Iowa Bald Eagles ready to hatch their eggs. LIVE!

[hpmsrm]

Two Eagles....in the nest.....with eggs just about to hatch.  I believe it is a live video.  I noticed that there are an awful lot of folks watching.  This is in NE Iowa near the town of Decorah.  NE Iowa is pretty much dairy country....hilly and lots of forest and woods with cliffs and rock formations.  Not too far from the Mississippi River.   Have a look while it is is still daylight.

I rushed to get this posted for all our wildlife lovers. Hope I'm correct on my facts.

[hpmsrm]

I think the reason they returned to the nest the other day was because the wind was blowing hard and very gusty.  Perhaps difficult maintaining balance out on that big swing-and-sway limb.  Yep.  They are a noisy group.

[spd2demun]

Looks like they have successfully banded one (female), and here is a vid of her release on July 12th.

Several other vids after you view that one.

BTW, my HSI is buffering all over the place and can barely watch...anyone else, or is it YTs problem?

[hpmsrm]

I've noticed the same problem SPD.  But I think it's on their end.  By the way I would not be surprised if they cut the live feed off pretty soon.  I read that another go-round usually happens in the fall.  This male/female pair seem to be really good parents.

[TexasEd]

Thanks for that link, Spd.  You don't realize how big they are 'til you see a person carrying one.  Love the other vid of the eaglet jumping around with a fish in it's talons!

[spd2demun]

What I wouldn't give to hold one!   Just add to the scratches from a lifetime of cats.

I read they ARE taking the feed down July 31st (until the parents come back to repeat the process again).

[dhascall]

Do they nest / hatch babies each year?  That will be a hoot (no pun intended but I'm sure that the area owls are worried (and screeching pun intended) to see next year.  My Mom got to see this year's webcast before she passed and the wife and I watched them in several waiting rooms, this past spring, to pass the time.

[spd2demun]

Yes, and that is their plan to bring the cams back online when they come back.  IIRC, I think they have been watching this pair for 3 years?

They said yesterday would be the last day (until the next breeding), but see they are still live. I miss them already.

I used to always watch them while at the doc's office, and that's been a lot this year.

It will be interesting to find out how the one they banded does during the harsh winter.

There is a Goodbye video for 2011, here:

[seaparl45]

Your discussion is really nice.I need to discuss some more.Eagle flies with all its glory that has been bestowed to it by the GOD. Among the flying animals, it is considered as the bravest and liked the most for this quality. There are many species of eagles in the world. One of them is the American bald eagle. Despite of its being an eagle, there are many other facts that are not known to many.

Bald Eagles Facts

[Escapee]

Welcome seaparl45 Thanks for adding to the discussion.

[spd2demun]

I checked yesterday and nothing but wind.

[skeeterintexas]

Mom & Dad have been sprucing up the nest.

[spd2demun]

You have seen them?

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skeeterintexas wrote:

Mom & Dad have been sprucing up the nest.

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[skeeterintexas]

I haven't seen them but some in the chatroom talk like they've been around. 

And if you look at the nest now, there are more twigs around the edge than when the last eaglet fledged.

[spd2demun]

OK, thanks; guess we'll have to look for screenshots to post again this time!

[hpmsrm]

Do a little search there on the site and there is a "slide show" of stills that show mom and dad working occasionally on the nest.  According to the folks who run the project, the adults don't spend much time around the nest during the winter.

More fascinating is the fact that Bald Eagle D-1....the one that has the transponder on her....has returned to a spot just a few miles east of her starting point (where she was hatched) outside of Decorah, IA.  She made a 700 mile trip since leaving the area....all the way to northern Minnesota with time spent also in Wisconsin.  Have a look at the latest map.

Of the three eaglets that were hatched last spring D-1 is the only one with the transponder attached to it.  It will be interesting to see if D-1 returns to the nest or the immediate area where the parents still remain.

I guess I'm especially interested in this Decorah project because, before my retirement, I was state director of tourism for Iowa.  So I'm familiar with the area.