E21 was struck from the attic by an owl at 5 AM this morning which sent him tumbling to a branch below the nest. When I got there at 6 AM, E21 was perched quietly, moving around & flapping his wings at times, appearing to be okay. E22 was awake "upstairs" vocalizing off & on. A Loggerhead Shrike was pestering E21. E21 studied branches and looked above to find a way out and back to the nest. At 7:28 AM E21 fledged, flying beautifully to the NW. M15 flew in from the NW and delivered a fish to the nest not two minutes later. E22 claimed and ate it while M spent time in the attic, most likely with a view of both his offspring. M15 flew NW and 30 minutes after fledging E21 came flying confidently from the NW landing in the nest tree. The landing was not perfect but E21 secured a suitable branch after grabbing a branch and ending upside down before righting themselves on the branch. E21 did celebratory 'dancing' on the branches while E22 warned them away with their vocals. It is not unusual for a sibling in the nest to defend it and any food from another sibling who has flown off the nest. They did really scuffle when E21 entered the nest (not in my video as I had already stopped recording). This scuffle is more preparation for what they will both encounter when they are on their own. These two have excellent survival skills already! The E's are 12 weeks old this week. (E21 is 85 days old & E22 is 82 days old today.) Harriet was last seen February 2nd. "I love you Mom" and miss you terribly.
Thank you SWFEC, hosted by Dick Pritchett Real Estate, for providing & maintaining suitable trees & environment for this Bald Eagle Family. www.SWFLEagleCam.com
Thank you to Dick Pritchett Real Estate (SWFEC), Church of the Nazarene, Eagle Landing & several friends for allowing me to film on their premises.