Mlög: Grass blankets, neighbors, and beakies

Friday, January 14, 2022

Grass blankets, neighbors, and beakies

Screenshots from SWFL Bald eagle nest. No feedings shown, but the eaglets have been getting food. There are a few prey leftovers in the nest, but nothing too graphic.

Dad M15 brings a lot of dry grass to the nest and spreads it around. E20 (left) and E19 try not to get lost in it.

Ah, there you two are. A bit cozier now?

E20 lower on screen, E19 higher.

No idea which is which in this cuddle bundle.

But this is E20.

And here's E19.

Stretch wing in sibling's face.

E20, E19. Hanging out at the nest rails for the breeze, and for looking around when they're awake.

Tiny wingers, not sure which eaglet that is. They don't really have much of a size difference now.

Harriet at the nest being mombrella against the hot sun.

Morning calls by Harriet (front) and M15 after a peaceful night for a change. A pair of Great horned owls nesting near have a habit of knocking the eagles (just M at the moment as Harriet sleeps in the nest with the chicks) off their perches at night, when the owls are active and the eagles resting and not seeing as well in the dark. Both the owls and the eagles have nested here for years and see this as their territory, and the owls have young chicks of their own right now, making them more concerned about the other raptor pair next door.

Recent videos by wskrsnwings, who films the nest on location, show where the owls are nesting this year. It's actually the second nest Harriet and M15 built in 2020, during E15's long stay! Owls don't build nests, and species that don't nest in cavities like in tree hollows, or on the ground, will take over nests built by other birds - sometimes abandoned nests, and sometimes nests that are in active use, if they can. Harriet and M are nesting in this one, though they have fixed up the second one, too, from time to time, so the owls apparently figured it's free real estate. Great place, the only negative is the neighbors.