Blackwater Eagles are back

[Dumpsterkitty]

They just posted an update with videos of Tiny hatching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lbRz7zQ6Mg&feature=player_embedded#at=79

Pt 2 - Hatching of 3rd Eaglet on 2011 Blackwater Eagle Cam

[MAK]

  Such tiny little wings! Thanks Ei! 

[Donna]

Look how big!! Tiny's been getting plenty of food.

Tiny's BYF!!

[MAK]

 

[Dumpsterkitty]

I have a feeling Tiny is going to turn out to be male-and the 2 Godzillas have to be female!  Tiny is walking around & doing fine-getting pin feathers-sitting on his "heels"-making sure he gets fed-but those girls are so huge he looks like he's not growing at all.

[Donna]

Tiny goes right for the fish with mom. Look at him!!!

[Donna]

Just watched the big eaglet plop down on Tiny!!!

Tiny's under there!

[MAK]

What a little trooper Tiny Is!   

[Donna]

Well, we'll see...Tiny is still under Big sis!!

[Dumpsterkitty]

Tiny's crop is as big as he is!

[MAK]

 

[Donna]

I think when BIG sis plopped on him, all the air went from his stomach to his crop!!! That's HUGE!

[Donna]

Our youngest eaglet continues to hang in there and work his way into meal time. He’s still small and he has a lot of catching up to do, but he looks healthy and active, which at this age is about the best we could hope for.

We have noticed the eaglets’ big yellow feet are becoming more noticeable. Their feet are among the first body parts to become adult size, which is why biologists can often band their legs at a relatively young age. We don’t band eaglets at the Refuge at this time, so we won’t be banding these birds.

One question I did get this week was about the eaglets’ ability to feed themselves. Biologists believe that eaglets can feed themselves at around 6 weeks of age. Holding down prey with their talons while they tear into a fish or duck with their beak is hard work, so it takes a little while before the eaglets are strong enough to do it themselves. But once our oldest eaglet is able to tear off his own food, it might help our youngest, since it would free up the parent to feed just the two younger chicks.

No one has asked, but I thought I’d mention the Eaglet Naming Contest, as well. We usually like to wait until the chicks are about a month old before we start the contest, since that age is a safe time to assume that they’re all going to make it. So you can start thinking up your names now, and it won’t be long before we start the contest.

[Dumpsterkitty]

Tiny is growing up...

                               

Personal Service                               Sitting up like a big boy...with an even bigger crop!

[Dumpsterkitty]

WINGS!