Coundown 365 ~ T- 240

"Miracle Of Nature"

It was ten days ago that I made my last posting, on August 18th, 2010. It was that day it was discovered that one of the Eaglets had left the nest. Although, I could hear him on the ground from my vantage point on the bluff I could never locate him. A few days later, the Eaglet had moved down the bluff line to a second location. Again, you could hear him calling and the adult birds would perch overlooking his / her location. The two Eaglets remaining in the nest also would look in the direction of his call. A fellow Eagle fan called me to report that she had spotted him part way up a Cottonwood tree, sitting on a branch. I spent several days photographing the adults and two remaining Eaglets without seeing the third. Today, I got a call from my friend and she reported that the Eaglet had returned to the nest. I could not believe it, I rushed over and spent two hours observing the nest and the three Eaglets. From his previous reported location, the infant would have had to travel 50 - 60 yards on the ground and then figured out a way to get up the Spruce Tree to where the nest is located. The nest is approximately 30 to 40 feet from ground level. Flying the distance can be ruled out because it is still practicing by jumping and flapping his wings. He is a non-flyer. Looking at the terrain, I can only assume, from the Cottonwood tree he was able to jump to a high branch, then to another tree and continue this process until he reached the nest. I doubt the adults could have lifted him into the nest since the little ones are now close to adult size. It will remain a mystery, as to how he got back into the nest, but he is once again home. He is a survivor. Today, during my time at the nest, I noted that all three of the Eaglets are now working hard to learn how to fly. Taking turns, flapping their wings, jumping up and down, and then jumping onto a close branch outside the nest. They are also getting more brazen as to where they sit, one decided to sit in the spruce boughs outside the nest because their normal perch was already being occupied by a sibling. During my two hour visit, the adults never showed up although the Eaglets kept calling for them, must have been dinner time.

Eagle Nest With Remaining Two Eaglets, Taken On August 26th

FAMILY UNITED "One Legged Perch? As Siblings Look On" This picture is misleading, it appears that it is perching on one leg, but that was not the case. The stick in his talons is actually a branch that was laying across their nest. This bird (Whitey) decided to get rid of it. First he tried using it's beak, could bend it up but not hold it. So he locked onto it with his talons to move it, however, if you follow the limb you will see that it is still attached the main tree. He finally bent it enough to get it out of their way. He worked on that branch for twenty minutes.

"New Perching Area ~ Spruce Boughs"

"Leg Muscle Exercises"

It appears that he is flying, however, he is jumping up and down rapidly and flapping his wings ~ just for practice. They are starting to clear more air in their jumping routine. The siblings watch each other very carefully in everything they do.

"Gaining More Air"

"Almost Ready To Fly" (Note One Eaglet Outside the Nest In Spruce Perch)

"Showing Off His Flying Skills To Siblings"

"The Family ~ Two On Outside Nest Perch and One In The Nest"

"More Practice Flights"

It has been a great summer, watching this entire scene unfold from birth to the time they fly the nest, I feel very privileged to have witnessed and have had the opportunity to photograph a portion of it. It has been a great learning experience.