Back and forth food steals

Eaglets growing and learning at Sydney White-bellied Sea-eagle nest. SE27 (left first picture, right second picture) and SE28 are seven weeks old.

[post includes closeups of gory prey]

SE27 eating some of breakfast independently.

They still get fed, though, to make sure they eat enough while practicing feeding themselves.

SE28 swallowing a big piece.

Eaglets loafing around, napping and biting nest material. SE27 at the front.

SE27 finds a prey leftover in the nest.

SE27 picking at the food, while SE28 watches attentively.

SE28 reaches closer, and...

Yoink!

Wing stretch, then after 'em.

SE27 steals the prey back, and starts picking at it with more confidence, holding it with their feet while standing. Still a little awkwardly, but they've got the right idea.

SE27 looks away for only a moment, but that's for long enough.

The food chances ownership again.

SE27 doesn't give up, and starts looking for an opportunity to get it back, while SE28 does their best to mantle and warn the older sibling away.

SE28 is getting some proper bites out of the prey!

SE27 takes the rest.

SE27.

SE27 left/front, SE28 right/back.

Now the other way around.

SE28 lying down, SE27 standing.

Other camera. Hello, SE27!

And hello to you, too, SE28!

SE27, SE28.

Both standing. SE28 looking around, SE27 preening.

SE28, SE27.

Today's breakfast delivery. SE28 rushes in to mantle and claim it!

But doesn't get to keep it.

SE28 signals submission, and SE27 focuses on eating the prey more than on defending it.

SE28 decides it's time for crab, and does a sneaky sideways walk to the prey. Since the sibling isn't facing them, SE27 doesn't seem as alert, and SE28 steals the prey back.

But not for long. Good effort, but eventually SE27 got the prey again and finished it.

Breakfast feeding with new prey, both eaglets getting food. SE27 still has some of their own left, but begs for extra because why not.

Supper delivery, and again SE28 is quick to grab it.

Good job!

And good job SE27, too, with another successful steal.

SE27 pinning the food with their talons and tearing parts out of it while standing. More good job!

SE28 seemed to consider a counter-steal, but didn't get around to it. SE27 took several tries to swallow the last of the prey, which seemed like an opportunity, but eventually SE27 got it down and SE28 was left without. Doing great at claiming food, better luck next day at keeping it, too.