Eaglet table manners after a stormy day

 

Harriet shielding her eaglets during thunderstorm at SWFL Bald eagle nest. Both E19 and E20 are okay afterwards.

Feeding the next morning. E19 eating, while E20 waits submissively for their turn. Hunger brings out the sibling rivalry more (though it is a normal part of this developmental stage anyway) and makes the eaglets' pecking order stricter, and the storm the day before kept them from getting as much to eat as usual, though both did eat.

E20 sneaks to the sidelines...

...and scores some bites.

M15 arrives with a second fish, and continues the feeding. E19 still eats some, but has already gotten plenty.

E20's turn! Both got a good breakfast.

Closeup of E19's wingtip, with pinfeathers for the primary flight feathers emerging. E19 is three weeks old now, and E20 only a day behind. They're no longer little hatchlings, and are in the midst of a growth spurt.

E20 closeup.

Preening, preening. The eaglets are growing their second plumage, the darker grey thermal down, in addition to their budding pin feathers. Must be pretty itchy.

And if that wasn't enough discomfort, there's siblings. E20 submissive at feeding after a roughing up from E19.

Dad M15 feeds them patiently as the eaglets employ their own respective methods of getting to the food. E20 (right) isn't staying out of the feeding anymore, but isn't facing the parent of sibling directly, to not register as competition. E19 has a big crop already, but isn't done.

E20 is done waiting, however, and quickly intercepts some of the bites of food that were going in E19's direction.

E19 gets up, and E20 just as quickly puts their head back down.

But the head doesn't stay down, instead E20 keeps an eye out for opportunities...

...and strikes!

Sneaky bird gets the fish.

A bit less sneaky now, and too bold for E19's liking.

E20 gets a bite of a less pleasant kind.

But E19 is soon full and ready for a nap, and E20 gets the feeding to themselves. To secure their share of the food and learn how to do so when they're on their own after leaving the nest, the older eaglet must be at least a little aggressive and use its greater strength, and the younger eaglet must be quick and smart and pick its battles, and both will learn also by watching each other. So long as there's enough food for both, both will get to eat, even if not always very peacefully.

Harriet arrives, and takes over the fish and the feeding.

E20 continues to get a good supper, now from mom.

E20 and E19 settle in for the night at the nest.

Harriet (front) and M15 perch together at the attic branch, before Harriet returns to the nest to spend the night with the eaglets, with M15 standing watch over them.