The Bartz brothers were presented with conducive building conditions when the Minnesota area was hit by frigid temperatures. Their work ended-up coming up with a snow sea turtle that is 12-foot-tall. To ensure not a single step was missed when making the seafaring creature, they set up a camera to record everything. The manner in which they transform snow into something that looks like a living thing is so amazing. It’s hard to find a mistake when you compare the created creature from the real living thing. It’s unbelievable how such a massive sculpture can be made and last within the Minnesota environment. So Cool!

http://youtu.be/jmI4QQGHX2A  Love it!!

12:41 for the 48 pc Tri Dove! Never again! I like auto-solve! 

  Did you ever tried birds pieces?
greetings Aafke

No way, I looked at that too!!!   

  Saw this on FB, pretty crazy!!

12:41 for the 48 pc Tri Dove! Never again! I like auto-solve! 

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5442764-madame-x-cosies-up-to-the-new-falcon-in-town/;send=false

Poor Surge, I don't think he will be back in time!

DC on Main cam this afternoon!  3:41 pm  Then................

...he shrunk!!!!   


Thanks MAK for the heads up!!

Kestrel   

http://neblandvm.outdoornebraska.gov/2015/02/peregrine-falcon-shocker/ Another male spotted at Woodmen!!

So was this just a winter foray of discovery?  Will 19/K be back at the Capitol come spring?  Or will we find a new male has taken over at the Capitol?  Will 19/K become the new male at the Woodmen?  Does this mean he displaced his own offspring (Mintaka)?

Seems like changes are a coming all over!!

Haven't been here in a long time -- like so many of us, life gets busy.  Just want to say I miss all of you and the old days of the Kodak board and kfalconcam.  But I'm so glad you have all kept this up and I do remember to check now and then this time of year.  Still miss Mariah and Kaver, but know Beauty and DotCa have captured your hearts as well!
Vandrefalk

Wow, hello, nice to see you here again!! 

No sign of spring here too  -36 C this morning.   GRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Now THAT is COLD!!!!   

8:23 am and Blair is on the nest. Light snow and 23 degrees. Softly calling for Mister....or Taylor? Social Stream says he was there earlier, but no mention of food. Loren Allen, thank you for reporting that you had watched all day and it was not Mister that brought the food; she got it herself. But I've been told they mated, so maybe in a few days we'll have an egg that Mister will help with.
I agree with all of you: it is so sad to see/hear her on the nest trying to incubate by herself.
I'm no eagle expert, but from what I've read, Mister will not accept another male's egg as his own. That said, if she lays another egg, now from him, his parenting skills may kick in. We can only hope. Blair 

No sign of Spring here, birds all fighting over FOOD!! Hawk desperately hungry, he actually flew into my Christmas tree out back after a Sparrow. I went out and spooked him and  when he flew off, he smacked into a tree trunk! Oops, sorry!! I can't seem to keep these guys full, the HUGE crows devour everything out there, no food for the wee ones!! Blue Jays sit on my back porch railing screaming for peanuts. I created monsters and now I can't stop it!! The Starlings eat the cat food on my porch that Black Kitty and DJ left and Black Kitty is right there in her lil condo. She's even too cold to go after them. Yeah, no Spring here!! Snow is cool!

No smilies cuz I'm just too lazy!!

Why the heck are we colder???? -9 here! High of 19 today!  Snow is cool, frigid temps, you can have them!! 

[(apparently, Mister is not the dad) and he won't help incubate the eggs that are not his. May be a young male]

9:11 a.m. in Wisconsin and Blair is still incubating. She calls out for relief but nobody's coming. It's my assumption that "Mister" sent Taylor packing. frown emoticon Don't quote me; just my assumption.
Social Stream on the site is saying that this is nature: "Mister" knows the egg isn't his so he's having no part of incubating. Speculation is that if "Mister" and Blair mate, which there is time yet, maybe he'll "get" it; it's assumed he is a young male, probably a first try at mating.
All we can do is watch, wait and pray. I miss Lucy and Larry terribly but feel bad for the kids who are watching. They're missing the excitement of having viable eggs, chicks, etc. Let's keep them in our hearts. heart emoticon.

2-22-15
Blair needed to leave this morning. Eagles use a lot of energy in sub zero temperatures even when they do not do much moving around. They need to keep their body temperatures up and food equals energy. While this is not a good situation to be in, Blair needs to eat, and will see to her own survival first. This is nature and we realize it can be difficult to watch. We understand if you turn yourself off from watching.

This just in from E4K: Blair just laid a 2nd egg around 5 pm. "Mister is there. . . " Fingers crossed, everybody!
(apparently, Mister is not the dad) and he won't help incubate the eggs that are not his. May be a young male.

Today:2-20
DAY 2...ALMOST A WRAP.
It is snowing, and Blair was still incubating. Females tend to do the incubating in snowy/rainy weather. So, this is normal. She got up and left it and the male that many are calling "Mister" right now came in. We were hoping that he would take over but he seems to not make up his mind. This is normal.
If we are right, and the egg is Taylor's he would rather it be his genes in this clutch. He is not in daddy mode yet and may still be looking to bond. Blair is in mommy mode. For success, they need to get in synch. It may not happen. Blair will not starve. If she needs to eat to survive, she will, and she will leave the egg unattended. We have seen this happen at other nests. If "Mister" can somehow get in daddy mode, and adopt this egg, there is a chance for success. If not, it's simple. We will not have a hatch with this clutch. If it does fail there is still time for a 2nd clutch for Blair and "Mister."
Mister did bring in some food today. That is a positive sign. However, he has not joined in on incubating.

WLOL: Sounds like the "baby daddy" flew the coop and "Mister" is left to play dad. Hopefully he gets in the "dad mode" and he and Blair can have their own egg together. Hoping this couple will get at least one viable egg for these students.
Please go to the E4K FB page for videos.
Sounds like the "baby daddy" didn't stick around. D

More news....and sadly, drama: 2-19-15
NEST UPDATE
Last Thursday and Friday we know that Blair and Taylor mated. Saturday rolled around and Taylor was a no show and still is. Friday night we had the attack and some questions still surround that episode. Was it Taylor attacking or was it this male we are seeing that attacked the mature eagle on the nest? I think it was Taylor but am not certain. Next, if it was Taylor, was he injured in the attack as he hit hard and that is the reason we do not see him? Or, did the male that we see simply chase him off? Sorry, no answers. Still no sighting of Taylor since then.
Last night we were all elated at the sight of the first egg of 2015. This morning when there wasn't the traditional changing of the guard where the male takes over incubation, worry immediately set in. There was an attempt by the male to mate with Blair or it was a sign that he wanted to incubate, and she wasn't having any of it. So, it was more likely a sign that he wanted to mate knowing this was not his egg. He stayed for quite some time, and finally left. Later this afternoon, she called out and the male flew to the side branch and she left to the front perch. The male did not respond and come to incubate. By the way, I could hear everyone cheering him on, but he was not listening. This is not a good sign. Time will tell but she will have to eventually go and eat. It is still very cold. There continues to be more questions than answers. I do not have a crystal ball. At this time, just please know that I am praying for a Cinderella story as you all.

Very confusing and hope all works out but if she has to leave the eggs to hunt for herself, the eggs may not hatch with these cold temps!!    Pray all works out with this nest!

Quest