass of a raccoon, mostly the head. She picked at it for a while then dropped it as she took off. She flew to the nest briefly. On the ground, two crows picked at the carcass for a short time.
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Brrrr again today. DNF brought grasses to the nest about 9:15 AM. Then she flew away, next seen perching in a tall tree to the south of the nest, where she was with the sub-adult visitor yesterday. She was carrying something long like a cornstalk when she flew from the tall tree to the nest.
Love the long view of the nest from the ground camera, shows how high up the nest is.
That tall tree south of the nest is a favorite perching spot for the Norths. Could we call it the South Tree?
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January 24, 2025
That looks like nice clean dry hay - lots of it.
Is an egg near?
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Shep, last year DNF laid the first egg on FEB 15. Nest Records of egg laying, hatch dates, fledge dates, etc. are posted on the chat page, scroll around to find them.
About 4:00 this afternoon, MrN brought a frozen raccoon carcass to the nest. It's headless, so probably the remains of the raccoon head in the pics from yesterday. MrN flew off the nest with it just as DNF was landing. He took it to a lower branch just south of the nest and DNF joined him. She defurred and ate some of the carcass before flying away, leaving the carcass hanging over the branch. All that nice fur going to waste instead of insulating the nest. Ah well. DNF flew to the ground nearby, located the remains of the head and flew away with it. Around 5:00, she was perched in the South Tree as it was beginning to snow.
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Couple more raccoon carcass pics from late this afternoon.
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Temperature above freezing part of today, good time for MrN and DNF to bring really long sticks to the nest, work on the bowl and fit, and mating and soaring. Pics of all but the soaring, which you can watch on the rewind soon after the mating at about 11:00.
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The Norths are active today even though it's freezing again. They started about 7:30 with both testing the fit [MrN in pic] while both ignored the large raccoon carcass on the nest [don't know when it arrived]. After perching together in the South Tree, DNF returned to the nest and removed the carcass to a Lower Love Branch, where she left it hanging. [pic about 9:45AM]
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Both eagles perched on bowed lower branches of another tree just south of the nest about 10:00 AM. They were distracted from togetherness, probably by the flock of geese that were foraging at the creek. Eagles went, geese stayed.
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Active day at the nest. Not pictured, RBW and starlings near 8:00. Soaring about 10:30 and again after noon.
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DNF had a fish for breakfast about 7:00 this morning. I think she brought it, then MrN came to see briefly, then she ate it all.
Good view of the camera on a separate tree near the nest. Might be a new one. See orange circle, and yellow circle shows the nest.
Male hairy woodpecker closeups; foraging on a branch near the nest.
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Lotsa deer in the area early this morning. Three does near the nest area about 7:30, then about 10 at the edge of the creek. About 7:45 the cattle came to cross the creek. MrN brought a stick about 8:30 and DNF brought grasses about 9:00.
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The Norths worked on the nest off and on this morning, then mated on a Hideaway branch about 11:00. MrN brought lunch for DNF at noon, then hung around until she was ready to share some bits at about 1:30. I think it was an opossum from the large overall size and bare tail visible, and dark and white shortish fur.
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Decorah North Eagles
Jan.31, 2025 5:44 PM CST
The Norths at dusk.
(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/1/31/20250131T234421_3722316.ts.jpg)
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We got DNN February eggs a coming. :)
We're perching and watching ..
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Missed yesterday, doing other activities not birdly! Today DNF spent more time at the nest than she has been, not "broody" yet but just there a lot. Both brought some sticks and soft materials to add to the comfy home they have created on RRP's base. Seems like they are still adjusting to the smaller size of this nest. Can't wait to see them with pre-fledge-size eaglets.
One mating on camera mid-morning. DNF brought a gray squirrel carcass for teatime about 2:00. Several sets of pics. Enjoy.
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More pics from this afternoon.
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Couple pics of the undercarriage structure supporting this new nest. Nobody is going to slip out through the bottom!
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You got that nest shoe fulcrum point Oak tree nailed just right STL.
The RRP E.A.G.L.E. team.
(Engineering Adaptable Glide path Licensed Experts).
RRP from It's Bob Anderson roots has always struck me as a very capable group in so many ways I can't even begin to say. :-*
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Prosthetic oak tree branch growing an airborne beaver type construct made by Bald Eagles in IA.
NOW.
You know I'm down.
What originally landed me here was an article from an obscure climbing article many moons ago.
Very cool DNN cam view STLbf .
Thank you RRP, Cam OP, STL !
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say these crib rails and nest stuff are not from the Nest Depot in Decorah.
Locally acquired materials as it were.
The In and Out for the nn's is stellar.
I'm going to go out even farther on a limb and say in the next 2/3 weeks the ever upward and expanding platform that is the nest will have plenty of area by then.
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The Norths are certainly working on making the nest bigger in every dimension!
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MrN has been working on the rail between the two limbs for weeks. He seems determined to make it a high barrier.
About 3:15 this afternoon, MrN brought a food gift for DNF who followed him to the nest. It was another gray squirrel. More good long bones to turn into strong eggshells. MrN hung around and watched her eating. He's a great provider.
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Goodness sakes! What a commotion at the North nest tonight... On three separate occasions, over maybe 30-40 minutes, there has been quite a bit of loud eagle "messaging" about something going on. I think it's happening around the nest, or their sleepy branches but the camera is focused elsewhere for the evening it seems. I remember recent mention of owls, I think here. Sounds as if they could be very persistent owls, or other intruder(s) that have eagles on alert.
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Good morning, Forum Friends
We have an eagle on camera at Decorah North Nest, and will be opening a flash chat at 8:30a.m. Central.
Please join us if you can at https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/decorah-north-nest/
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Sorry I missed the activity during the night. Well before daybreak, the Norths were perching close to each other in the Love Branches, and I had the sound turned off, so good catch MNLinda. Then I missed the first chat of the season, but good to know it is "a thing" again this year.
DNF and MrN were busy with several new sticks (one huge) and more cornstalks and grasses this morning. They perched close together on the diving board branch of the Spit Tree for a short while, but no mating seen. He flew away and she stayed for over an hour. Don't miss MrN wrestling with the large and long rail branch about noon!
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Another dry, cold, blustery day. Perfect for more sticks and grasses, topped of with a rabbit from MrN for DNF's lunch. Cam ops got some great views of MrN foraging for big sticks on the ground and little twigs high up in a nearby tree.
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Early morning, both Norths working with wonky sticks on the nest. It's worth finding on the rewind around 8:00, entertaining and gymnastic!
At about 9:45, DNF was eating on a gray squirrel carcass on a lower Love branch while MrN perched higher up. When the camera refocused, a raccoon carcass was draped over the Love branch to the right of DNF (as we are looking). It might be one from several days ago; maybe they are letting it cure before eating.
At 11:00 an unknown BE was hunting along the far creek bed while DNF was still working on the squirrel and MrN was arranging things in the nest.
About 11:15, MrN removed the remainder of the squirrel and finished it off on a log under the nest area. Closeups at this time confirm that it was a gray squirrel.
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Pics from about 4 to 4:30 this afternoon.
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Looks like DNF is spending a lot of time on the nest this morning before sunrise moving around the grass. Egg bowl coming soon. :)
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Yes, Raleigh, they dig out a bowl, test it for fit, then fill in with more grasses and do it all over again, right up until the first egg gets laid. DNF and MrN brought grasses about 8:00 this morning, then time for several sticks, straight, wonky, tango, they keep at it. About 11:00 it started snowing. Will this be a big storm or just flurries?
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Pics from afternoon. Snow showers haven't slowed the addtions of grasses and cornhusks. DNF brought one batch of grasses about 2:30 so big that she bounced when stepping on it.
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Near zero temp this morning, but eagles active at the nest. DNF back and forth from nest to pine tree perches. And more work on the nest bowl location. MrN brought a fish for DNF about 10:00.
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Perching in the far pine tree for a while after daylight, then bringing several sticks to the nest over the course of the day. Both on the nest together at about 11:30. No food gifts, no mating observed.
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The Norths spent overnight in the Love branches, then time together on the nest, arranging, digging and fitting, and just being close. Another really cold but dry day. At about 11:35, DNF brought the remains of a fish to the nest for her own lunch.
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I think there may be an egg!!!
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(https://m3.gab.com/media_attachments/26/2b/28/262b2866b1ac9d72fb75c7089cf95c7e.png)
EGG
Feb. 12, 2025
2 am Eagle sleeping in nest, head tucked.
(https://m3.gab.com/media_attachments/6d/b4/d8/6db4d8fa462c2da53dfcc2d40175389f.png)
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I think there may be an egg!!!
nan, she laid yesterday evening around 5pmCT
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54322889029_280dafb87a_b.jpg)
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Nice capture Lisa. I went to the camera first thing this morning, and saw how she was tucked on the nest. Immediately went to the forum to see if anyone had captured a shot of a possible egg. Let the games begin. Let’s go for number 2.
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Nice capture Lisa. I went to the camera first thing this morning, and saw how she was tucked on the nest. Immediately went to the forum to see if anyone had captured a shot of a possible egg. Let the games begin. Let’s go for number 2.
Thank you :)
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Thanks for the pic of egg #1, Lisa! Congrats to the Norths!
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Thanks for the pic of egg #1, Lisa! Congrats to the Norths!
YW :D
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Thanks to Lisa and Shep for posting pics of the first egg soon after laying at about 5:00 yesterday afternoon. ;D
Here are some from this morning. DNF was sitting on the egg during the night, with changeover to MrN about 7AM.
It's really cold and snowing some with wind, so all that work the Norths did to make the nest bowl deep and cozy was timely for sure.
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More pics from this morning.
Maybe MrN will bring a meal for DNF soon.
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Always amazes me how these eagles can keep themselves and an egg warm in sub zero temperatures. The fluff of the down, and the waterproof nature of the feathers is a wonder of nature. The Lord sure came up with a great design. I always think about it when I go outside in cold weather with a down coat on and still feel like I’m freezing. 😀
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Raleigh, the down in the down coat is not growing out of your skin like for the eagles. ;) Still amazing that they can keep the eggs warm. Buried way down in the nest bowl keeps eggs out of the wind when eagles move off the nest briefly.
MrN brought a large raccoon carcass to the nest about noon. It took him several stages to get it there, and he perched on a lower Love Branch to eat some of it to lighten the load, then to a branch near the nest. DNF flew back and forth for encouragement. They have to get adjusted to having an egg and possibly another egg soon.
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Afternoon changeover.
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Decorah North Eagles
Feb.14, 2025 9:45 AM
Camera Time: 9:44 AM
Birchwoman
GABear 🦅🥚
MOD
Friday, February 14, 2025 7:55 AM
February 14, 2025
🥚🥚❓🤔
Egg Watch today! If DNF sticks to her usual interval between eggs, today would be the day! Keep your 👀 peeled for a 💝🥚!
😉
(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/14/20250214T154459_4312735.ts.jpg)
(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/14/20250214T155525_4313048.ts.jpg)
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Thanks for the heads-up, Phyl. As of 1PM, only one egg. The Norths are changing places pretty often this morning, maybe just because of the cold. No new food brought to the nest so far either. Use the rewind to watch a coyote trot across the ground beneath the nest about 11:00, just before a changeover from DNF to MrN.
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~ WOOT ~ WOOT ~
DNF laid her second egg at about 3:00 PM CST. 8)
(Pending RRP Conformation).
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Great news! :D Thanks, BL. I haven't gotten a peek yet, though.
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EGG 2
Feb. 15, 2025
Egg #1: 2/11/25 @5:00 PM CT
Egg #2: 2/14/25 @3:00 PM CT
explore
(https://comments-images.explore.org/_d10f89n7l/screenshot-117354.png)
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Shep, that's a great pic of both eggs! I have been away for the laying of both this year. Could there be a third? Some pics of egg rolling since about 1AM. Snowy conditions will help insulate the nest from the bitter cold today.
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Look, Look, the eagles made eggs-in-a-basket! About noon, MrN seemed alerted to sounds of chain saw in the far background. When he flew away, the eggs and nest materials formed a basket shape. MrN came back soon, then flew away again, and DNF returned. She spent some time pulling nest materials up from the snow to spread around the nest bowl.
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Exchange about 9:30 this morning is worth watching on rewind or video. MrN on duty when DNF landed, closely followed by a sub-adult who flew over. Why? Because DNF brought a fresh pheasant carcass! The Norths chattered until MrN left, perhaps to chase the sub-A. The eggs were undisturbed.
Another changeover about 11:15, when MrN brought a cornstalk. DNF spent some time preening in the Love Branches [no pic].
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Our clever eagles can also make a basket! ;D
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Very cold and windy, so rapid changeovers this morning remind me of an Indy 500 pit stop!
Settling on the eggs, they still anchor with beak and shimmy until comfortable. Watch on rewind.
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Temps near zero again. DNF on the eggs during the night and most of the morning; possible I missed a changeover before the one at noon.
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Another fast changeover just before 3:00 this afternoon, with MrN leaving and DNF arriving, and a good view of the eggs deep in the bowl.
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RRP blog states that the cold is setting record lows these days. The eagles carry on as if it's just another day and night and day. Wonder if the raccoon carcass is under the snow at the edge of the nest. Time will tell.
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Changeover at about 1:00 this afternoon, from MrN to DNF with a good view of the eggs. I'd say it was less than a minute. At 4:30, DNF was still on the nest. Looked like she rolled the eggs a couple times but did not get up off them. Will she get a break before the night shift?
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Changeover from DNF to MrN about 7:00 this morning (no pics). At about 11:00, MrN flew away but returned in about a minute, just stretching his wings apparently. Good view of the eggs. Thanks to the cam ops for diligently keeping track of the Norths 24/7 and giving us closeups and distant views from different angles.
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Please join us for our First Egg Fundraiser on Saturday, February 22. Chats at the Decorah North nest are from 9-11 AM and 5-7 PM central time celebrating 2 eggs there. C’mon Mrs T at Trempealeau. We’d love to celebrate yours too. https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/decorah-north-nest/
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Thanks for reminder about fundraiser, Glogdog.
Changeovers are still really fast because the temperature is near zero again.
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DNF makes small sounds like talking to the eggs when she rolls them and comes on and off sitting. Part of the imprinting process probably. Changeover from DNF to MrN at about 9:30 this morning, then MrN made a fly-around about 11:30 with a good closeup of the eggs before he returned.
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At about 1:15 changeover from MrN to DNF, she has bloodstained feathers over her beak, like she's been into a large carcass somewhere. At changeover about 4:20, DNF brought some new grasses.
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MrN brought a food gift to the nest about 8AM, after DNF had left. He flew away with it and ate parts on a limb nearby. DNF returned about 8:05, then MrN returned with the carcass about 8:15. DNF claimed it, picked at it, and swallowed the pelt whole. At first I thought it was a rabbit, but closeups showed a long tail so probably gray squirrel. Anyone to confirm??
Seven or so deer were near the creek about 7:45.
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Woo Hoo! It's a balmy 40 degrees this morning, bringing out foraging little birds, like the Cardinal in the pic. The Norths are doing their thing as usual.
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Above freezing temps and sunny today, good for a nice nap. Changeover from DNF to MrN before daylight, unusually early. DNF returned about 7:45 and stayed until about 10:15. About 9:40, cam ops found MrN on a high Love Branch, eating the carcass of something with long fur and a large spine, I'm guessing raccoon. He left the remains for DNF about 10:15 and has been on the nest since to almost noon. The eggs look good. Each parent rolls them every couple of hours.
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Hello, Mr. Cardinal! :)
STL - Many thanks for every single screenshot and all the commentary with it.
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Thanks, nanimal. Always good to hear from other watchers! Add your own pics if you please.
Temps in the 40s today. Looks like DNF had a bath -- her face feathers are clean. Pics of changeover about 11:30 this morning.
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DNF had a meal on the nest this afternoon. About 2:15, MrN flew off to get out of the way, and DNF landed with something furry and large. She was really puffing from the weight she carried. She proceeded to eat and MrN returned to sit on the eggs for a while. In one pic you can see the back legs of the prey between MrN and DNF. In a later pic, the carcass turns out to be the back half of a large rabbit. Probably DNF captured it and ate enough on the ground that she could carry it to the nest.
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The rabbit carcass is still in the nest at noon today. Regular changeovers and some new grasses from DNF. A red tailed hawk perched on a Love Branch for a while about 9:00.
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Afternoon highlights, better on rewind or video! A little before 2:00, MrN was on the ground under the nest area with a large cornstalk. He flew it to the Yonder snag before taking it to the nest. DNF left and MrN removed the rabbit carcass. He took it to the ground and defurred and ate some of it, then he flew to the creek for a nice bath and preening in the Claw Tree. Meanwhile, DNF landed on the Yonder snag as MrN left [see pic with circles]. She ate the remaining rabbit bones before returning to the eggs about 2:20PM. One egg in view and the other is covered with grasses.
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More pics from afternoon activity.
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Ordinary morning with about 6 changeovers from 6:00 to noon. While the temps are "mild" DNF and MrN bring in new cornstalks and grasses. Love how carefully they step with curled in talons as they move on and off the eggs.
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Back to the cold of winter today! Changeovers happen faster to protect the eggs from the cold.
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Cold but sunny today. Changeovers as expected, eggs look fine, no food at the nest so far.
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Another day much like yesterday so far.
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Sometime since yesterday's mid-day post of pics, one of the Norths brought prey to the nest, I think rabbit. The remains of a leg are at one edge of the nest this morning.
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Snowing this morning and quite windy. At 8:30 AM changeover, DNF spent several minutes flapping her wings, likely to shake the snow and ice off her feathers. It didn't work very well! Both Norths spent time snoozing as they incubate the eggs on the rocking nest.
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It's day 23 for Egg 1 and day 20 for Egg 2. RRP says egg watch will begin on March 19, so a long time for the Norths to keep incubating.
Meanwhile, changeovers continue as expected. MrN brought a new cornstalk at 9:30 AM, and they tusseled over it as DNF left.
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Nice quiet day with regular changeovers and the eggs are fine. But holy moley, the excitement last night before midnight! See the Home page for explanation and video of a sub-adult intruder on the nest and DNF defending and MrN finally chasing it away. For me, I'm glad I missed it, or I wouldn't have slept the rest of the night keeping watch, unlike DNF who settled down and went back to sleep after a few minutes. Whew :o :o
Remember to change your clocks ahead to Daylight Savings Time tonight if you live where you change times.
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That was a tough video to watch, STL! Thank goodness it ended well. The sub-adult looked BIG!
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nanimal, yes, that sub-adult looked big because it was a full-sized adult, just younger than 5 years when they get the white adult plumage. According to the Age-Progression chart attached, it was about 2 1/2 years old, kind of the white-and-tan checkerboard phase.
This morning is another regular day, with changeovers and rolling of eggs and occasional aerating of the nest material. MrN brought some new grasses about 11 AM, then he manuvered DNF off the eggs.
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From before dawn to 11:00 this morning, geese honking in the background. Changeovers as expected for the Norths. DNF spent a couple hours perched at the top of the pine trees. No new grasses, no food at the nest so far today.
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Did I miss anything exciting here yesterday? This morning, things seem ordinary and quiet on the nest, with some geese honking in the background.
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I don't think you missed anything, STL. Maybe others noticed something. Great close-ups of the beautiful eggs!
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nanimal, you are so right about great closeups here! We'll be able to count the feathers on the hatchlings and the scales on the fish they are eating.
Pics from this morning.
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About 7:00, before morning changeover, MrN brought a fish to DNF. She ate part of it then left and he took over. He finished the fish about 9:00. Some new grasses brought at changeovers.
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Lots of swaying with the nest tree this morning! Here's today's forecast from The Weather Channel for Decorah: Mostly sunny skies. High 41F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Yikes!
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It's the season of exreme weather especially high winds. The motion of the branches can make me kinda seasick.
Changeovers continue regardless of the weather. The cattle are out if you look at the rewind around 10:30 and 11:00 but no pics.
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Happy St. Patrick's Day to Everybirdy
Breezy & cold today but dry. The nest looks ready for hatching with high rails, plenty of grasses, and a deep egg bowl.
Cam ops got great closeups of DNFs feathers from the bottom up, on the top side. Beautiful in the early sunshine.
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First day of Hatch Watch. And an icy rainy storm since about 10:00 this morning. Typical for the eagles. The eggs look good, no pips visible.
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I'm glad there's no pip yet with this wintery weather!
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Yeah, me too, nanimal! But snow is an insulator . . .
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True. Better to have snow than heavy rain.
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About 7:00, DNF called for changeover and cam ops got good view of the eggs when she left. There's grass stuck to one eggshell but no pips visible.
I think this is the most snow of the whole winter. :D
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First pip seen today at 12:04 p.m.
(https://comments-images.explore.org/_rzk5twc93/img_0539.png)
Another view of the pip occurred at 1:17 p.m. and this time the egg on the left side was visibly moving but no pip was seen.
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Yup, I see the pip at noon! Will look for the other one. Yippee, it's almost 19 ;D
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Here are views at about 1:15 PM. It's the same pip from noon, perfectly round in shape. And the egg on the left in this set is rocking slightly, as Ginger said in earlier post. If I knew how, I'd post a gif (short video). Lori Davis, are you out there?
Who pays more attention to cracked eggshells than eagle watchers?
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Beautiful, STL! They're safe and warm tonight!
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The pip is more open this morning but not larger. MrN brought a new cornstalk at changeover about 10:30 and DNF brought new grasses soon after as she took over again.
Does anyone know, is the female BE always on the nest when an egg hatches?
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It seems like it's always the female, but I'm not sure, STL. Someone will know! ;)
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At changeover about 7:15 this evening, the pip definitely is larger. DNF typically stays on the nest through the night. So we'll see when morning comes if there's a new eaglet.
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No hatch as of 8:30 AM when DNF came back on duty. The pip is larger than yesterday.
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Thanks for the update, STL!
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At 11:00, still no hatch. The sunshine might be an inspiration. Changeover from DNF to MrN a few minutes ago.
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Hatch is getting close! Good view of the eaglet's beak and egg tooth about 1:30 PM as MrN moved away. DNF came back to the nest just before 2:00.
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As of 4:30, no hatchlings yet. Pic of eggs and DNF from about 3:00 this afternoon.
Appears to be a fish on the nest visible from about 11:00 this morning, see arrow in pic. No idea if it is a new fish.
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This is a little disturbing! Wonder if Any has ay thoughts! Tho nit posting here, beaKers have been naware and concerned about this too! Talonscrissed will check back in tge am!
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kareng, I share your concern. The pip is a little larger this morning, but still no hatch as of pic at 8:30. MrN left and DNF is on the eggs as of 10:30, and it's raining.
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Don't hit the panic button just yet peeps.
Trust the eagles.
https://www.raptorresource.org/2025/03/18/announcing-hatch-watch-at-decorah-north/
Quote from the article above:
Our eaglets generally arrive 24-36 hours after we notice the first starring on the blunt end of the eggshell, although hatch can take considerably longer than that.
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Thanjs BL !
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Thanks for the reminder, BL!
Hi, Karen!
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BL, thanks for the reminder that hatching can take a reallllllly loooong time! I'm very encouraged to see movement of the eaglet's beak inside the egg this afternoon.
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Yep, the little one is still working. :) Thanks for the pics, STL!
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On a personal matter... I recently learned that I've missed two personal messages from back in December. I'm set up to be notified through my email, but I was not notified. Has this happened to anyone? Any suggestions other than contacting Amy?
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Best to contact Amy about your personal message issue.
And still we wait for a hatch. At 4:30 PM, DNF flew in with something edible. MrN left, and the egg appearance hasn't changed much since 2:00.
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Thanks STL. I PM'd Amy.
Maybe a hatch by tomorrow!
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At 6:00 PM changeover, the eggs look about the same as at 4:30. DNF returned for the night shift at 6:30. The food supply is building at the nest, with a fish and part of a rabbit on view. At posting time of 12:30 AM, DNF is sleeping peacefully on a cold windy night.
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The egg pip is more like a broken shell this morning at 7:45 changeover. Maybe by noon we'll have #19. Stay tuned.
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The almost-hatching eggshell is getting more and more fragile. Maybe if DNF fed the eaglet some fish it would come out!
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Here's the egg at 5:00 this afternoon. This baby must be hanging inside the shell with its talons!
No sign of pip on the second egg, but it might be out of view.
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I hope we see significant progress soon. I'm feeling nervous.
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According to the North nest chat, the unhatched egglet has died. Sooo sad. Watch for official word from RRP.
Think positive about the second egg that it will have a successful hatch soon.
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A word from RRP....
Raptor Resource Project
We are sad to announce that DN19 died in hatch. We saw the egg’s first external pip at 12:03 PM on March 20, but after four days of hatch in progress, all movement ceased. Hatch had been proceeding for about 103 hours at that point: longer than the longest documented hatch time that we could find, and much longer than the 24 to 48 hours post-pip that we usually see here.
As of this post, we don’t know why DN19 failed to hatch. As usual, DNF laid two eggs about three days apart. She and Mr. North incubated them through roller-coaster temperatures and some bad weather, but spring is unpredictable: if bald eagles couldn’t cope with weather variability, they wouldn’t be nesting here. The first external pip happened on schedule and things appeared to be proceeding normally…until they weren’t.
What about the second egg?
We finally got a good look at the blunt end of the second egg and confirmed that there was not, contrary to our Thursday announcement, a pip: good news, since it means that DN20 could still hatch. DN20 turns 39 days old today and we are watching for a pip.
We’ll be sticking to DN19 and DN20, even though DN19 failed to hatch. We’ll discuss future plans moving forward: nomenclature gets complicated, and I’d like to know what researchers have done in similar situations.
What will you do if both eggs fail to hatch?
If both eggs fail, we’ll try to retrieve them for necropsy and testing. We might not learn what happened, but there are causes – malpositioning, HPAI, environmental contaminants, injury – that we can confirm or rule out.
We would especially like the eggs tested for HPAI if neither egg hatches. Early on, it was believed that the disease was fatal to Bald Eagles regardless of age: if anyone had HPAI, everyone died. But it’s become clear that isn’t the case. If the outbreak is killing young at greater rates than adults, that could have serious implications for population health five to ten years from now.
Will the Norths reclutch if both eggs fail?
Right now, the North’s hormonal regime is driving incubation and brooding behavior. If egg two remains intact, they will probably incubate it for quite some time: long enough to interfere with any potential reclutching. But if it breaks or we retrieve the eggs, they might reclutch. We saw a reclutch at the North Nest in 2018 and reclutches have been documented elsewhere. Mr. North would need to bring DNF back into condition for reclutching to happen.
For you, the broken-hearted nest watcher, I quote Kaeli Swift: “Please, rather than shutting down those deep feelings you have for wildlife…lean into them. Teach your friends and neighbors and children to feel those deep feelings. Because it’s from that space that we can do best by wildlife…”. Thank you so much for taking this journey with us.
Hatch watch starts at our Fort St. Vrain nest on March 31st, and at our Trempealeau nest on April 9. If we have any new updates about the North nest, we’ll post them on our website and Facebook page.
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That's so sad about DN19. :(
That HPAI (bird flu) is becoming a real problem in the wild.
We don't know yet if that is the cause in the case of this egg.
LisaG thank you for pulling the info from RRP forward to the thread here.
Talons crossed for DN20.
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I saw the news earlier today. I am very sad this happened.😢💔The little one worked so hard to come into the world. Thanks, STL, and BL, and to you Lisa for sharing the official RRP notice. Hoping the hatch progresses normally for D20.
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RRP has determined that the second egg is not going to hatch, being 40 days is past viability. Such a dissapoinment for this valiant pair.
The chat this morning stated that DNF moved the first egg to the side of the nest sometime yesterday evening. Over time, the second egg will be absorbed into the nest or moved or ??? as DNF and MrN lose the instinct to incubate. RRP has not announced plans to retrieve the eggs as of this morning, but they might to discover why the eggs didn't survive. Chat at DNN ends tonight, but I expect the cameras will stay on for a while at least. I will be watching and hope that you will, too.
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How very sad. DNF and Mr. North did everything right, but it wasn't to be. I love this pair, and will be watching. Many thanks for your efforts, STL.
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Mr. North removed the first egg from the nest sometime yesterday. Both continue incubating the second egg.
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Ginger, thanks for update on the removal of the first egg. The North live feed is on highlights as of about noon today.
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Ginger, thanks for update on the removal of the first egg. The North live feed is on highlights as of about noon today.
GABear 🦅🥚
MOD
Friday, March 28, 2025 12:52 PM
Raptor Resource is doing some work on broadcast equipment. Cams will be in highlights until it is complete, possibly an hour or more. Thanks for your patience. :-)
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Oh gosh, I am sad to read about the loss of the little one. I stopped in to see pictures of a new egglet but it isn't to be.
From a post on the previous page I am wondering if the second egg is also not going to hatch?
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Cameras back on live feed this morning and overnight. The Norths spent the night in branches near the nest. The eggshell is breaking down but they resumed sitting this morning and still dutifully trying to hatch the egg at about noon. It's a confusing time for the eagles, and for us watchers!
FYI, the camera at the Marshall, Missouri, vulture barn is back live. Haven't seen the vultures, but they have been forming a nest depression in the straw. Last year, eggs laid in mid-April.
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DNF was on the nest at about midnight, then the feed went to Highlights until daylight, when MrN came to sit on the egg that will not hatch. It's cold and rainy but this pair of eagles doesn't give up easily.
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The Norths are still tending the unhatched egg this morning. Eventually the shell will break same as #1, but not yet.
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This year there are an awful lot of - oddities - among all the many bird cams I watch.
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The lives of birds are certainly complex and adventurous!
Today the cams at the North nest are on highlights, and I was away yesterday, so will see what's happening when the cams return to live feed.
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It's live now, 8:42 ET. One of the eagles is incubating - strong instinct at work! Sorry, I can't ID.
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Both of the Norths are still incubating the unhatched egg, but they are away from the nest for longer times.
About noon, MrN brought a rabbit carcass to the nest, and DNF followed to claim it. She ate most of it on the nest, then flew to Love Branch for preening. MrN carried off most of the remains to Love Branch around 1:00. Nice closeup of MrN around 3:30 as he was sitting on the egg.
See next post for other activity.
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The cattle are starting to have calves. Pic includes at least 2 really little ones. So cute.
Pheasants are in breeding season (yes??). Great closeups of a male ring-necked pheasant in the grassy areas near the nest tree mid-morning. Pheasants are a great source of food for eaglets, but not this year, so the pheasant population may increase. Mother Nature's balance.
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The Norths are still dealing with the unhatched egg this morning. They sit on it, but leave it unattended for long periods. About 10:30, DNF flew in and MrN left. DNF didn't stay either. Cam ops showed a great ground view of her flying away from the nest high above. She is the dark splot to the left of the nest in the orange oval.
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From rewind, it looks like MrN has tended the egg since midnight and all of this morning. He is away for fairly long times, too. DNF not in view so far.
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April 6, 2025
In the wee hours I heard Coyote Chorus and Hootie owl.
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Thanks STL, as always, for the pics and commentary, as I did take quick peeks here and at the nest while I was away. Sad to see the lonely egg in the nest. They certainly would have been great parents once again.
I would have liked hearing those critters, Shep!
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Spring is the season for coyotes singing!
MrN is still sitting on the egg, very part-time. DNF seems to be done with it. She caught a fish in the creek near the large pool, ate it, then flew to a Love Branch for beak feaking and preening this afternoon around 3:00.
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It's still sad, but I'm glad DNF seems to have moved on. I don't recall if RRP said anything about the retrieval of the remaining egg.
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I'm sad about the North nest failure also. We can hope that the Norths stay together as a breeding pair and have a successful hatch next year.
I was wrong about DNF not sitting on the egg any more!! This morning, there she was, and maybe also overnight. It's windy today and while the eagles were away from the nest, the breeze shifted corn husks over the egg. Will the Norths allow the egg to disappear into the nest while the egg bowl fills up with grasses and such?
This is the time when the parents would be feeding hatchlings, and MrN brought part of a rabbit carcass to the nest about 9:45 AM. Instincts are very strong.
No speculation about RRP retrieving the egg. They won't want to disturb the Norths, but keep watching.
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DNF made a brief visit to the egg but didn't stay about 7:00 this morning. Shortly after, MrN came and has been sitting since then.
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I don't see the egg this morning.
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I just got home and saw that the egg is indeed there!
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nanimal, the egg has been kind of sinking deeper into the bowl, and corn husks and grasses cover it up sometimes. Both Norths are still sitting on the egg, but the times when they are both away from the nest are longer.
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I should have remembered that, STL. Regardless of our feelings, they'll move on when they're ready! At least we get to see them!
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Today seems to be nestorations day for the Norths. They have brought several large sticks and some new grasses to the nest. Still sitting on the unhatched egg some of the time, too. The cattle have more newborn calves in the pasture this morning.
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Less activity at the nest today so far. MrN and DNF are on and off the egg, but not bringing nest materials like yesterday. At about 9:45 AM, cam ops got a closeup view of the egg and what looks like a break in the shell. Not hatching action, but the egg could be breaking down.
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The Norths are trying out a new decor at the nest. Several large and long sticks, some dark grasses, and a pine branch. I don't remember pine branches here in years past. MrN and DNF are both up for a new look, working together, including a stick tango at about 11:00 this morning. The egg is still there, and they sit on it occasionally. The hole in the shell isn't bigger than before; it will probably slowly decompse.
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More Sunday pics at the North nest.
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Thanks for all of your posts, STL. I don't remember seeing pine branches, either.
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The Norths are keeping up with maintenance on the nest, and MrN sits on the unhatched egg sometimes. The small hole in the eggshell has not increased in size yet. Eventually it will just decompose, or break, or get buried under nest materials.
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It almost looks like they're putting rails up around the nest. Still sad to see that lonely egg.
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Instinct tells the eagles to keep the nest built up at this time of year. We can call it early nestorations for next season!
DNF spent the night in the Love Branches, visited the nest for a brief time before daybreak, then looked to be fishing from the bank of the creek near the big pool (no pic of that; she flew down and dissapeared). Several cows and a calf were on the far side of the creek, in a blurry pic about 7:30, and a mourning dove gathered nest material on the ground under the nest area about 7:45 AM. Quiet time so far.
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Afternoon about 2:00, probably DNF perched on a Love Branch, then flew to one of the creek trees where probably MrN was perching. MrN made a short visit to the nest about 3:30.
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Was it Mr. N I saw sitting on the egg yesterday?
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Yes, probably MrN sitting on the unhatched egg yesterday, See pic from about 3:30 PM posted around 5:00.
Today, the live feed has been down this morning.
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I keep watching, but due to my anthropomorfizing, I feel sad. It's happened other years and at other nests, but here I am anyway!
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We get attached to the eagles, can't help it. The Norths brought a stick and grasses early this morning, and MrN sat on the egg for an hour or so. They are still attached to the un-eaglet. It may become a petrified paperweight. :'(
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This morning, it appears that the Norths are done with the unhatched egg. An early closeup view shows what might be more damage to the shell, or just dirt. MrN sat on the egg for a while before flying away at about 7-15 AM. Then DNF deliberately covered the egg and nest bowl with grasses, then she flew away also.
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The lonely egg is in full view this morning &:45 EST.
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That was 7:45 a.m. ;)
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And I was hoping they had finished with the unhatched egg. The Norths, mostly DNF, were on and off the nest several times this morning before noon, but ignoring the egg although it is in view. DNF brought a cornstalk and later some grasses. About 10:30, MrN brought a squirrel carcass to the nest, followed by DNF who claimed and ate it. Between 11:00 and noon, they perched together on Love Branches. Don't we wonder wht they are talking about?
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More pics from Monday morning.
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I will stop perseverating on the egg and just enjoy the Norths! ;) Thanks for the pics, STL.
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No eagles in view so far today, but the you-know-what is still visible in the nest.
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Rewind to about 8:00 this morning for an hour or so of the cows and calves grazing and resting in the pasture.
Egg still in the nest, eagles elsewhere.
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The Norths perched together in the Claw Tree for a while about 9:00 this morning. About 9:45 AM, MrN brought a rabbit carcass to the nest, and DNF follwed to claim and devour most of it, then flew away. MrN sat on the egg for a while around 11:00.
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A brown thrasher is building a nest in the thorny brush under the eagle nest tree. Pics from around 7:00 this morning.
Very cool bird, see more info at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.
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Love seeing the cows and calves.
I hope the nest location works out for the beautiful Thrasher.
I think it was on the Big Bear eagles nest last year when, like the North's, they sat on the eggs a long, long time.
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The nest still attracts the Norths. MrN dropped in for a short sit about 6:00 this morning. DNF visited briefly several times before 9:00, once bringing a few grasses.
Question -- What's the purpose of the Dorchester, Iowa, map on the Decorah North live stream page? This nest is on private property, and I thought RRP discouraged people from knowing exactly where it is to avoid disturbing the eagles and the property owners. Has that changed this year?
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The nest still attracts the Norths. MrN dropped in for a short sit about 6:00 this morning. DNF visited briefly several times before 9:00, once bringing a few grasses.
Question -- What's the purpose of the Dorchester, Iowa, map on the Decorah North live stream page?
This nest is on private property, and I thought RRP discouraged people from knowing exactly where it is to avoid disturbing the eagles and the property owners. Has that changed this year?
STL the map shows a very general area and is not really near where the DN Nest is actually located.
The "Dorchester Polygon" shown on the RRP map is within about a X mile radius of the nest on the Iowa side of the border. ;D
PM me and I'll still not disclose the exact nest tree coordinates to you. ;) :-*
I know the nest location by pure coincidence and oddly only because of a fly fishing trip recollection of a krill full of huge native wild Trout from that Creek on that property in IA.
Sadly there were no signs of BE's in that whole area back then. :(
A friend of mine from Blue Earth, MN took me fly fishing in this very magical creek once many many moons ago.
We both fondly remember it as one of those best days ever trout fly fish outings.
We've both now fished many more world class Trout Streams for way more moons now and yet we always land back to that misty morning here at DNN.
I believe the map was posted to be purposely vague and misleading to keep the nest location private. 8)
I also think it was done to generally depict that while both nests have the name Decorah in them that the North Nest is indeed a pretty good ways away from Decorah and the Hatchery to the NE.
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BL, Thanks for the info about Dorchester and Decorah areas! Zooming out on the map was helpful to get oriented, too. My Dad and my son were fishermen and they preferred small lakes and streams, so I can appreciate your great trout fishing stories. The whole bald eagle comeback is a success we can all be grateful for. I'm far south, near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Bald eagles are here, too, some permanently and the migrators also.
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Mate said I'm pole broke without saying a word with just a look.
200' away downstream.
He's on the bank done with the krill full limit.
But getting a real kick out of watching you get your last one. ;)
I'm as ass and tea kettle in over my waders in on this little crick at this time.
Landed and ate it.
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Great views of the cattle grazing from about 7:00 this morning through 3:00 this afternoon.
BE on the ground near the cattle at 7:00. It flew away and no eagles in view since then.
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The nest is really swaying now - 10:20 ET.