Eaglets ... ok, we were warned

[Autumn Colors]

E1 just went after E3 (granted, E3 bit E1's wing first). That's the most savagely I've seen one of them go after the other. Mom was at the back of the nest and just watched, then walked over to the front of the nest and is now feeding only E1. E2 is in the back watching and E3 is doing the "play dead" thing.

:(

EDIT: Now she's feeding both E1 and E2.

EDIT 2: Phew... dad's now at the other side of the nest feeding E2 and E3.

[woo me with science]

1. I've seen them do that a couple of times:

One parent at one end of the nest, feeding E1, and the other parent feeding the other two. It does seem a much better arrangement for E3, poor thing.

I watched a whole, heartbreaking feeding during which every time E3 raised his head, the others pecked him viciously. He ended up just standing there with his head down and didn't get anything.

He looks like he has grown over the past couple of days, though. These parents have a good record getting all their previous eaglets to adulthood successfully, so I'm hopeful he'll make it.

[nolabear]

2. Don't MAKE me pull this nest over!!

He's touching me! I am not! Are too!

FLEDGE, already! :rofl:

[DeeJay]

3. I wonder what the adults think when they see that happening

Do they go: "Oh no you don't!" (doesn't seem to be the case) or do they go: "Hmmm. That's very interesting. I wonder if someone will die? Yawn." or do they go: "Yes! Get him! He's such a runt and besides, keeping all 3 of you alive is hard work!"

:shrug:

[AngryOldDem]

4. Good thing I missed that. n/t

[Matilda]

5. I've seen E1 and E2 peck at each other, but they usually ignore E3.

I don't know whether that's good or bad. Some protection in being ignored, but if they gang up on him/her, the little one doesn't have much defence.

S/he is so cute, but does seem always to be at the end of the food chain - I find myself watching to see how much it gets fed each time. The parents don't always seem to be even-handed when they're giving out the food.

It's been snowing again, and it looks really miserable there – is this normal weather in Iowa for this time of year?

[AngryOldDem]

6. Yeah -- it can snow well into April.

But this week has been kind of unusual with heavy amounts in the northern Midwest. Earlier in the week the nest was all snow covered and the adults looked absolutely miserable. April is very much a transition month and it doesn't get consistently warm until about early to mid-May.