Bird Cams Around the World

From what I have been reading at Cornell Birds of N Amer. Yes. Aggression is more common during the nesting season, starting in winter and is influenced by available food, foraging perches and nesting sites.
From the article,
"Bald eagles are territorial, most notably during the breeding season. Both sexes will exhibit defense behavior towards eagles that intrude on their
nesting territory during the incubation and brooding periods. The rest of their home range is
not defended. Defenses include posturing (e.g., perching conspicuously), threat vocalizations, and sometimes chasing."

And I did read that the if the intruder takes the nest site, a new pairing could happen, but that wasn't as reliable of a report. Like SGB, I'm reading conflicting opinion.

No no, Kitten, I wasn't directing the speculation comment at you. I thought I was imagining things last night because I so wanted to believe the eaglet was being feed.

I'm sorry if it read that way. My apology!

Here is an article worth reading from Quinnipiac River Watershed Association



"According to QRWA President, Ginny Chirsky, “Because of the tremendous efforts to restore the Quinnipiac River throughout the state, Hanover Pond has now become a feeding ground for the eagles, who feed primarily on fish, small animals and water fowl...Both parents will take turn feed the baby eagles, which are called eaglets, a diet of mostly fish, which is eaten by the parent and regurgitated into the mouths of their young."

Thanks for all the research being done here. It is interesting about the "regurgitation" debate. Most of what I've read says eagles do not regurgitate to feed their young, but every now and then there's an expert who says they do. bev. from our forum posted on the Shep blog that she thinks Belle might be eating off site and bringing little bits back in her beak. Well, only time will tell as we wait out this situation.

Belle was gone for about 30-45 minutes, then I heard what sounded like someone landing on the camera. It shook a bit. 5 mins passed and the sound of someone on the cam again and Belle dropped down into the nest. She's standing with her back to the camera, but she periodically leans down to a peeping chick although her body is blocking the view.

The eaglet seems alert, looks up and about a lot. Even a big yawn.

I think so too Mick ... it's looking pretty good all things considered. I'm sure it's hungry but from the posts earlier today on WoW everyone was convinced she was giving it something ... even if just liquid from her own mouth. I'm not so sure about regurgitation ... but adult eagles can store a lot of food in their crops ... I just don't know that they have a way to bring it up into their mouths? I've seen then move food DOWN from their crop. All very interesting never-the-less.

I just keep praying for something good to happen. Belle's been gone awhile again now. Baby is still awake looking around. I have the sound down though.

Some locals are headed back out to check things out again so hopefully we'll have a report from them later.

I'm right there with you believing so SGB. My hope is maybe she's bringing a little bit in her beak...

Belle came back about 10 minutes ago. The eaglet did not reach up to her beak. She just settled down over him/her.

Ground observer report:
"Robyn" is sitting in her truck with bins at side of road. No sign of intruder or Lib. While Belle was off the nest just now she was actually sitting at the top of the tree above the nest.

Then she flew to the ground and back up to the nest.

- where she is now.

Thanks for posting Robyn's report, Mick. I was just going to go over and catch up on reading the blog.

I haven't heard any wailing today although I haven't been watching constantly.

My first thought about sitting above the nest in the tree was based on what I read about "owning" vantage points within their territory-This is where the intruder sat yesterday. Robyn said Belle was very alert sitting there, looking around.

BTW they are calling the intruder "Trudy",

There was one call while I watched @2:11 nest time. It sounded like a call when an eagle wants to exchange nest duty with their mate, but really...what do I know

That's a very good point, Mick, about sitting high in the tree as being an "advertisement" of owning the territory. I hadn't put that together yet for this situation in my little brain.