Bird Cams Around the World

From mod to chat today:

Feb 19 2016, 6:40 PM
Essec09: When watching nature cams you have to remember that you are watching wildlife in the roles that have allowed them to survive for years. It is our own human carelessness that previously decimated their numbers - not their own species.

Feb 19 2016, 6:40 PM
Essec09: Compassionate feelings bring worry and sometimes anger over what is perceived as ‘bad’ behavior; when in fact it is attributing human attributes to their instinctual behavior - humanizing.

Feb 19 2016, 6:40 PM
Essec09: What is observed in the nest is just a preview of what the eaglets are going to face once they leave the nest. A hatchling’s first and only instinct is to eat. Once the second hatchling shows up they are considered competition. It is at this point the pecking order establishes.

Feb 19 2016, 6:41 PM
Essec09: While there may be a few nests that experience harmony and parental wisdom like the old “Ozzie & Harriet” show, the real truth is that sibling rivalry for food is seen quite often to varying degrees.

Feb 19 2016, 6:41 PM
Essec09: And while it is hard to watch, there are lessons being learned by both eaglets. Usually the older chick is the ‘Alpha’ and is successful keeping the younger chick from the food. Most of what you see is postering on the eaglet’s part - with little actual injury being done. Not to say it doesn’t hurt, just that it isn’t life threatening in most cases.

Feb 19 2016, 6:41 PM
Essec09: This dominant trait will be very useful once they leave the nest since a good portion of their first four years will be spent scavenging and stealing food. Hunting skills take practice. Knowing how to defend your food once you have it is also an important skill needed for survival.

Feb 19 2016, 6:42 PM
Essec09: When E7 pecks at E8 for what looks like no apparent reason - they are only asserting their dominance in the nest - a reminder of sorts.

Feb 19 2016, 6:42 PM
Essec09: On the other hand the younger chick learns to avoid conflict by taking a submissive pose and waiting until their sibling is full. It too will learn how to survive by avoiding conflict (which can lead to serious injuries when adult), sneaking, grabbing and stealing.

Feb 19 2016, 6:42 PM
Essec09: Sometimes these skills are more useful once they fledge since stealing will most likely be the preferred method of finding food.

Feb 19 2016, 6:42 PM
Essec09: Remember, the percentage of eaglets that survive from hatch to maturity is approximately 50%. They need to learn these tough lessons in order to have the best chance of survival once they leave the care of their parents.

Feb 19 2016, 6:43 PM
Essec09: The parents don’t usually interfere. They allow their young to learn the skills they know will be needed once they are on their own. It isn’t that they aren’t good parents - it is just the opposite. Eagles are not able to find food every day.

Feb 19 2016, 6:43 PM
Essec09: There are going to be some lean times when food is not easily found or captured. Which is why the crop is a very handy adaptation. They can gorge themselves when food is plentiful and go for a few days when food is not as easy to find.
Feb 19 2016, 6:43 PM

Essec09: Once the eaglets are as large as the adults and are self feeding, the adults will merely drop the food in the nest and whoever gets to it first will eat. Even the adults are not safe from an eaglet’s aggression. We will see the eaglets almost attack the parents when food is delivered - grabbing it from the adult and then mantling over their prize to keep others away.

Feb 19 2016, 6:43 PM
Essec09: This is normal behavior and the adults expect it. If the eaglets don’t eat it all you may see the adults take it away. Teaching them that food isn’t going to sit around for long and they better eat while they can.

Feb 19 2016, 6:44 PM
Essec09: There is much to learn when observing the wildlife cams. But along with the amazing sights we are able to view are also the hard realities. We each have to decide for ourselves what we want to observe. There may be times when it is better to walk away for a while. And that is perfectly understandable.

Feb 19 2016, 6:44 PM
Essec09: We do ask that when posting comments and questions you remember that we all share the same concerns and hopes for this eagle nest and ask that you remember the younger audience who also watch and read the chat. Thank you.

Thank you for bringing the chat over, SWINWK.

Nice to tune in to the cam & see E8 having a meal! He also has a nice-sized crop!

They are showing old videos @ chat. Here's one from 1/16/14 showing Ozzie delivering a steak and following shortly is Harriet delivering a roast to the nest! Oh my ... the good old days ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7FVFdSBOQ4 The deliveries begin @ approx. 1:25.

I saw a nice feed this afternoon for E8 . it started out that E7 was eating and when S8 went in , he was bonked but he waited and would turn sideways and grab quickly bites from Harriet and then she went over and fed him. He had a nice crop . not as big ass E7s but a good one. Sometimes I wonder if it is good having one so big.

I have nto watched but just happened to see this and was very happy to see how cunning E8 is. He is learning how to get his food. This will serve him well.

A nice long half hour feed for E8 by Mom starting at noon today. Harriet was wedged in between E8 and E7 (who was full & snoozing). E8 was quite hungry. Peeping non-stop and grabbing anything Harriet offered. Our little underdog now has a nice crop. Once E7 woke up and Mom moved out of the way, all it took was one step forward by E7 to cause E8 to face plant. E8 did not stay down for long, though. Both chicks are now in a food coma.

From mod:


Feb 21 2016, 11:59 AM
Essec09: Afternoon all. For those who might have missed the feeding that started around noon (and those who were watching and might have questions on what they were seeing) - E7 was fed first warning E8 away from the food which E8 did by turning their back to the food.

Feb 21 2016, 11:59 AM
Essec09: M15 dropped into the nest near a fish that Harriet had just brought in. Harriet apparently had her own ideas as to how that fish was to be served and promptly grabbed it and took it the left side of the nest. Message received by M15 and he flew up to the top branches.

Feb 21 2016, 12:00 PM
Essec09: When E7 had filled their crop they moved away from Harriet and the food to lay down next to E8. Eventually E8 decided it was time to make their move and crossed the nest to Harriet and the food.

Feb 21 2016, 12:00 PM
Essec09: After a short time Harriet began to offer food to E8. A movement from E7 warned E8 of possible incoming aggression and E8 refused the food that was being offered by Harriet. E8 has learned to avoid any conflict
by not accepting the food when E7 is near. Harriet continued to offer food to E8, but also offered it to ‘stuffed’ E7 who really wasn’t that interested - just wanted to assert their dominant role in the nest.

Feb 21 2016, 12:01 PM
Essec09: E8 moved as far away from E7 as they could and with Harriet’s body in the way E8 was able to eat without interruption. Everyone held their breath as the feeding continued with E8 close to the edge of the nest - seemingly unconcerned with our concern. And I know there were many holding their breaths. I know I did.

Feb 21 2016, 12:01 PM
Essec09: After the feeding E7 moved towards E8 - crowding E8 a bit. Both were very close to the edge of the nest. Harriet took care of the potential problem by simply moving to the other side of the nest. Both eaglets waddled after her and settled in the ‘safe’ area of the nest. Both eaglets ate well.

Feb 21 2016, 12:02 PM
Essec09: Harriet again shows us how she handles her young and makes sure both are fed. It is getting harder and harder to tell the two apart from size. E8 is catching up each day. Nature is remarkable. Enjoy watching!

E8 looks fine to me,growing fast

Thanks Ioza. Nice to see a more civilized feed. It appears that E8 is the very eager one on the left in your video. In the current overhead cam shot E7 is huge. Looks twice the size of E8. I took a screen shot, but can't post here at work. The cam site indicates that both chicks were fed at the same time today with 3 feeds each. This is certainly better than previous days where the feeds to E7 outnumbered those to E8 by 3+ to 1. I wonder if E7 is a female and E8 a male.

Nice video Freddie. Looks like that earlier wound on E8's head is all healed. Wow...you can really see the difference in coloring between the two chicks today.

Awww... don't you just want to pat that little one right on that cute little head!?!
(IMO E8 is definitely self-feeding: I saw him standing on his fishy and pulling at it and eating; such a smart little eaglet!)

Agreed. That E8 is a real survivor. The rough start in life has put him/her well ahead of E7. Very smart indeed. Glad to see there is peace today in the nest and E8 has a nice crop.

Wouldn't it be something if E7 noticed E8 feeding & asked him to feed her too?