FRI MAR 14 - 2 or possibly 3 immature eagles chased away 10:15-11:30 AM

Posted by NewMexiKen on Mar 14, 2014; 10:13pm
URL: http://bald-eagles-of-broward-county-florida.17.s1.nabble.com/FRI-MAR-14-2-or-possibly-3-immature-eagles-chased-away-10-15-11-30-AM-tp7573427.html

Lots of excitement at the Pembroke Pines Bald Eagle nest this morning. I got there at about 10:15 AM. Both eaglets were active in the nest.



There was a brisk northerly wind. The male (Pride) came in with prey from behind the nest. After feeding the eaglets he roosted on a branch just above the nest. The older eaglet (Honor) is on the right in this photo. She seems to have a more prominent white area on her upper breast.



Suddenly, at about 10:45 AM  the adult and the eaglets were in a state of alarm, calling and looking up.



 An immature Bald Eagle that looked like a second year bird suddenly circled around the nest tree.



Pride took off after it and they disappeared to the south. Pride soon came back and resumed watch at the nest. The same immature appeared again and was driven off more forcefully. Pride took up a watch on the horizontal branch higher up above the nest.



There was excited calling and suddenly at about 11:30 TWO immature eaglets appeared. Pride chased each one in turn but they lingered and circled for about 10 minutes before disappearing in the sky to the north.







Watchers were not sure whether the first immature, which was a 2nd year bird, had returned. Upon examining the feather and molt pattern, it appears to be the same bird.



The other eagle had a mostly white head and darker tail, so it was a 4th year sub-adult.