Squabbles with each other and with neighbors

SE27 (left) and SE28 getting ready for bed at Sydney White-bellied Sea-eagle nest tonight. SE27 is 11 weeks old, and SE28 turns 11 weeks tomorrow. Post includes views of prey.

Wet eagles at a feeding. SE27 at the front, SE28 at back.

One of the eaglets sleeping standing up! I think it's SE27.

Wing exercises, first SE28 then SE27. Getting ready for fledging, which isn't far now.

SE27 and SE28 being fed.

SE28 and SE27 being bothered by swooping Pied currawongs (Strepera graculina).

SE28 de-feathering prey. Mostly trying to eat it and getting feathers stuck on his beak, then spitting them out, but that's how you learn.

SE28 has a firm grip on the prey's body, and SE27 is pulling at its partially severed head. No need to fight for the whole thing if you can steal a part.

SE28 claims a fish.

Getting really good at self-feeding now.

Eventually SE27 steals the fish, and gets her share, too. SE28 didn't let it go entirely without resistance, and there was a brief tug-o-fish, but SE27 is still bigger and stronger.

Both eaglets sleeping standing up!

SE28 back, SE27 front. Getting swooped at again while having a meal in windy weather. I think it was the currawongs, or at least they bothered them again later the same day. It's nesting season for them, too, and they're being territorial.

The eaglets are getting to their full size, but are still distinguishable from each other. SE27 is a bit bigger than SE28, and has a lighter head, more pronounced brow ridge, and proportionally larger beak. As much as I have trouble telling the parents apart, these differences (other than the head colouring, I think that might be just individual variance) are sexually dimorphic traits for eagles, so it would seem SE27 is female, and SE28 male.