High synch rates and self-feeding successes

[post includes close views of gory prey]

 

Rainy breakfast this morning at the Sydney White-bellied Sea-eagle nest. SE28 (left) and SE27 are both standing while eating!

 

And later they're loafing. SE27 on the left now.

 

SE28 down, SE27 up.

SE27 front, SE28 back. A lot of what they do inbetween meals is this, just lying around, and that's fine by me, they're very cute.

Simultaneous blink.

More rain starts, and Lady comes to the nest to brood the eaglets. They're too big to both fit under her without some trouble, though. SE28 under mother's chest, SE27 nipping at her beak.

By themselves again later, SE28 left.

Simultaneous wing stretch. (And camera having trouble staying on them because of wind.)

Both eaglets stand for a bit.

Then simultaneous wing exercises!

SE27, SE28.

Like I said, very cute. :)

After a feeding, SE28 finds leftovers and begins successfully self-feeding!

Holding the food with their feet like a big eagle, but by sitting, most of the time. It works, though. SE28 managed to tear several pieces out of the prey, and ate them.

Even holding the prey standing up for a while! Good job!

SE27 becomes interested in what little sibling is doing...

...and goes in for a steal! Unfortunately the eaglets are not very steady on their feet yet, so SE28 easily loses their balance when SE27 pulls at the prey from between SE28's legs.

SE28 quickly swallows a piece of the prey.

But SE27 takes the rest.

Good job, as well! Prey stealing and guarding is also an important skill to practice. They have both gotten food today already, so SE28 isn't going to bed with an empty crop even though they lost this morsel (which judging by a few closer zoomings is an almost whole bird hatchling).

SE27 begins eating, staying seated for stability.

SE27 is distracted, and SE28 considers stealing the prey back...

...but is caught, and decides never mind. Sibling rivalry has been low recently, but persisting at the steal attempt would most likely have earned them a bonk.

SE27 works on the prey for a bit piece by piece, then realizes it's already a pretty small piece, and there's a quicker way, too.

Down the hatch it goes!