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[STLbf]

One eaglet picked up a possum tail about 2:00, near the front nest rail.  So it appears that the possum carcass got carried to the nest yesterday, perhaps in several pieces.  About 2:30, one of the eaglets was looking intently at something above the nest; don't know what, but good closeups of the eaglet's face.  And about 3:00, MrN brought a muskrat carcass.  He spread it out and left it for the eaglets to pick at by themselves.  No pic of the extreme closeup that includes paws and claws and some gory bits.   

[STLbf]

It's a good day for pics from DNN.   

The eaglets are getting pretty good at standing and picking at nestovers.  They are quick to grab fish from MrN.  They can mantle somewhat also.  But then they aren't sure what to do next, so MrN takes it back and feeds it to them.

[STLbf]

One eaglet, likely DN17, stood on the edge rails with some confidence early this afternoon.

Great closeups of stretching feet and wings.  Thanks cam ops!

[nanimal]

Thanks for the fantastic pics today, STL!

[STLbf]

nanimal, happy you enjoy the pics, and hope you have access to the rewind and videos.  The action is often better than pics.

Today the rain isn't keeping the eaglets from getting lots to eat, some bones to pick at, then mostly fish that they grab and swallow whole.  Can't tell if both of them are doing this or only DN17.  Also, some kind of mammal paw with short claws and pads on toes, maybe an otter??

MrN and DNF have been bringing food, then chattering at possible intruders or just celebrating the day and the life.

[Ginger52]

DN18 got its first grab and swallow whole today.

[STLbf]

Ginger, that's awesome and a great accomplishment for DN18!

[STLbf]

Pics from later afternoon - evening.  More fish and another hawklet.  Eeewww, but every raptor is a hunter.

[STLbf]

Rabbit on the menu this morning for the eaglets.  DNF brought the carcass and showed them how to defur it.  MrN came to help with feeding.  Eaglets are resting, stretching, clomping around the nest, resting, as expected.  DNF spent some time around noon pulling up nesting materials to let the grasses dry out from recent rain.

If you watch the rewind, you can see the calves stampeding across the pasture, from south to north, in one of the wide angle views.

[STLbf]

Happy Mother's Day

Eagles and other mothers keep right on working, holiday or not!

[STLbf]

One large breakfish early morning, then a smallish trout at about 8:40 AM, that one eaglet snatched, mantled, and nibbled.  The other eaglet took it away and did more nibbling.  They aren't overly hungry so no fighting, and practice will make them efficient eaters!

In that 7:00 wing-flaping time, there was a little air under the talons, hop, hop, hop.  Catch the action on rewind.

[STLbf]

About 2:00 this afternoon, DNF brought a large fish for the eaglets.  One snatched it from her grasp and mantled. Cam ops got great view of mantling from the front.  The fish was big enough for DN17 and DN18 to pick at it together.  Also, it was moving prey for them to deal with.  One got it opened up [no pics of the gory stuff, but watch on the rewind if you care to].

[STLbf]

Looks like a third hawklet carcass was brought to the nest late yesterday.  Parents have left it to "cure" so that the feathers loosen up and eaglets will be able to self-feed from it.   Very early, MrN came to the nest, then a fly-around to discourage visitors or passers-by, and he settled on the Perching Branch for a while.  DNF brought a fish from her bank-fishing [no pic], which was grabbed by an eaglet and consumed.  Cam ops got great views of both eaglets flapping wings and hip-hopping [pic of one].   More after my PBJ lunch. 

[Ginger52]

STL-- This hawklet was still alive when DNF brought it in.  It died sometime during the night/early morning.  Cam ops avoided zooming in until then.

[STLbf]

Thanks for the info, Ginger!  The cam ops know when to zoom and when not, and I appreciate that.  We can use the rewind feature to find most of what goes on within camera range.

Looks like the eaglets are almost as large as MrN now.