Bird Cams Around the World

My comment started a new page so I'll quote your post to "bump" it up. I agree with you elf about it being Dad. I caught this screenshot during the walk down the branch.



I think that they way you constructed this video is wonderful. It's not just an event but tells a story. Beautiful! I love the moment when the squirrel is noticed!
Thank you elf!

You are welcome Finn

Bald Eagle D-1 travels to Wisconsin, Minnesota

Thank you kitten. Isn't E2 beautiful in that picture? I'll keep my emotions in check here (I just love that girl!) I still call her E2. That's her affectionate childhood name.

And from the article,
"During her travels, D-1 made friends with other eagles, having been seen with both immature and adult eagles."

Recording of E2/D1 flying in the distance on Raptor Resource Project YouTube site, ries96.

Male at 10am CDT

Wasn't that fun to watch, Mick? Thanks so much for your quick work producing and uploading. I have a longer video that includes Dad's fly-in to shoo away the sparrows and the fly-out at the end.

Great videos! Do you think he knows the cam is there? He keeps looking at it like he does, then he was pecking at it the other day.

The male was just there, and then the female came in. Something was getting them upset.

Thank you for the screen captures of the pair calling obxbarb. It seemed like a "happy-to-be-eagles" call although Mom did the snake-y neck thing a bit earlier and stared in the direction of the cam (I sat back in my chair!). Then the cam pans and the fish hatchery can be seen at the end.

A 5:15 pm CDT capture from the video doing the snake-y neck thing,

This one is from this afternoon. It's interesting in the beginning and the end and then there is a whole lot of middle in the middle. I left links to jump forward in the description on YouTube.






You know me well kitten!


And it appears that E2/D1 is moving southward.
http://www.raptorresource.org/maps/personal.php?startDate=10/08/11&endDate=10/17/11&button=Submit

I love hearing vocals after watching Norfolk without for so long. Glad its just the happy to be eagles call

I watched the ceremony at NBG. Audio next year and a new cam!

Yes, both Norfolk and Decorah got a really nice donation from the same donor. He must love eagles, and I can't wait!!!

Mick, thank you for last evening's video! Wasn't that fun listening to their little conversation?

Here is the action this morning. They seem to have gotten past their reservations about their nest being disturbed during the cam install and have resumed courting and nestoration activity:

Elf,
It is wonderful to watch Mom & Dad at their best--cooperation and teamwork seem to be the hallmarks of their relationship. We certainly saw evidence of that last nesting season and I am looking forward to the new season with great anticipation.

I'm no expert, but I'm not sure what we are seeing in this video is evidence of "courting and nestoration activity." Rather, I believe that M & D are going through typical bonding activities, which I have read are a common practice with mated pairs year round. I think a lot of the bringing in and moving about of sticks has to do with marking the nest as occupied to keep potential intruders away. Greenery, new sticks and grasses show that this nest is "taken" and is not up for occupation by any other eagle(s).

From everything I’ve read, I doubt that these are true “nestorations” which--as I understand them--are actually getting the nest ready (bowl and all) for the egg laying and incubation and are triggered by lengthening daylight hours (photoperiodism is the technical term for this). Eagles (like other birds) have photoreceptors in their brains that react to light. As daylight hours grow longer, the additional sunlight stimulates their pituitary glands which sends their hormones in gear. The change in physiology isn't happening right now for either M or D because days are shortening (the shortest day of the year is Dec. 22 and that is when the lengthening of daylight hours will begin). Their instinct to engage in courtship rituals is also stimulated as part of the lengthening daylight hours.

It is true that we didn’t have a camera to check things out to see if the same activities were going on at this time of year, but my guess is that M & D are continuing to bond with each other by tending to their nest territory.

Finn, I'm sure you are right about all of this. I don't think it's true nestoration either, although has anybody actually ever defined that term? I use it pretty loosely. They did bring in some sticks, and eventually those sticks will work themselves into the nest material, so according to my personal elf definition, I'm calling it "nestoration." As for courting, maybe I used that word inappropriately, I think I meant the sort of bonding thing you describe. I guess bonding comes after courting, doesn't it? Or do couples keep courting even after they've bonded? Hmmmm....

Thanks for your excellent info, though! Sure beats my loose talk.

Elf:
This may a chicken/egg kind of discussion but let me give in a whirl: bonding activities "keep the romance alive" all year long for M & D and cement the work they do as a couple in building and maintaining the nest and in keeping their territory safe from intruders. Courting is a series of specific rituals (e.g., the cartwheel display that apparently is common) that occurs once the hormones have started to kick in with additional daylight hours. So the two go hand and hand, it is just courtship has physiological triggers and bonding activities are an ongoing part of their daily lives as a pair that has mated for life.