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Author Topic: Decorah Eagles 2023  (Read 271932 times)

STLbf

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #585 on: March 05, 2023, 01:18:43 PM »

Maybe HD was giving HM plenty of time if she wanted to lay a third egg.  Didn't happen, and he took over incubation just after 1:00 this afternoon.

LisaG1967

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #586 on: March 05, 2023, 04:43:13 PM »

Our two eggs, HD reporting for duty, Goose was back on N2B this afternoon, and HD chases it off






STLbf

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #587 on: March 06, 2023, 10:55:03 AM »

Still only 2 eggs at N1, and it has been a week since HM laid the second egg.  Low odds for a third.  But we are thrilled to have two!

HD visited the Skywalk early this morning, and a goose came to N2B shortly after HD left.  By 8:30AM, the goose had made a nest scrape.  I think that the eagles are going to lose the ownership battle for N2B.  What do you think?  How early do geese lay eggs in the Hatchery area of Iowa?
« Last Edit: March 06, 2023, 11:02:09 AM by STLbf »

STLbf

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #588 on: March 06, 2023, 11:04:03 AM »

Two pics from March of 2022, showing geese on the N2B nest on the 9th and the first goose egg laid there on the 24th.

LisaG1967

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #589 on: March 06, 2023, 11:19:59 AM »

A few morning pics from Decorah - 4:43am roll of the eggs by HM, HD visited N2B skywalk, HD brought in some nesting, and HD giving the eggs a roll






T40cfr403

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #590 on: March 06, 2023, 12:47:06 PM »

Decorah H Eagles tag team slomo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDb-3WoNIBI

Decorah Eagles 3-6-23, Squirrel visits N2B, HD is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyJu0YErJgs
Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species -- man -- acquired significant power to alter the nature of the world.
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

STLbf

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #591 on: March 06, 2023, 02:50:12 PM »

Cam ops have been switching back and forth from eagles at N1 to geese at N2B.  Rewind to noon and enjoy.

Here's a pic from early this morning, shows the view from N2B back towards the barn and N1.

LisaG1967

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #592 on: March 06, 2023, 05:12:20 PM »

Copulation on the Y, our two eggs, geese on N2B, and HD on nest






LisaG1967

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #593 on: March 07, 2023, 07:41:53 AM »

Handsome HD, and a goose on N2B this morning




T40cfr403

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #594 on: March 07, 2023, 12:12:18 PM »

From RRP's FB page:

Raptor Resource Project 
3-4-23  Day Trip
Story and Photos by Robin Brumm

It has been a few weeks since I had been to Decorah, and I wanted to go check on Mom and DM2, so I got up at dark O’clock and off I went.  When I got to Decorah, I drove to N4 with a quick drive through the hatchery area. I noticed an eagle in N1 but I wanted to get to N4 early for a better chance to see Mom and DM2. 

I got to the N4 area and grabbed my binoculars and camera and headed down the trail.  I got to the nest area and saw an eagle on the perch tree!  I looked through my binoculars and saw that it looked like Mom! I took a photo and zoomed in.. yep, it was Mom!  It’s always so good to see her!  I really miss her!  I tried to talk her into perching a little closer so I could get some closer photos, but she was having none of that! Lol! After a short while, she flew off to the north, and DM2 came flying in from the north and flew into N4.  I’m not sure if he brought something with him or not.  He was bent over like he was eating a fish but his back was to me and I couldn’t tell for sure. 

Not long after, Mom came back and landed in N4.  They both moved a few sticks around and then Mom jumped to a branch in front of the nest.  A little while later, DM2 flew off the back of the nest.  He circled around and brought a stick into the nest.  Mom continued to supervise, and then decided she should help, so she flew off the branch, grabbed a stick and flew back to N4.  They did a little stick tango and then DM2 flew off to get another stick.  Meanwhile, Mom flew a tree to the right of N4.  After a couple of minutes, DM2 followed her and perched on a branch above her.  They stayed there for a long time. 

After watching them, I decided I needed to take a break and go check on the hatchery pair,  HD (Hatchery Dad) and HM (Hatchery Mom).  I drove up to the hatchery and saw a white head in the nest.  I checked the camera on my phone and saw that it was HD.  I walked down to the kiosk to get a few pictures.  I wondered where HM was, so I checked out the bluffs but didn’t see her.  I walked over toward the bridge to see if she was in that area, and she flew into N1. HD flew to a branch in the tree next to the N1 tree.  I noticed that HM was in the nest with her tail feathers facing the Hatchery, and it was difficult to see her in the nest.  At least I got some good pictures of her wing feathers sticking up, lol.  HD eventually flew off toward the west.  I believe I saw him land in the tree line behind the farm.  That seems to be one of their favorite spots to perch. 

By this time, I had stayed a little later than I was planning to, so I got in my car and headed for home.  As I drove home I wondered if or when Mom and DM2 were going lay eggs this year.  It is a bit later for her, but there is still time.  Hopefully the next time I am able to go to Decorah, they will be incubating.  Can you believe if Mom lays 3 eggs again this year and they successfully fledge, they will be D40, D41 and D42!  That is a lot of eaglets! 

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.
Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species -- man -- acquired significant power to alter the nature of the world.
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

STLbf

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #595 on: March 07, 2023, 12:40:49 PM »

Lisa, thanks for the pics. T40, thanks for sharing Robin Brumm's trip to Decorah with notes about Mom and DM2.

Things look OK at N1 this morning.  From Lisa's pics, it appears that HM and HD might be trying for another egg.  Fingers crossed!

LisaG1967

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #596 on: March 07, 2023, 12:47:57 PM »

Lisa, thanks for the pics. T40, thanks for sharing Robin Brumm's trip to Decorah with notes about Mom and DM2.

Things look OK at N1 this morning.  From Lisa's pics, it appears that HM and HD might be trying for another egg.  Fingers crossed!

Oh, I hope they are not trying for another egg.  I thought RRP said, if there would be another, it would have come three or four days after the 2nd egg. 

LisaG1967

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #597 on: March 07, 2023, 01:13:39 PM »

More morning pics from Decorah - HD incubating the eggs, HM came to nest with fresh nesting, and HD letting HM know, its still my turn to incubate







oldguy

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #598 on: March 07, 2023, 03:19:51 PM »

STLbf - here is a link to Iowa DNR that has info on the Canadian Geese, including nesting dates.   -   https://www.iowadnr.gov/hunting/migratory-game-birds/goose-information.
SE Iowa - Grew up within 40 miles of Decorah

STLbf

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Re: Decorah Eagles 2023
« Reply #599 on: March 07, 2023, 03:54:54 PM »

oldguy, thanks for the link to geese in Iowa.  The pics from 2022 that I posted showing last year's geese were not really unusual.