Coundown 365 ~ T-250

The coming of the fall season is arriving rapidly, soon we will be seeing flocks of waterfowl winging their way south for the winter. Today, while visiting the Eagle Nest I could not help but notice the parking and camping area in the tidal zone of the Anchor River was empty. Since early May this area has been used by visiting fishermen, today it was vacant.

On Monday, the last day that I visited the Eagle Nest, although the third sibling had stopped by to visit for a couple of couple of days, he had once again departed the nest for for what is assumed good. His two remaining siblings in the nest, continued to practice that aerial maneuvers from the safety of the nest.

Today, arriving at the nest I found it to be vacant as the set of siblings also departed the safety zone and protection of their parents. For the first time, the nest is empty although the siblings do remain in the area perching in adjoining trees

"Empty Nest"

Although a prospective "renter" did stop by to check out the digs to see if they would be suitable for a winter home.

"Magpie Visiting Eagle Nest"

As the day breeze commenced, blowing up the slopes of the bluff, the young Eaglets came out to play on the wind currents, perhaps their concept of "passing in review". Two of them spent the better part of an hour gliding in the air currents above the nesting area.

"Young Wings"

"Flying Like A Pro"

"Catching A Downdraft"

Every new pilot has to be tested by the more experienced, however in this case, the crow had been heckling the "new flyer" by doing dive bombs on him. In this photo, I can only imagine, the Crow must feel like a Piper Cub aircraft with a F-16 Fighter Jet bearing down on him. It was enough to send the crow on his way.

"Combative Maneuver"

Just as I was getting ready to leave, I was packing up my camera and happened to glance at the nest to see one of the young birds return to the nest, just a brief touch and go and likely the last time I will get a picture of one of them on the nest.

"Stopping By To Say Goodbye"

I have no concept, how many hours that I have sat on the bluff, watching the nest and photographing their growth. I started watching them as they were laid in the nest as eggs, their hatching, and the changes that transformed during the brief summer. I have taken over 1,000 shots of them during the summer months, it has been a great educational opportunity watching their development, individual personalities, and traits. I will miss the family, hopefully the parents will return in the spring and once again raise a family. I wish them fair winds in their journeys.

The Eagles are not the only ones that have been preparing their young to live on their own and survive their environment. The cow moose that has been staying in our meadow all summer returned to our yard with her youngster. Earlier in the spring, he had to jump our lawn fence to follow his mother, but now, he is larger and able to follow in his mothers footsteps. He is prepared to handle the deep snow that he will encounter this winter.

"Resident Cow Moose"

"Her Calf ~ Born In May"

"It Has Been A Great Summer"