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[STLbf]

Looks like food gifting has begun.  MrN had a small fish on the nest about 11:00 this morning, not big enough to share.  But about 1:00 DNF brought fresh kill to the nest and called for MrN, who brought something to eat on a nearby branch.  What was it?  Who killed it?  It's good to see the Norths doing what they do in mid-December.  DNF cleaned up in the creek near the Spit, then preened in the Spit Tree.

The snow didn't stop them from soaring some before the 1:00 feeding.  Find on rewind.

[STLbf]

The unknown carcass has become popular on the nest this morning. First DNF moved it out of the snow about 8:00. The male red-bellied woodpecker that has been visiting was there several times starting about 9:30, and a blue jay came, too.  At 11:00 the smaller birds are still nibbling away.

[STLbf]

Male pheasant foraging in bushy area under the nest about 11:00 this morning.  Listen to it clucking on the rewind.

It's likely that the mystery carcass from yesterday was a pheasant.  The eagles like them and they are pretty easy to catch.  MrN finished off the carcass around 11:30.  Look out Mr Pheasant!

[STLbf]

Brrr cold today.  The RBW has been foraging at the nest off and on. About 1:30 PM, MrN brought a fish to the nest and ate a bite or two.  DNF flew in hard to share it and startled him. He grabbed the fish and flew away with it.  Ah well, this bonding process isn't perfect.  DNF picked up a stick instead and moved it before flying away.

[STLbf]

Nest work continues on a nippy Sunday.  The Norths spent the night in Love Branches, visited the nest about 7:00, flew to the Spit Tree, did some calling but didn't see mating. MrN brought a stick about 7:45, then all DNF until noon (posting time).  About 8:30 she brought a large bundle of sticks and cornstalks, flew away then returned to move bits.  DNF spent a while perching high in pine tree south of the nest from about 9:45. 

While the eagles were away, the red-bellied woodpecker visited, looking for new corn on the cob; same for a white-breasted nuthatch. [no pics]

[STLbf]

The nest has lots of new grasses over the snow this morning; missed delivery yesterday. RBW has been exploring, but so far no new corn on the cob.

The Norths perched together in the Spit Tree at daylight. MrN came to the nest about 7:30 AM after wrestling with a couple sticks on the ground in the open area where the old nest fell. Then about 9:00 he brought another cornstalk. Cam ops got a good shot of him taking off [see pic] then we got a 360 degree panorama from the nest cam that's worth finding on the rewind.

[STLbf]

About 2:45 MrN brought more grasses.  DNF followed him; seemed like she expected to have a food gift.  Looks like she is getting ready to molt a couple large wing feathers, one on each side, they are much lighter brown.  Guess she forgave him for no gift because they mated on the Love Branches about 3:45.  Maybe she gets dinner out.   

[STLbf]

The Norths overnighted in the Love Branches, stretching and chittering, then visiting the nest before daylight.  MrN brought breakfast red meat about 9:15 and ate it all himself.  Both brought cornstalks and sticks to get the nest ready for Santa to visit tonight.   

[Ginger52]

At 8:49 last night a barred owl flew by.  Mr. North saw it coming so I'm not sure if there was a hit.  Both DNF and Mr. vocalized.  The owl was heard a couple of minutes later.   Here's a gif from JanJ.

https://i.gyazo.com/df6f4bf9bf1172ff99e4189a21f65763.gif

[STLbf]

A quick Christmas visit from the owl.  Or maybe a Hanukkah flyby.  Thanks, Ginger 

The Norths added some grasses and sticks early this morning.  They performed a synchronized flyover watch near 8:00. MrN ate another red meat edible about 9:00 on a lower Love Branch, then feaked his beak before flying away.  About 10AM DNF perched for a while high atop a pine tree on the far side of the creek.

Thanks to the cam ops for working today!!

[STLbf]

Little birds came to the nest before 9:00, searching for more corn kernels. They hardly wait for the eagles to leave!
After bringing a stick at about 10:00, MrN posed for closeups.  At 10:45 DNF had brought a stick and both were moving separate sticks. It gets better in the next post.

[STLbf]

It's important to work hard while remaining alert. Do a little beaking while discussing the situation, then preen to look your eagle best before you make a little whoopie.  Is that branch part of the old Ladder branch?

[STLbf]

Mystery prey from the past few days solved.  It's pheasant.  This morning about 9:30 DNF brought a whole pheasant carcass to the nest and proceded to defeather it in closeup views.  This process also removes the skin, leaving the carcass looking similar to a skinless chicken that we might have at home. 

MrN came to share about 9:40, but DNF isn't sharing.  She mewed and mantled, so MrN flew to a nearby branch.  It's possible that he caught the pheasant on the ground and 'gifted' it to her.

[STLbf]

DNF consumed the pheasant, all but some feathers.  Around noon a visiting Sub-adult eagle perched in the pine tree top across the creek and south where the cows come down.  The Norths went on alert at the nest, but didn't give chase.  They were puffed up to look as large and fierce as possible. Cam ops got some good closeups.  By about 3:00, MrN came to the nest for a few leftovers.

[STLbf]

Another sub-adult BE, this one younger than yesterday's, perched in branches way south of the nest for a while about 9:00 this morning. Pic doesn't show the crows that were hassling the eagle.  Some nest activity in the early afternoon. DNF brought a big clump of grasses about 1:30. MrN joined her in aerating the soft nest materials at 1:45. Each brought a new stick around 2:00 [no pic].  MrN rassled a wonky stick from one side to the other about 2:20.