Tuesday, Feb 14 -- Only one eaglet (very hungry)

Posted by NewMexiKen on
URL: http://bald-eagles-of-broward-county-florida.17.s1.nabble.com/Tuesday-Feb-14-Only-one-eaglet-very-hungry-tp7285399.html

This morning we watched the nest for a little over an hour, starting about 9:30 AM. The adult female was roosting on a horizontal limb above the nest. We could see the top of the head of one eaglet on the nest.



A sub-adult Red-shouldered Hawk flew in and perched about 10 feet above the eagle. The eagle called briefly but otherwise seemed not to pay attention to the hawk, which flew off after a few minutes.









The male eagle suddenly appeared high over the nest, approaching from the south. He appeared to be carrying prey, but he continued in a NW direction. The female flew after him and both disappeared in the distance.



Shortly thereafter the female had returned to roost in a dead Mealaeuca trunk just west of the nest. I ran over to photograph her as Mary Lou continued to watch the nest. (I could see no sign of injury to its face as I had suspected earlier). The male then appeared on the nest, presumably coming in from behind.



The male tore at the prey, whcih appeared to be a white bird, and fed the chick. I took over 200 photos, trying to see if there may be a second eaglet, but they showed only a single offspring. Photographing the bably eagle was like spelling "banana;" I didn't know when to stop!