This has nothing to do with the VI

Greetings with an Update:
But first and most importantly, many thanks, Skys The Limit, for this great opportunity to witness the American Bald Eagle Family raising and caring for their young. Precious moments as these are truly rare in our lives.

For Eaglecam viewers who may have missed the past couple of days... well, this morning made for a mass-hysteria start when the 'streaming' Eaglecam "froze up/ stopped working/ quit altogether" and remained inoperable up until later this afternoon! You simply must read the streaming comments to appreciate a sense of chaos and a dose of withdrawal at its best! 😀

The kids are growing rapidly, including Peewee. His appetite has become ravenous as are the other siblings. The Eaglets are learning to preen and are beginning to eat small bits on their own. It has been one month now with Peewee hatching 5 days after number one.

They have survived very well through some horrific weather. The parents are AMAZING in protecting them.

Naming is soon ending. It seems that the names will be: Faith, Hope, and Spirit. 🙂

What a great education this provides into a small, but important, corner of our beautiful wildlife friends.

Your thread, Sky, has everything to do with the VIs and the rest of the world that is witnessing this wonderful family of Eagles!

Swan

This morning the eaglet with the most dark feathers was pecking at his mothers/fathers foot. She would lean over at look closely at the baby and then just move her foot away.

I also noticed that there are carcasses of dead birds in the nest. I wonder if those will stay there or if they will take them out.

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

The Eaglecam Tech individual, Bruce, posted some photos today of the Cottonwood Tree onto which the Eagle Nest was constructed. It sits 80 - 85 feet high. He captured a parent perched on a branch above the nest to show where they like to sit as they assune guard duty. He also snapped one in flight near the tree. Wonderful photos!

The Eaglets are all thriving, preening, learning to self feed a bit, and engaging in wing exercises. Soon (June) they will stretch their wings - which will extend to 7 1/2 feet span and take their test flights. What an experience that will be ....for them and for us! 😀

Swan

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

🙂 Update on the Eagle family - EagleCam - Alcoa:

It has become a "hold your breath week" in addition to gasping occasionally as the eaglets engage in wing and pseudo-flight exercises! Faith and Hope - the two older ones - have nearly "attained lift" off of the nest although none of the eaglets' primary flight feathers have yet fully come through their blue-colored shafts rendering them flight capability (the same holds true for their tail feathers.) So, consequently, we must endure very nervous moments of "standing too close to the edges of the nest" as they extend their now approximate 5 foot wingspans and commence with wing-flapping.

Soon they will engage in "branching": ... yes, that's right.......standing on branches near the nest at 85 feet above the ground, unable yet to fly, but all still under the supervision of their parents..."good grief! " as our friend, OT, would say. 😀 All we and the parents can do is think, "Hold on tightly, kids!"

The 1st eaglet, Faith, turned 6 weeks old yesterday; Hope, the 2nd, will be 6 weeks old tomorrow, followed by Spirit (PeeWee) on Saturday. Faith and Hope are eating on their own, but still enjoy being fed by the parents. PeeWee is observing and learning as he welcomes his meals prepared for him and fed to him accordingly. And what an appetite!

This month will prove to be exciting as the eaglets enter young adulthood; but, like parents with teenage children, one must brace themselves in order to survive the challenges the kids will present during this stage of life! 😮

Swan

 

Greetings,

While we await the repair to the EagleCam to be completed and the streaming to return once again, may I take advantage of Sky's Topic Title - This has nothing to do with the VI - to introduce "IL VOLO" ( Three tenors: one is 17 (center) and the other two are 16 years old).

Italia,
Swan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FJH62mgOH8

Bello!

Has anyone else observed a pair of hawks in the Cotton valley area? They are pretty large, dive at incredible speeds, screeching, swooping and what seems to be playing with each other.

We've seen some doing the same in the Carlton area............west end.
Actually quite dramatic...............

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

Greetings to our Eagletwatchers,

The Eaglets' flight and tail feathers have fully grown and the Eaglets will be "fledging" the nest within the next week or so returning only on occasion now as they set out to explore the world of flight, hunting and wildlife's wonderous challenges which lie before them. The parents will continue to teach them the skills necessary for survival as they attain their ultimate goal of independence.

For those of you who haven't seen the eaglets over the last two months, this is an opportunity to see them now as stunning young adults before they leave home.

____________________

And so I say to you our Precious Eaglets - Faith, Hope, and Spirit:

Before our eyes you have shared every moment of your lives from your very first breath upon entering this world. You have demonstrated to us the glorious power and true strength of nature herself as we witnessed your struggles through the winds, rains, and snows; and the storms instilled in you all the more courage and self-determination to face your new and challenging life that lies ahead.

Each of you has so much to see, so much to experience, so much to learn..

You are free, our young magnificent friends...
You are Freedom...
Let your spirits rise as you glorify this Nation's land; soar high over the Country which you will represent with integrity into its future, for it is you who will represent her Beauty, Pride, and Honor. Stay safe; stay well...

Swan

Solar Eclipse - http://events.slooh.com/

Swans was kind enough to remind me that these baby eagles will fledge soon. Possibly this week. http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

We check in with them a few times a day. I hold my breath when they are on the edge of the nest or when they flex their wings.

I am predicting that Faith will fledge either tomorrow or the next day. Would be wonderful if she flew on Memorial Day. She has been flexing her wings all day and constantly on the outermost branches of the nest. I hope we are watching when she finally takes the leap. She may have already flown as we cannot watch 24/7 but I don't think so. Thanks sky for sharing this with us.

: http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/eco_alcoa/info_page/ospreycam.asp

The Osprey:

For all of our Wildlife enthusiasts and EagleCam viewers, Alcoa in North Carolina has started up it's OspreyCam for us to enjoy another amazing family .of special/ rare birds. Keep an eye on EagleCam also! 😀

Swan

An update:

http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/eco_alcoa/info_page/ospreycam.asp (Osprey)
http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp (Eagles)

The Eagles and The Osprey: The next Superbowl teams? 🙂

The Osprey: And I must quote our friend, OT...."GOOD GRIEF!!!" This is the only appropriate response to the amazingly fast growth rate the chicks have undergone this past week (The 1st week of OspreyCam). The Biologist side of me compels me to ask: "Is this painful?" 😀 All three babies have outrageous appetites and take the food from Mom at a mouthful per second...check it out! Pack it away! The family is thriving. The kids hatched at the end of April and are even preening and are engaged in a little wing-flapping exercise.

They should be fledging at the end of June / early July. This camera is expected to allow viewing of the flights by zooming further back. What a treat it will be!

The Eagles: A smidge over 11 weeks old, the babies are all eating on their own (the parents bring meals to the nest), becoming airborne during flapping exercises, are perching on branches just off of the nest (see photos), preening, and have evolved into magnificent looking young adults, complete with dangerous beaks and deadly talons, which are necessary for capturing/ eating prey and for defense. It is near time for them to go to college and learn the skills necessary for survival, and I sincerely am confident that each will graduate with honors!

Stay safe, our lil' friends. We are proud of you - Faith, Hope, and Spirit! And Liberty and Justice: What great parents! Well done! (tu)
Swan

G'morning Everyone:

A bittersweet update - the Eaglets Hope, Faith and Spirit (PeeWee) have successfully fledged the nest
All the credit must be given to the parents whose relentless dedication and care given to all three Eaglets prevented sibling rivalry and dominance; in doing so, all three remarkable chicks thrived. Job well done, Liberty and Justice! Very well done!

Thank you, SkysThe Limit once more for posting this most interesting, educational, informative peek into a rarely witnessed event in nature; I sincerely hope children followed this wonderful opportunity presented to them by you..

Alcoa, you're the best!

ISLANDER MANY MANY MANY THANKS! ("This has nothing to do with the VI") (?) Indeed. 🙂 :

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp
Swan

G'morning Everyone: 😀
http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

Bruce - the Alcoa Eagle connection and our great updater - has just posted pictures of the Eaglets in flight! A truly inspirational moment...

Swan

It seems that there is a new batch of eggs for this season. I watched last year the hatching to being fledged from the nest. A new adventure to enjoy. Swans,Tam and JJ always kept up on the fun.

You can view the new group here............. http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

Thank you for the reminder!

Thanks DanielB. JJ and I will be watching. I wish Swans was still around to enjoy it with us. We miss her!