March 16, 2015 – Spring!
Spring is on its way…
This has been an especially warm week for the eagles in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. We are seeing our first signs of spring, and most of the snow is gone! At least for now…
These two eaglets are growing quickly. During this week’s warm weather they have been peeking out in front of the incubating parent frequently, and even lounging around the nest enjoying the sun. We are also seeing much more movement from the two eaglets, lots of wing and leg muscle exercising. While the youngest eaglet is still noticeably smaller than the one that hatched first (they are several days apart in age), both are feeding well and seem active and engaged!
Food, and lots of it!
The eagle parents are keeping with the voracious appetites of the growing eaglets. Many fans have commented that the state of the nest reflects this!
It has started to be nearly as interesting to watch the food brought to the nest as the nest itself, many small birds and mammals, and a variety of fish brought into the nest. Interestingly, last week a banded pigeon was brought into the nest. Before the leg with the band was eaten by a parent (don’t worry they will be just fine) we were able to determine that the bird was a racing pigeon, born in 2013 in Pennsylvania.
Domestic Pigeons (non-native) are a common food source for urban Bald Eagles; in fact Bald Eagles likely preyed on the now extinct Passenger Pigeon. The extinction of this once super-abundant species taught scientists, biologists, and the world a valuable lesson – over exploitation and human activities can cause extinction. Fortunately, that lesson helped save the Bald Eagle from a similar fate. The MN DNR Nongame Wildlife Program was a part of that success story and it continues to work hard to protect Bald Eagles from a world changed by humans. Learn about what we are doing to protect eagles from lead in MN.
Q. Why are there not more fish being brought to the nest?
A. Our lakes and rivers are still largely frozen in Minnesota. Once the ice melts away, dead and injured fishes will become easier to find, and will likely start showing up in the nest more frequently.
Q. Why is there only one parent at the nest at a time, we used to see both more often?
A. Don’t worry, this is totally normal. With quickly growing bellies and mouths to feed, and the larger eaglets able to produce some of their own heat, one of the parents will now spend much more time away from the nest foraging to feed themselves and their family.
Q: Which one of the adult birds has a band on its leg?
A. We were able to determine last year that it is the adult female eagle that is banded. The band was placed by the University of Minnesota Raptor Center when the eagle was brought in for rehabilitation in 2010. Learn more
Q. What is the big bulge that I sometimes see on the chicks chests, at the base of their necks?
A. You are seeing the young eaglet’s “crop.” This is a somewhat muscular pouch in their esophagus that is used to store food before digestion. It also helps eagles filter out inedible portions of their food that can then be spat back out. A big full crop is a sign of a very full eaglet!
Q. Is one of the adult eagle’s face injured?
A. No. Sometime on Thursday March 12th one of the adult eagles ate a particularly sloppy meal and had not managed to get all of the “leftovers” off its face. Bald Eagles are scavengers and this is a common sight.
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So glad to see things going well here!!!
They are looking so good. Thanks for the pictures.
