April 28, 2017 (Friday)

Bel's Nest Log *See special note below from Bel.

B9

(76 & 74 days old). Per TNTalons & Bel on the ground: 6:00am - one B perched on Y-nook, the other laying in nest. B-right up 6:31:26, right wing stretch 6:32:24, steps up to RB 6:33:08; B-left to nest 6:34:42, head scratch 6:35:54, hops up to RB 6:36:09 (both babies now side-by-side on RB); B8 stretches wing around B9 6:44:58; cute beaking 6:45:05; B-left (B8) wing flaps up LB 6:45:47, out of view 6:46:19, to nest 6:46:56, grabs turtle shell w/talon for play time, carries in mouth, hops to Y branch 6:48:46, up Cam pole 6:49:54 to check things out, to LB 6:51:16, moves out of view 6:51:30; 7:14:55 both B's out on limbs out of view; B-right (B9) wing flaps down RB to LB 7:27:38, wing spread 7:28:42, to Cam pole 7:29:35, bites at cam (close up) 8:29:45, big wing flap covers cam 8:42:38, moves out of view 8:42:46, to nest 9:13:52, plays w/turtle shell 9:14:54; B-left (B8) to nest 9:15:13 to play w/nestovers; D in SFD w/small fish 10:43:13, wings-a-flying & mantling galore, looks like squeeing B9 got it as B8 grabbed D's talon & yanked; D to LB 10:44:03 & out 10:44:22; B9 didn't seem too interested in eating (he may need to cast a pellet), so B8 makes the steel from B9 at 10:45:22; Per Jeri: B9 to nest 11:37:55 to feed on the remaining fish; M in BD w/squirrel, B8 first to claim ownership 1:26:50, M begins to feed B8 1:27:11; M feeds B9, too; M out FD 1:57:57. Per TNT: M out FD 1:57:57; B8 self-feeds after M leaves (this was one yucky meal!); B9 steals the squirrel 2:03:37 & tries to gulp it down but gets distracted momentarily; B8 to Y branch 2:04:55, PS 2:05:46, moves up LYB 2:06:01, moves out of view 2:07:45; B8 moves down branch 2:25:38, to nest 2:26:38 & grabs a nestover, to Y-nook 2:27:19; B9 scarfs down the remaining squirrel, pelt, tail & all 2:30:02, hops to LB 2:32:01, back to nest 2:32:06, PS 2:32:16 then wings across the nest, hops way up on the RB 2:35:02 & moves out of view; B9 partially in view 2:36:59 & looks like she wants to take off; B9 to nest 2:45:40, steps up on LB 2:46:28 (I think she wants on the Cam pole, but B8 is in the way); both B's sitting side-by-side facing BD 3:06:15. Fast Forward to 6:56:56 - M in FD w/fish 6:56:56, I think B8 got to it first; B9 goes for the steal & a mini fight breaks out 6:58:38, B8 retains control; M out BD 6:59:13; B8 to Y branch 7:09:54; B9's turn to eat some fish 7:09:59; B8 on right rail cooling off 7:12:54; B9 wing flaps across nest 7:27:09 for play time, to Y nook 7:29:17; B8 to RB 7:37:45, moves up out of view.
*When Dad left the nest his morning, he went to their favorite perch & stayed there for 2 or 2 1/2 hours before he flew off toward the river. When Mom left the first time, she went to the perch for 10 or 15 mins & then flew off toward G/L after circling the fields for a while. After Mom's 2nd visit, she went to the mud hole on the ground behind the nest. She stayed there, taking occasional drinks of water, for about 20 mins or so then flew to perch in a pine next to their favorite perch tree. She was still there when we left to go get dinner.