First flight

Went by the nest in yesterdays post, that the fledgling was getting the encouragement from the adult.

Above the nest the young eagle was still getting some encouragement!

Flying at last

Of the 4 eagle nests the I've been watching, 2 have flying fledglings and 2 do not. One non-flying fledgling has been working hard at strengthening their wings, under Mom's watchful eye, as these pictures show.

While the other fledgling requires a little inspiration from Mom.

What is it ?

Today was one of those days that make you wonder why you get up early even when you don't have to.......dark, fogy and chilly (this damn global warming is about to kill me!). Anyway I went over to check on the fledgling eagle, which with the weather as it was, was staying low in the nest.

I went to the Pig (Piggly Wiggly grocery store for the non-Apalachaites)and decided to swing by the Mill Pond and Scipio Creek to see if any critters were out and about. As I neared Scipio, I saw a good sized, white bird with it's head in the water. Neat...a white ibis

.......until his bill came out of the water. White Ibis have red bills, this was fresh on my mind because of the ibis I had photographed yesterday and this one was black. A wood stork, certainly not a common bird around Apalachicola. Actually they have been on the endangered list since 1984,although they are prospering in South America.

They have two modes of feeding;one consists of holding their open bill in the water and snapping it shut, trapping it's prey.

The other method is used where vegetation is more prevalent; consists of holding their bill open and using a shaking foot to chase food out of the weeds, as these pictures illustrate.

This stork appears to be a juvenile bird and was still later on in the day. Maybe It'll still be around tomorrow.

Slow day!

I made a couple of trips by the Apalach nest, but the fledgling was hanging in the back of the nest. That area is very difficult to get a good picture due to the limbs and twigs.

I decided to head to another area that I'd seen mature birds cruising about. I went less than a mile into the woods before i saw the nest.

I circled around and a "large" chick stuck his head up.

After a loop through the woods to get a different angle, "Mom" showed up. This nest is not situated so that I can get in as close, but it gives me another opportunity for pictures.

Stay tuned ..................

Finally some sunshine

The fledgling eagle(s) has been staying low in the nest, with this week's rain and cool weather. I've see a wing or two flopping around inside the nest, but nothing to photograph. When I arrived today one of the adults was in the nest with the little guy, but left after a little while. Ten minuets later the fledgling's head popped up, but he was still on the wrong side of the nest.

One of the adults returned to the nest, but it appeared that it was not in the mood for company.

After a little verbal abuse, she gave me the "eye" and I left.

They grow up fast

I've been watching and photographing the nest for several weeks. Today was the first time I've seen the chicks active. When I first arrived both eagles were watching the neat, and it wasn't long before I saw a wing come out of the nest. In the above photo the female is watching as the chick looks out of the nest...maybe for the first time.

After I looked at him and he looked at me, Mama started chirping so I knew it was time to go. He'll start testing his wings in the next few days and that will make for some good shots.