Feed the baby

First feeding for the cute Peregrine hatchling at CalFalcons. Includes a few glimpses of bird prey, but it's mostly hidden behind the parent.

Tiny falcon

The first chick of the season has hatched at CalFalcons Peregrine nest! Annie and her new mate Lou have four eggs, one of which is a chick as of yesterday afternoon.

Eagling and owling

Screenshots from the SouthWest Florida Bald Eagle nestcam. Mostly eaglets perching at the attic, and also a glimpse of the neighbours.

E21 (front) and E22 looking around.

Pond activities

More screenshots from the SouthWest Florida Bald Eagle nestcam featuring the two fledglings.

E21 has discovered the pasture pond, and has its first bath, too.

An elegant wing dip...

Both fledglings spotted

Both eaglets have shown up at the nest at SouthWest Florida Bald Eagle nestcam! So good to see E21 (left) again. And you too, E22.

Fledgling spottings

Screenshots from the SouthWest Florida Bald Eagle nestcam. A few show fish prey.

Since E22's fledge, neither of the eaglets has returned to the nest, though at least one of them has returned to the pasture the nest is on. E21 hasn't been seen on camera since March 31st. Whether that means something has happened to it, time might tell or we might never know. The world is dangerous for young and inexperienced critters to wander in, but it's also not too unusual for fledglings to not return to their natal nest for days, or at all, even though they're fine.

The nest hasn't really been a safe place for the eaglets this season, with only one parent able to protect them, and intruder eagles and owls harassing the family. Humans not understanding to keep their distance can also be a deterrent. Could be E21 is hanging out somewhere else nearby, for now or to stay, and if so, dad M15 surely knows where his baby is, and can bring E21 food there. I hope E21 is alright, but in nature you can never know what will happen, and hoping is all I can do about it either way.

The younger eaglet E22, however, has come back in the cameras' view. E22 first returned to a branch under the nest, where it perched for most of a day. Dad had a meal in the nest, but E22 stayed put. Later the fledgling has also started to explore the pasture a bit more, and has been fed, too.

Yesterday: dad and E22 perching away from the nest together.

E22 fledges!

The younger eaglet at SouthWest Florida Bald Eagle nestcam had a similarly owl-"assisted" fledge as its older sibling did two days ago. While sleeping perched on the attic branch, E22 was hit by an owl and fell to a lower branch, then got hit again and fell to the same branch E21 fledged from. Having gotten its bearings in the morning, E22 flew for the first time just now.

E22 with its many fans in a new tree near the street (probably too many fans too close, really. Remember to give wild animals some peace and respectful distance, even if they live near human habitation).

E21 hasn't returned to the nest yet after its second flight yesterday. Stay safe out there, both of you!