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[STLbf]

DNF has found raccoons this afternoon. She brought one carcass to the nest about 1:00 PM and left it for the eaglets to work on.  She brought a second about 2:30 and helped defur and so forth.  The eaglets hadn't made much progress consuming them when MrN brought a much welcomed fish about 4:30.  The nest looks like it's carpeted with fur and flies!  And bones and a few scales.

[Puff]

A reminder for all the bird lovers at RRP:  A reminder follows about arrangements for our 2024 ATF get together.  Also, there are reservation deadlines/dates/rooms/rates are being held.   Chop. chop, chop.

                                                   
                                                    AFTER THE FLEDGE 2024

Well, here we are for another issue of After The Fledge 2024.  For some, I discovered last year, this may be your induction to the available program for room reservations, property selection, availability, and cost for our ATF get together.  I have contracted with Decorah hotels for rooms on hold for us.  Rooms are held at 4 locations at reduced rates; option deadlines are available until date indicated.  All arrangements must be made thru me, AND there is no additional charge.  Rooms are held for you using your information and credit card.  Nothing is charged until you arrive at the hotel.  You can also cancel the reservation if necessary at no charge if you do so before your arrival date.  Please call or email me if you have any other questions.  The Fledge this year is July 18 - 20, arriving July 18, departing July 21.  Additional days can be added if you prefer.

First, let me mention that there are no rooms assigned for us at Country Inn & Suites.  You are free to call and make your own reservations there.  888-405-2885.


Fairfield Inn by Marriott      10 rooms available, either 8 king or 2 queen
               at the same price:  Thursday $105, Friday $155,
               Saturday $190
               Deadline:  July 5, 2024

Hotel Winneshiek         4 rooms available, 3 king executive or
               1 king whirlpool if available, $623.84
               This is downtown location, 3 or 4 miles to nest
               Deadline:  July 16

Quality Inn & Suites         8 rooms available, 1 king or 2 queen beds
               King $175 per night, 2 Queens $165 per night
               With tax: king $668.64, queen $668.84
               Deadline:  June 18

Super8 by Wyndham      12 rooms available, ask for floor and beds
               Total for 3 nights, $654 (with tax $732.59)
               Request floor and bedding

As usual, I'll need your personal information and credit card information to hold a reservation.  Rates apply until the deadline.  Charges will not be processed until checkout.  Any further questions/issues, contact me.

Puff/LaNora         [email protected]      630-852-2108

[STLbf]

ATF participants may be sharing space with all the geese around the hatchery!!

About 6:00 this morning, DN18 was having a soccer game with a raccoon carcass head, lifting, hopping, flapping.  It's great practice for carrying and moving prey.  Shortly after, DNF brought a fish that DN18 grabbed and spent time eating most of it.  DN17 tried to steal a couple times, unsuccessfully.  DNF cleaned up some of the leftovers, and the eaglets had a game of tug-o-prey about 10:30.  Around 11, DN17 did a couple of really good hovers while wingercizing.

[STLbf]

Biggest news of today at DNN was DN18's venture onto the patio area about 11:00 this morning.  Deliberate but awkward step down, looking around for a couple minutes, then scrambling back to the nest surface.

Both eaglets are flapping across the nest, hovering, getting ready for a big day not far in the future.

Looks like a whole fawn carcass on the nest from maybe yesterday.

Great closeups of the eaglets, thanks to the cam ops!  Did I get the IDs correct in the pic?

[STLbf]

Fish on the fresh menu today so far today, and nestovers to nibble on.  Wingercizing and fly-hopping, and picking at sticks and string.  The string is at the near edge of the nest, and it's binder twine, probably an old piece that has resurfaced.

[STLbf]

Very foggy at daybreak.  DNF brought a large, live fish at 6AM, which DN17 claimed.  Over about 30 minutes, DN17 carried the fish back and forth, finally eating all of it.  DN18 watched, didn't try to steal.  About 9:00, DN18 made a second visit to the patio, returned to the nest, then went back to the patio, while DN17 watched.  Each now has a skill that the other doesn't.

[STLbf]

Busy day at the North's.  DNF brought the head & foreleg part of a deer carcass about 10:30.  I'm thinking it's a yearling.  DN18 claimed it and moved it around some.  DNF brought a second batch of parts, surely the same carcass, about 11:00 and a third mass of parts about 1:00.  DNF stayed on the nest picking at the carcass, but eaglets aren't very interested.  About 1:40, cam ops got great view of the whole eagle family with cattle in the background.

Enjoy, and we'll see what happens later today.

[Ginger52]

STL -- Nice pics from today.  I laughed at DN17 hopping around the nest this morning with that fish in his talons.

DNF and the eaglets have been harassed nightly for the last couple of weeks by a small owl (probably an Eastern Screech Owl).  The last few nights there have been more than one hit per night.  Both DN17 and DN18 have also been hit although DN18 has maybe only been hit once.  He only just started standing up at night. 

Here are some .gifs of last night's hits from GABear.  What a way to wake up!

DN18 at 4:21 a.m.


DNF at 4:22 a.m.


DNF again @ 4:50AM
Owl appears to land for a second on the left side branch

[STLbf]

Ginger, that's one brazen owl!  Definitely counting coup.

[STLbf]

Today has been mostly eaglets watching this and that.  Haven't seen MrN or DNF bringing food (on rewind) until about 4:45, when MrN  brought a small fish that DN17 grabbed and gulped down.

[Ginger52]

At around 8:35 a.m. DN17 branched to the Ladder Branch.  Woohoo!!!

Gif. from GABear:

[Ginger52]

And, DN18 has been spending more time on the porch.  Pic from reby.

[STLbf]

Ginger, thanks for the gif of DN17's first branching flight!  Awesome.  DN17 very carefully explored balancing on the Ladder Branch and stayed out there until about 11:30.   The patio has become DN18's hangout.  They both were ready to celebrate with a rabbit carcass for lunch.  I couldn't tell which parent brought it.

[STLbf]

Couple more pics

[nanimal]

  Thanks for the exciting updates Ginger and STL!