June 3, 2017 (Saturday)

Bel's Nest Log

Hard to believe this regal creature is our B9 - photograph by JaniBop (6/3/17)

(112 & 110 days). B8 in LB 6:31:22; B8 to nest as B9 lands on lower branch & comes in squeeing under LB 6:31:53; B8 to LB 6:37:32 & out 6:39:02; B9 to RB 6:39:09, moves to higher branch 6:41:20 & out 6:41:48; B9 in 8:03:30 with B8 in FD 8:03:34, both check the nest & still no food; B8 squats down & plays with stick 8:04:49, B9 squats down to rub rear on nest 8:05:11, B8 does the same 8:05:26; B8 lays down 8:06:21 but B9 bites at B8's wing, so B8 gets up; B9 out BD 8:08:23; B8 goes to 11:00-branch 8:11:43 (A/C 16:16:28) & flies off 8:14:27 (A/C 16:19:04-ish); B8 in under LB 9:54:22; B8 out LSD 9:56:42 (A/C 18:01:xx); M in FD w/squirrel 11:53:45; B in FD 11:54:23, B9 in BD 11:54:39 & there's a tussle over the squirrel (B8 keeps it); eaglets yell until M hops to back right branch 11:55:26 & flies off 11:55:44; eaglets stop what they're doing to watch a butterfly 12:00:29; B9 goes in for a bite 12:03:46; B9 goes for another bite & there's a tussle 12:05:22, B9 ends up with the squirrel steal 12:05:31; B8 to Y-nook 12:05:38; B8 back to nest 12:06:37; B8 to Y-nook 12:22:52; M in FD w/squirrel #2 12:25:43 & gets mobbed; M backs up onto Y-nook 12:25:49 & B8 flaps to get around her to the nest; B9 ends up with both squirrels 12:25:54; M to RB 12:26:40; B8 to Y-nook to complain to M 12:26:56 then back to nest 12:27:22; M out 12:27:45; B8 moves in on a squirrel 12:41:45, gives it a tug 12:41:57, then tries the steal but B9 is standing on it 12:42:01; B9 picks up squirrel #1 12:42:41; B8 grabs the tail of squirrel #2 a few times 12:42:26, then gives it a good tug 12:43:09 & makes the steal 12:43:13; B9 reacts and it's tug-a-squirrel time 12:43:14 w/B8 winning (both eaglets now have a squirrel; B9 comes over and steals B8's squirrel 1:13:26 (B8 didn't put up a fight, must not be hungry); B8 out BD 1:14:23; B9 tries to swallow pelt 1:22:57, but it's too big; B9 moves pelt to right side of nest 1:23:15; B9 swallows pelt 1:23:42-1:23:57; B9 to 11:00-branch & out 1:26:15; (didn't see any other visits this afternoon/evening) IR light on 9:13:50pm.

May 21, 2017 (Sunday)

Bel's Nest Log

Mom with a squirrel - photograph by JaniBop

(99 & 97 days). IR light off 6:30:42am. B8 perched & flaps wings on a tree back behind nest tree on the upper right side 6:36:39; a drenched B9 comes in under LB 6:36:53 and checks for nestovers; B9 to Y-nook 6:38:47; B8 flies off 6:36:59; B9 back to nest 6:39:51; B9 on nest squees 6:40:35; B9 out BD 6:41:58; B8 lands on back tree on the right side center of Cam 1 view 6:44:38, B8 leaves that tree 6:48:14 & lands on the 11:00-branch at 6:48:27 B8 to nest 6:48:50 and checks for nestovers; B8 to Y-nook 6:52:50; B8 to nest 6:53:58; B8 to RB 6:57:02; B8 back to nest 7:01:58 & lays down 7:02:13, then gets up 7:02:38; B8 rubs rear on nest 7:03:05 then lays back down; B8 gets up 7:05:27; B8 to 10:00-branch 7:05:43…B9 in FD 8:05:29; B8 flies by behind nest 8:05:38; B8 lands on tree behind nest (right center) 8:05:54; B9 to Y-nook 8:06:29; B9 to nest 8:07:50; B8 moves to diff branch 8:09:01 as B9 watches; B8 flaps on back tree (right behind Cam 2 branch) 8:09:42; B9 to 11:00-branch 8:11:02; D in BD w/squirrel 10:19:47; B8 in BD 10:20:13 & claims squirrel; D to RB 10:21:18, D rouses 10:10:22:38; then flies off 10:22:54; B8 digs beak into squirrel 10:34:53 then drags it around 10:35:07 & across nest10:35:44 then uses foot to hold it down 10:36:04; D in FD w/squirrel 10:55:12; D to RB 10:55:38; B9 in FD 10:55:43 & there's huge tussle over the squirrels (each ends up with a squirrel); D out 10:56:50; M in FD w/squirrel with third squirrel of the morning 11:00:40 & B9 claims it; M feeds B9 11:01:29; B9 tries to steal M's squirrel 11:02:08 and B8 walks over; B9 tugs on squirrel again 11:02:34; M gets out of the way 11:02:48; M preps middles squirrel 11:03:04 & feeds B8 11:03:37; B8 steals M's squirrel 11:05:38; M tries to take a squirrel 11:09:48 but B8 takes it back; M takes a squirrel from B8 11::28:59 & B9 fusses at her; M offers B9 a bite (to get some quiet?) 11:29:58; B9 steals M's squirrel 11:30:16 so M moves over to the squirrel B9 abandoned and once B9 quietens down again all 3 eat; M starts swallowing squirrel pelt 11:33:08 & finally gets it all down 11:34:04; M shakes head to keep pelt down 11:34:23; M out BD 11:37:22; B8 starts to swallow squirrel pelt 11:39:58…ends up w/squirrel tail hanging out; B8 to Y-nook to give us closer look at squirrel tail 11:42:45; B8 back to nest 11:44:55; B8 flies out BD w/squirrel tail still hanging out from beak 11:47:30; B8 in BD 6:30:48pm; B8 to Y-nook 6:38:51; B8 to nest 6:46:18; B8 picks up nestover squirrel 6:47:54 but doesn't really seem interested in eating; M in to LB 6:48:40 & B8 squees and mantles squirrel; M to nest 6:50:59 & B8 rushes her; B8 moves over to guard the squirrel 6:51:15 then moves back to Mom 6:51:29; M sidesteps around B8 6:51:43 & B8 grabs the squirrel 6:52:02; M moves over as if to feed 6:52:13 & B8 claims squirrel & then sarts to eat; M digs in nest 6:53:12; B8 moves squirrel to other side of nest 6:53:54; M looks at the squirrel & B8 puts a foot on it 6:57:18 then crowds M up onto the Y-nook 6:57:23; M shifts her weight & B8 goes into defense mode 6:58:58; M to nest 7:19:20; M gets too close to the squirrel & B8 beaks at her 7:19:39; M digs in nest 7:19:45; M takes a bites of squirrel 7:24:28; M goes back to digging in nest 7:27:10 as B8 chips & chitters; B8 moves over to Mom 7:28:57; M walks around B8 and claims squirrel 7:29:04; M swallows the pelt 7:29:10; B8 PS 7:30:29; B8 to LB 7:30:33 chittering; M to LB 7:32:22 & out 7:32:25; B8 fights sleep 7:40:44; B8 to nest 7:43:09; B8 out BD 7:43:26.

May 20, 2017 (Saturday)

Bel's Nest Log

(98 & 96 days): B8 in to LB 7:10:54am, to nest 7:12:09 & picks at nestovers 7:12:20; B8 out BD 7:19:43; B8 in BD 9:03:24, to Y-nook & squees 9:05:18; B8 still perched in Y-nook squeeing periodically 9:41:00; B9 flies by 10:24:06; B9 squees 10:25:24; B9 in to 11:00-branch 10:25:49 & squees; B9 to nest 10:26:19; M in FD w/squirrel 2:09:09 (Cam 2 14:05:25); all kinds of mantling & jockeying for position going on; M immediately went to RB to get out of the way; B8 out BD 3:00:15; B9 out BD 3:07:03…ground report from JaniBop-When B8 flew out, s/he flew to tree behind nest. B9 went to a tree by the hwy we think; IR light on 8:45:53pm. Cam 1 reset 11:02pm, Cam 2 reset 22:59.

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.

April 27, 2017 (Thursday)

Bel's Nest Log

B9 - Up Close and Personal

(75 & 73 days old). Per TNTalons: EARLY MORN - Cam 1 reset 3:27am, no resets for Cam 2 or Ap Cam. One B has PS off back rail 3:28:50, wing flaps. MORN - B-left up 6:21:32, wing flaps, PS 6:22:05, more wing flaps, casts pellet 6:23:26, steps up to LB 6:31:42, preens; B-right up 6:36:27, goes to back rail; B-front to nest 6:38:22, plays w/nestover 6:39:34; B-back wingercizes 6:39:38; both play w/skull 6:41:15; B-front wingercizes 6:41:41, goes to pantry, stands on stk log for some flaps; both playing w/skull 6:42:09; B-front is now B-back/left; B-right wingercizes 6:43:08; B-left wing flaps to front rail 6:44:07, catches some good air flapping around 6:44:17; B-right steps up to RB 6:44:34; B-left PS 6:45:46, hops up to LB 6:45:54; IR light off 6:49:48; B-right (B8?) rouses 7:06:26, turns around, hops across nest 6:07:17, then back across 7:07:37 & steps up to Y-nook, turns around for PS 7:08:07, flaps down to nest & back to Y-nook, moves up to RB 7:09:21; B-left (B9?) head scratch 7:13:52; B8 moves up RB out of view 7:15:00; B9 flaps over to RB 7:15:32, moves over to LB 7:16:38, wing spread 7:18:13, hops across nest 7:18:18, hops around nest catching air, to LB 7:18:46, hops up to Cam pole 7:19:16, to RB 7:23:06, flaps down to pantry 7:23:52, flaps all over the place, PS 7:24:26, flaps to Y-nook 7:24:30, to nest, to LB, moves up LB out of view 7:25:08; B8 wing flaps 7:34:50, big wing spread 7:35:40, hops to Y-nook 7:35:46, then wingercizes, to LB 7:36:29. Per Jerri: As of 9:13am, so far B9 is sitting on his private LB squeeing for food; B8 on RB high; B9 to nest 9:57:37, after bouncing back and forth to and from the nest to LB he finally comes to rest on RYB with B8 who seems completely content high on his branch! B9 back to nest, then LB 10:33:49, then to center Y branch 10:35:37; after chewing on the cam for a few minutes and scratching the microphone, B9 climbs to the top of Cam 1 10:41:20, back to nest 10:41:49. Per TNT - unable to record time until 3:32:32 when M flew in via BD w/small UFO, B's mantle & one scarfs it down in one bite 3:22:42; M to LB 3:33:10 & out 3:33:27. Unable to record time until 5:37:23 when D flew in BD w/fish, lots of wings flapping all over the place as D tries to get out of the way of mantling kids; D to LB 5:37:32 as the B's scuffle over the food, mantle & squee; D out FD 5:39:38 (per Jani - D went to the favorite perch); M in BD w/turtle 6:21:31, mantling & squeeing ensues; M steps down from back rail to take control of the feeding; B-front plays w/turtle shell, which M picked clean, 6:57:17; M to LB 6:58:18 & out 6:58:24; IR light on 8:51:36pm.

Mom approaching favorite perch - photo by Gena Flanigen

March 26, 2017 (Sunday)

Bel's Nest Log

Cam1 reset 3:22:18. M calls to D 6:59:43, 7:01:30, 7:02:25, 7:07:19, 7:08:25, & 7:09:58; B-left (B8?) stretches right wing over B9 momentarily; M calls out to D again 7:11:50; M to LB 7:12:21 & out 7:12:35; B8 gets up 7:12:44, rouses, scratches an itch & preens; B8 also preens; B9 PS 7:14:19; B8 gets up 7:14:52, rouses; B8 PS 7:16:24, wingercises; B9 casts pellet 7:16:52; B9 plays w/twigs 7:19:43, crop drops 7:19:59; IR light off 7:20:46; B9 crop drop 8:16:18; D in FD w/huge fish 8:44:26, B9 mantles & gets the first bite 8:44:42; B8 being very polite during the whole feeding, lots of soft squeeing from the B's as they eat; B9 steps away from the table 9:04:30; B8 steps away from table 9:06:39; B8 on back rail for PS 9:07:37; B9 goes to pantry 9:08:52 & helps himself to more fish; D to LB 9:09:19 & B9 squees big time at him; D out 9:09:26, B's track his departure;  B9 wingercizes 9:10:43, 9:12:18; B8 down to rest by 9:26:30 while B9 continues to watch the world go by; B8? to pantry for a bite 10:09:05; D in BD w/partial fish? 10:09:17, both B's eat; B8 steps away from table first, then B9 at 10:20:31; B9 PS 10:20:58; B8 PS 10:21:22; D drags a nestover back to pantry 10:22:09 & eats; D out BD 10:27:16; B's in a cuddle puddle by 10:38:00; B's still resting 11:16:00; B8 PS 12:57:15, gets up on right rail 12:58:22, wing flaps then steps off rail, more wingercisizing 12:59:02; D in BD w/mangled ufo 1:16:49; B8 snatches it & self-feeds; D to LB 1:24:08 & out 1:24:47 w/B9 squeeing at him; B9 waddles up to B8 for a closer look & steal a few bites; B8 finishes eating 1:38:38; 1:28:30; M in FD 1:54:33; M grabs fish tail and feeds B8 1:55:26; B9 starts eating 2:00:16; B9 moves a pine bough 2:13:00; M fluffs nest 2:16:43; B8 ps 4:14:26; B9 ps 4:21:46; M to LB 5:15:28; M out 5:15:36; B8 ps 5:29:49; M In FD w/fish head 6:57:47; B8 grabs it 6:57:51; M takes it back 6:57:57; B9 gets the first bite 6:58:25; IR 8:23:21; B8 grabs a pine stick and moves it 8:24:38; plays with it 8:25:04; M to LB 9:02:35.

January 15, 2017 (Sunday)

Bel's Nest Log
Per TNT - M calls to D 7:30am, M up 07:37:13, M to LYB 07:38:30; D in LYB 07:38:37, M out 07:38:41; D watches M leave & then goes to nest 07:38:50; D rolls eggs & shimmies down 07:39:20. Per BEL-ground observation: M flies to fav perch, preens, then heads toward Garden Lakes at 8:00am. M returns to fav perch at 8:41am, flies off again after just a few minutes; Cam 1 reset 11:54am; M flies in to land on her favorite perch around 12:40; she leaves area around 12:46pm without going to nest (D went to the LB & flapped his wings when she came in); D is bothered by a turkey vulture that flies over the nest & goes to the LB at 2:27pm (Cam1 2:27:55), he goes back to the nest after a few minutes; M returns to the nest area, flies past the nest & lands on her perch at 2:44pm…D called to her when she came in & then on cam 1…D to LB 2:46:32; D back to nest 2:47:58 (ground observation: M gave D "the eye" and he meekly goes back to the nest & lays on the eggs); D alerts 2:53:07pm (ground observation: a sub adult eagle flew through the nest area, between the nest & where Mom was perched, D alerted while M stayed calm & perched); S/C#2-D gets up 3:41:52pm; D to LB 3:43:10; D out 3:43:26; M in BD 3:43:50pm; M rolls eggs, fluffs the fluff then settles down on the eggs 3:44:59-3:46:30pm; ground observation: D in BD w/fluff right after dark 6:15pm (Cam 1 6:16:45); D out BD 6:18:16pm; ground observation, it was too dark to see where he flew too, but I assume it was in a tree near the nest (didn't see him fly across the open area near nest). NOTE: Dad took an 8-hour shift today!

January 14, 2017 (Saturday)

Special treat today! Bel and JaniBop were at the nest today, so we get a first-hand, boots on the ground report!

Bel's Nest Log
S/C#1-D in to LB 7:52:08am; M stands up, chattering softly 7:52:11am; M out BD 7:52:57; D to nest 7:53:01; D rolls eggs & settles down on them 7:53:10; Ground observation-Mom flew to perch 3 trees behind the nest tree, she stayed about 10 minutes and then flew off toward the river; after a 6 1/2 hour break from her nest duty…S/C#2-D sees M and gets up 2:24:36pm; D goes to LB 2:24:41; D chatters at M (asking where's she's been for so long?) 2:24:45pm; D out 2:25:33pm; ground observation-D meets M mid-air & circles, soars and chastises her for being gone so long; can hear some of their mid-air chatter on cam 1 at 2:26:30pm; M in BD 2:26:38pm; M rolls eggs 2:27:45 then lays down to assume her incubation duty; ground observation-Dad soared for a while longer & then left the area, he was gone until 6:09pm when he returned to land in the tree just to the right of the nest tree. Rocky bothers Mom & earns a wing slap Cam1-07:40:02pm, Cam2-19:37:22.

April 16 - 20, 2016

Made with love to honor my chat buddy, Robin Paul Wilson.
Video

4/16 - Chatters, Photographers, and lots of B3 Branch Buddies gathered at the nest today to enjoy the eagles and pay tribute to our friend, Rob. It was a warm and wonderful day, and I'm sure it's safe to say a good time was had by all.

Daily activities of our eagle family included Mom coming in the back door with a squirrel and B6 trying to eat it. After some feeble attempts, B6 looks to Mom for help, and she, of course, obliges and feeds both of the kids. B7 casts a pellet. Mom left and was back within 10 minutes with another squirrel, and 10 minutes later Dad arrives with a fish. Mom chattered at Dad like crazy, and he didn't stick around too long. Mom then feeds the kid fish. Early afternoon found the kids trying to move a stick. Mom brings in a fish at 4:38 p.m. She eats some herself and then feeds the kids, and then she gulps down the last of the fish. She took off out the back door at 5:17. Late evening found the kids basking in the sunlight. One resting and the other preening. Mom comes home with some grass at 8:31 and everyone settles in for the night. Video: Nest Day 

Live video footage taken by Bel: Mom Brings a Squirrel & Dad a Fish.

Photo by Gena Flanigen (4/16)

"Big Momma" photo by Tani Deaton (4/16)

4/17 - It was a travel day for many as people headed home after the wonderful week-end; some putting off their departure until the last possible minute. Bel's Nest Log reflects Mom left the nest and went to the left branch at 1:20 a.m., leaving the kids plenty of room to sleep. She took off in the morning at 6:56, and Jani reported that Mom came in the back door with fish at 11:00 a.m. D arrived about 15 minutes later with his own fish and left a couple minutes later. Mom took off at 1:12 p.m., and came back at 6:31 p.m. with another fish. She took off out the back door at 6:43 p.m., only to return at 7:22 p.m. with yet another fish! She left at 7:30 p.m.

Thermoregulating Photo by Gena Flanigen (4/18)

4/18 - Mom was in the tree until 1:46 a.m., at which point she joined the kids in the nest for several minutes. She went to the left branch at 1:53 a.m. where she stayed until leaving for the morning at 6:43 a.m. Dad flew in the front door with a small fish at 9:38 a.m., and left quickly, leaving the kids to fend for themselves with the fish. At 12:46 p.m., B6 moved big stick from the crook of the Y branch. M brought in a fish at 2:58 p.m. and fed the kids. She stayed for an hour and a half and then left out the back door. She returned at 8:23 p.m. for a minute and then took off out the back door. Video: Just Like Dad 

4/19 - It was quite the day as both kids mini-branched this morning. I say “mini-branched” because many observers will argue as to whether it was actual branching, so I’ll let you be the judge when you view the video. Video: I Believe I Can Fly

4/20 - Mom brings in an early morning fish and lets one of the B’s self-feed. One kid casts a pellet. While one kid eats, the other flaps around the nest until he finally gets the fish. He uses his talon to move it and then his beak. Mom brings in a UFO for dinner. One kid mantles and steals a chunk and the other steals the rest. Mom gets it back and eats a little herself, but she feeds the kids, too. The kids help Mom spread some grass. The kids do some hopping around the nest and branching later in the evening. Mom left the nest at 8:28 p.m.