Eaglets working on new plumage and new skills

Screenshots of the SWFL Bald eagles, starting from four days ago. E19 (back) and E20, both now five weeks old. Warning that post will again include views of prey, some quite gory.

Just looking at things and cuddling, waiting for fishies.

E20 preens E19.

E20 finds an old fish piece, and both play with it a bit.

E20, E19.

Still in the same order. E20 is too busy to sleep, so many things to look at.

Harriet feeding both eaglets. E20 higher on screen, E19 lower.

E20, E19. Resting at the nest rails.

Harriet (front) and M15 at the attic branch, having a moment looking around together before Harriet settles in at the nest for the night. Not long before this they had a more intimate moment at the same branch, with M getting on Harriet's back for a bonding. There's no eggs to fertilize right now, but there's a pair bond to maintain, and seems they were in the mood.

Next morning, M getting cleaned up after a fish delivery. Starting with feaking, rubbing beak on things to get food pieces off of it.

Then a rouse, puffing up and shaking feathers to get them into order.

And a good sun-drying for plumage that got wet in the fishing.

Closeups of E20's feather development.

E20 sitting up, E19 nibbling on leftovers.

E20 does wing exercises, E19 watches.

E20 falls over, and whacks E19 with a wing in the process.

Wingers from E19, too. No collateral wing whacks this time.

E19 dozing off, E20 asleep. The blood on Harriet's face is from prey, she's fine.

Another handsome E20 closeup. A good view of the eaglet's tongue barbs.

M feeding the kids. E19 focused on food, E20 apparently sees something even more interesting above them.

M and Harriet perching side by side in the early morning. The bright planet in the sky is Venus, I believe.

M hops to the nest to feed the chicks breakfast from a leftover fish. E20 is interested in food, E19 more so in wing workout. E20 is safe from wing whacks, but dad gets a few.

E19 still content to wait while E20 eats, but got some bites later without needing to bonk E20 out of the way. A very peaceful feeding sibling-rivalry wise.

Something interesting is happening around the nest, though. M and E19 are distracted and watching.

Tracking something above, E20 still probably just tracking the food piece in dad's beak.

Harriet guards them and supervises the feeding from the attic branch. There were some smaller birds perching at the top of the nest tree. Maybe they were the distraction, maybe it was something else. Eagle eyes see far.

E19 trying out their beak on a stick.

Sleepy E20.

Wakey E20.

Both eaglets standing!

E19 stretches their wings, showing how fluffy they still are under those.

Harriet and E19 seen on camera 2. Look at you standing just like mom!

E20 finds a leftover fish piece, and starts successfully self-feeding! Still sitting down instead of standing while doing so, but holding the food with talons like they should, and getting bites of fish. Good job!

E20 (front) and E19 this morning. They seem to have gotten a bit darker again overnight. Harriet and M both spent the night on the attic branch, with the eaglets sleeping in the nest by themselves. They're growing their big bird feathers and stay warm without brooding.

Some choice E19 closeups.

Harriet brings a roadkill snack. E19 grabs it and tries to mantle it, then has a brief tug-o-war with mom over it. Harriet wins, and de-furs the mostly-pelt piece for a feeding.

The eaglets didn't get breakfast today, so predictably the pecking order was enforced on this delayed first meal of the day since they were hungrier, and E20 got a bonk and E19 most of the food. Eagles being eagles.

Big wingers from E19.

No cause for worry about the food: dad brings in a big fish, enough for both.

Harriet takes the fish. E19 left/higher on screen, E20 right/lower.

E20 was wary and in sneak mode at this feeding, managing to snatch the first bite Harriet held out. E19 made a lunge at E20 for that as a warning and E20 submitted, letting E19 get fed for a while without competition, but soon got back in a good spot for food grabs. E20 got more warnings, but also more fish pieces.

Harriet tears off half of the fish's tail, and E20 gulps it down.

E20 gets many big pieces. One of them is too big, and E20 drops it, but then picks it up and holds it with talons, and manages to tear it into a swallowable shape with their beak!

Soon after the fish is eaten, M flies in with another. He feeds both eaglets.

E20 spends some time afterwards nibbling on leftovers. A meal and a lesson.