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[LisaG1967]

Now this raises a Decorah Eagles naming convention question ?

If HM and HD lay 3 eggs and 3 eggs hatch in 2023 are these Eaglets going to be named D40, D41 and D42 ?? -or- are they going to be called H1,H2 and H3 ?? -or- ....

They will be "D's" from N1 after all, but they are not MOM's D's.     

I may have to revise my nest record keeping for 2023 and make new separate records for N3/Mom/DM2 and N1/HM/HD, but it depends on what RRP decides to name HM & HD's offspring from N1. Clear as mud ay'. 

BL - I look forward to your record keeping. 

[STLbf]

Food gift from HD to HM this morning -- rabbit.  There was a fish gift at the North nest this morning also.

Great info and pics, everyone.  The naming scheme will be a challenge, but RRP is up to the task.

[T40cfr403]

BL - Your last snip of N1 is great. That nest looks ready! A little fluffy toy; a nicely padded mattress; corn husks and stalks; and a whittling tree! Who could ask for more?

[Phyl]

STL, T40 BL tks. for the snaps, info and sweet descripton of future egglet's home

[BrokenLug]

BL - Your last snip of N1 is great. That nest looks ready! A little fluffy toy; a nicely padded mattress; corn husks and stalks; and a whittling tree! Who could ask for more?

Some Hasenpfeffer.
N1 crib rails from Willard's Cottonwood nest depot.
Some fluffy accoutrements.
Where's the Trout ?

Cushy looking bole all and all.   

When I look out from the camera over the Y branch I see Real Eagle Recovery in IA.   

[LisaG1967]

Yesterday afternoon, HM & HD were on the Y.  HM came down to eat the rabbit, and after a few minutes HD came to the nest and started moving sticks and nesting around.  HD moved back up to the Y, and flew out.  HD ate most of the rabbit, and then flew out too. 

[shep]

I believe this new pair are young, neither have nested before.
One look at the male's mating attempts and you wont doubt me.
Male appears to show more interest in the nest than Girl

Maybe I cant fertilize your eggs, but I can keep this nest warm for  you.   

[RubyRed246]

BL - Your last snip of N1 is great. That nest looks ready! A little fluffy toy; a nicely padded mattress; corn husks and stalks; and a whittling tree! Who could ask for more?

Some Hasenpfeffer.
N1 crib rails from Willard's Cottonwood nest depot.
Some fluffy accoutrements.
Where's the Trout ?

Cushy looking bole all and all.   

When I look out from the camera over the Y branch I see Real Eagle Recovery in IA.   

No need for red wine or herbs in this case

[LisaG1967]

Copulation this morning on the Y

[lilbirdz]

Glory be! HD brought a rabbit to HM. His gift of food shows he's been reading up on eagle courtship - "I will be a good provider". Also the female needs extra food to meet the high caloric demand that producing eggs puts on her body. Today I saw the picture of standard, regulation eagle copulation, which is even better news. We may very well get eggs in the next few weeks!
Which leads me to Broken Lug's good question about naming. I hope RRP has a plan that is easy to understand.

[T40cfr403]

From RRP's FB page:

Raptor Resource Project
17h

2-11-23 Day Trip
Story and photos by Robin Brumm

It’s been about a month since I’ve been to Decorah and the weekend weather was predicted to be sunny and mid 40’s.. Perfect weather for a trip to Decorah!   So I set the alarm to Dark O’clock on Saturday, and off I went. When I got to Decorah, I went right to the hatchery.  I had seen that Hatchery Dad had spent part of the night on the nest, and I was hoping he was still there!  I drove past N1…. Ugh! I was too late, both he and Hatchery Mom left by the time I got there!  I waited a little while, but they didn’t show up, so I decided to go to N4 and see if Mom and DM2 were around. 

When I walked down the trail to the N4 area, I looked up and saw an eagle flying toward N4 with a stick.  I looked through my binoculars but couldn’t tell who it was.  I took a picture and zoomed in on my camera, it was DM2! I took several pictures of him in the nest, and then scanned the area with my binoculars. I looked in a few of their favorite perching spots. Wait! There was somebirdy in the perch tree, higher up in the branches. It was Mom! I got a big smile on my face.  I love when I get to see both of them.  Eventually DM2 flew to a tree near N4, while Mom stayed in the upper branches of the perch tree.  I think she found a perfect spot to supervise, lol.  I stood on the trail for the longest time watching Mom and DM2.  I wanted to get a fly-off or flying shot.  My camera shut off so I looked down to turn it back on and looked back up at Mom and DM2, and they were both gone!!  I really think they watch me and when they notice I look away they take off! Lol  I looked all over and couldn’t see them flying anywhere, and I only looked down for a couple of seconds!  How do they disappear like that??

I waited for a little bit but Mom and DM2 didn’t come back, so I drove to the Hatchery to see if I could find HD & HM. I looked in all the favorite spots close to the hatchery but didn’t see them.  I drove down the road a little ways and looked to the left.  There they were, in the tree line behind the cow farm!  I was able to pull off onto the side of the road and get a few photos. They actually stayed in that tree for several hours.  Finally it was time for me to leave.  Even though I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get more and better photos, it was a good day because I did get to see all 4 eagles.  Hmmm.. now that I think about it, any time I get to see Mom and DM2 it is a great day!

RRP appreciates Robin's generosity in sharing her photos and reminds you they are copyrighted and may not be downloaded without her express written permission.

[T40cfr403]

From RRP's FB page:

Raptor Resource Project
 
Thanks for the airmail, eagles! Our inboxes were stuffed with postcards this week as D36 and Golden Eagles 732, 733, 832, and 834 all checked in.

Bald Eagle D36
D36 is wandering the Festina, IA area, spreading his wings over farmland, rolling forested hills, the Otter River, and a broad valley just east of Highway 150. Although I didn’t see him the last time I went looking for him, I did find a large bald eagle nest very near his current location. I have to wonder if he’s been pestering the adults in much the same way that we see subadults pestering HM and HD! I hope he's staying well-fed and out of trouble with the nest's owners.

Golden Eagles 732, 733, 832, and 834
Our Golden Eagles are all wintering in Wisconsin’s Driftless country, which is bigger and more rugged than its Minnesota and Iowa counterparts. I was struck by how far some of our Golden Eagles wandered and how remote parts of the Driftless can be. You would never guess that over 200,000 people live within its boundaries!

When will our Golden Eagles migrate north? Last year, subadult eagle 733 headed north in late April - substantially later than adult female 731, who left at the end of February. All of the eagles we’re tracking this year are subadults. However, Peregrine Falcons appear to be arriving at their nest sites a little earlier than usual this year, so I’m curious to see if the Golden Eagles will head to their summer grounds a little earlier than 733 did last year...and whether D36 will continue his Iowa staycation!
 
We’ll keep everyone posted! A million thanks to Brett and Ryan for sharing their maps, data, and expertise. If you’d like to explore our interactive bald eagle maps, please visit https://www.raptorresource.org/learning-tools/eagle-map/. I also put up a special map with all five of the eagles we are tracking right now. Go to https://bit.ly/3xwJ765 to explore! Note that all locations are approximate. To switch from terrain view to satellite view, click the green square at bottom left.

Peregrine Falcons are arriving earlier this year than last and they are nesting much earlier than they did 30 years ago. More on that here: https://www.raptorresource.org/rap.../pdf/AverageNesting.pdf.


February 15, 2023: All of the eagles! Go to https://bit.ly/3xwJ765 to explore an interactive map! If you visit the interactive map, note that all locations are approximate. To switch from terrain view to satellite view, click the green square at bottom left.

February 15, 2023: GOEA 732's map


February 15, 2023: GOEA 732's view about one mile up! We are close to Spring Green WI, looking more or less south. The Wisconsin River is flowing in the background. https://goo.gl/maps/CvEWU3S837Tdocpq6


February 15, 2023: GOEA 733's map!


February 15, 2023: GOEA 733's view about one mile up! The closest 'big' town is Gay's Mills, WI. We're facing SSE and can see the Mississippi River in the background. I love the steeply folded terrain, and so do wintering Golden Eagles! https://goo.gl/maps/3KWaJuZmCfK3B13S6


February 15, 2023: GOEA 832's map.


February 15, 2023: GOEA 832's view about one mile up! How do I describe where this is? We're nearest to Elmwood, WI, facing SSE. https://goo.gl/maps/dT6aoiYetdUeZX496


February 15, 2023: GOEA 834's map.


February 15, 2023: GOEA 834's view about one mile up! We're nearest the town of Pragg WI and deep into the Driftless. The terrain resembles the Appalachians, but it was created by erosion and running water instead of mountain building (and erosion). https://goo.gl/maps/GrfK66fee2Hi4gbCA


February 15, 2023: Bald Eagle D36's map.


February 15, 2023: Bald Eagle D36's view about one mile up! We're not far from Festina, Iowa. D36 has vision much better than ours, which makes me wonder if he could just make out the trout hatchery roughly 10 miles away. https://goo.gl/maps/pyzSDAhci9nhER12A

[T40cfr403]

 

[STLbf]

T40, thanks for all the mapping info on D36 and the Goldens.  Also for the notes from Robin Brumm, especially the whereabouts of Mom and DM2 since RRP doesn't have camera views for them.

HM and HD were reacting to loud geese in the area of N1 around 11:00 this morning, flying to the nest and the Y and calling. Also, there are fish in the nest, closeup at 1:30PM looks like 2 fish and some yellowish fish eggs. I believe some kind of trout spawns at this time of year. Great nutrition for eagles.  On the rewind, I didn't find who brought the fish.

[LisaG1967]

T40 - Thanks for posting the RRP info.  How cool that D36 is only 10 miles away from Decorah!

STL - I have been watching this afternoon, and my guess is HD brought in that fish.  HM was on T1, and HD was in nest then left and at one point you could see a wing when the cam was turned and then cam looked at fish in nest.  I might be wrong, tho.