OT: Duke Farms Eagle is back

[BigRnj]

Not sure what your definition of often is but I think I saw that the success rate of 3 hatchlings making it to fledglings was less than 50%. Could be wrong though.

it can be whatever you want it to be sport. Point is 3 eggs doesn’t automatically mean a death sentence for one of them. Folks on this thread are concerned the third one is doomed. I’m just sharing that it’s not, it has a fighting chance. The Duke nest produced 3 fledglings in 2009 and 2013. Most years there are only 2 eggs so yeah 3 can and do survive.

I hope all 3 survive this year too but keep in mind there are challenges like predation from hawks (see attached video above), owls, crows, raccoons, weather, etc. Many hazards have nothing to do with the parents feeding each chick with enough to survive. Fortunately food sourcing isn’t much of an issue for the duke nest You can see plenty of fish in this nest. Some years there have been multiple turtle shells in the nest, snakes, squirrels, and I’m told one year a cat (with a collar on it). These birds mean business.

 

[RULoyal]

it can be whatever you want it to be sport. Point is 3 eggs doesn’t automatically mean a death sentence for one of them. Folks on this thread are concerned the third one is doomed. I’m just sharing that it’s not, it has a fighting chance. The Duke nest produced 3 fledglings in 2009 and 2013. Most years there are only 2 eggs so yeah 3 can and do survive.

I hope all 3 survive this year too but keep in mind there are challenges like predation from hawks (see attached video above), owls, crows, raccoons, weather, etc. Many hazards have nothing to do with the parents feeding each chick with enough to survive. Fortunately food sourcing isn’t much of an issue for the duke nest You can see plenty of fish in this nest. Some years there have been multiple turtle shells in the nest, snakes, squirrels, and I’m told one year a cat (with a collar on it). These birds mean business.

Sport? Just a discussion my friend. Sheesh

 

[BigRnj]

Sport? Just a discussion my friend. Sheesh

I left off a wink. No issue here.

 

[Kbee3]

The moderators spoke of a bird that was born a #3 at Dukes a decade ago and was identified as being a father to a group in Rhode Island. They band the birds so they were able to identify him.
I thought it was 50% who make it through the first winter after fledging.

 

[RULoyal]

Was just watching the cam. Uber chick has been taking it to the smallest chick.

 

[Kbee3]

Was just watching the cam. Uber chick has been taking it to the smallest chick.

They say it's just nature and subsides once a pecking order has been established. And that they're too young to have the weaponry to do any harm to each other. Tough to watch though...unless you like rooting for bullies.
I watched the nest last year and the worst part is when their wings have grown, but not enough that they can fly.
The bully will almost assault the adult bringing the food and then spread its wings to completely block the other eaglets access to the food. It doesn't get too physical though and the other eaglet was able to get its share....mostly.
And then, of course, they fledge and shortly thereafter fly away and you'll never know their fate.

 

[Extra Point]

As long as the parents can get plenty of food all 3 should be fine. The bigger ones eat first and get full and can't help but fall asleep, then the smaller ones get something to eat. If food is scarce then the larger baby will get very violent towards the smaller ones, like what happened last year with two babies. Being a baby eagle is no fun, but it is nature's way of making sure they propagate.

 

[RUGiddy777]

Eagles often raise 3 chicks to fledging age. Their survival rate is pretty poor for the first 1-2 years, but having 3 chicks, even with obvious size differences is not unusual. By the way both parents raise and feed the chicks, the Mom/female is often the larger adult.

FYI - Back in 2013 they had a nice meal. This is an amazing video of a red tailed hawk attacking the nest with Dad eagle in it. Yep he killed and ate the hawk!

View embedded media

That was awesome.

 

[RULoyal]

If you get seasick don't watch the eagle cam now.

 

[rurichdog]

Looks like it's breakfast time! Can't see what it is though.

 

[29PAS]

Hope mom and/or dad are close by. They’re totally exposed at the moment.

 

[rurichdog]

Looks like Mom caught either a squirrel or a small possum. They're eating good.

 

[mosito]

So the babies stick their but up and poop flies away from the nest so that they aren't in their own poop....
7:11 this morning...

 

[29PAS]

So the babies stick their but up and poop flies away from the nest so that they are in their own poop....
7:11 this morning...

I saw that too this morning.

 

[RU#1fan]

So the babies stick their but up and poop flies away from the nest so that they aren't in their own poop....
7:11 this morning...

Saw
Wish the bully would stop terrorizing the small one.

 

[Kbee3]

Hope mom and/or dad are close by. They’re totally exposed at the moment.

They are very close.

 

[Extra Point]

Even the little chicks got good meals today, Mom and Pop are good at catching fish this year thus far. Godzilla was more subdued being full.

 

[Extra Point]

Mama eagle has her wings out strangely trying to keep the babies covered and warm.

 

[RocktheRac]

Mom trying hard to cover chicks in this downpour

 

[RULoyal]

Mom and Dad appear to be pretty good fishermen (birds). Mom brought in a sucker at about 7:30 and Dad brought in a trout about 30 minutes later.

Dad with another fish at ~9:00

 

[HPNJRUfan]

Where did Mom and Dad go? When scrolling back through todays Youtube video, looks like neither one has been at the nest for 9+ hours through the night.

 

[Zak57]

Any other amateur birders here? If so what are your favorite spots? During Covid I got into it a bit. I like to Great Swamp, Mercer Meadows, Sandy Hook the most but have been to a decent amount of other spots. Need to get to Cape May for a migration.

 

[RULoyal]

9:28 both parents back with some big dead thing

 

[29PAS]

9:28 both parents back with some big dead thing

Whatever it was, it's pretty much a skeleton now.

 

[LETSGORU91]

9:28 both parents back with some big dead thing

Bigger eaglets, bigger appetites, bigger catch. One stop shopping in the raw meat department.

 

[RULoyal]

Whatever it was, it's pretty much a skeleton now.

The snout looked like a carnivore based on the teeth. Had a pointed snout, maybe a fox kit?

 

[eso1989]

Any other amateur birders here? If so what are your favorite spots? During Covid I got into it a bit. I like to Great Swamp, Mercer Meadows, Sandy Hook the most but have been to a decent amount of other spots. Need to get to Cape May for a migration.

If you haven’t been to the Forsythe NWR just south of Smithville, I highly recommend. There are walking trails and a wildlife drive you can bike or drive.

 

[mosito]

Wish the dad or mom would smack the darker eaglet around... bastard doesn't let his siblings eat

 

[RU#1fan]

Wish the dad or mom would smack the darker eaglet around... bastard doesn't let his siblings eat

This. That one is a bully and should be punished.

 

[50 yd line RR]

Eagles often raise 3 chicks to fledging age. Their survival rate is pretty poor for the first 1-2 years, but having 3 chicks, even with obvious size differences is not unusual. By the way both parents raise and feed the chicks, the Mom/female is often the larger adult.

FYI - Back in 2013 they had a nice meal. This is an amazing video of a red tailed hawk attacking the nest with Dad eagle in it. Yep he killed and ate the hawk!

View embedded media

 

[Kbee3]

I think I've read that the survival rate is about 50% for eaglets surviving the first year.

 

[BigRnj]

Any other amateur birders here? If so what are your favorite spots? During Covid I got into it a bit. I like to Great Swamp, Mercer Meadows, Sandy Hook the most but have been to a decent amount of other spots. Need to get to Cape May for a migration.

Try the Sherman Hoffman sanctuary in Bernardsville … it’s pretty good around this time of year to catch a glimpse of warblers and some not too common species. The Forsyth wildlife refuge is great … you can do the loop drive and there are plenty of spur trails with varying habitat.

 

[BigRnj]

Just sharing pics showing how big these birds actually are. They look small on the eagle cam 😉

 

[mosito]

Just sharing pics showing how big these birds actually are. They look small on the eagle cam 😉

And here I thought I could climb the tree and smack the bully around

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Eagles often raise 3 chicks to fledging age. Their survival rate is pretty poor for the first 1-2 years, but having 3 chicks, even with obvious size differences is not unusual. By the way both parents raise and feed the chicks, the Mom/female is often the larger adult.

FYI - Back in 2013 they had a nice meal. This is an amazing video of a red tailed hawk attacking the nest with Dad eagle in it. Yep he killed and ate the hawk!

View embedded media

hawk was small.. , maybe a young one who got lost and made a Darwin Award move?

 

[Extra Point]

They caught a squirrel. The babies are doing great.

 

[RULoyal]

Looks like it's raccoon for brunch (10:26).

 

[RULoyal]

Saw this on the FB page:

The Duke Farms eaglets will be six weeks old this week, half way to fledging. They are standing, walking and stretching their wings. Check out the newest DF nest update, "Five weeks going on six, half way to fledge "to learn about the eaglets growth and behavior during this period.
NJ Fish and Wildlife biologists plan to visit the nest next week to check on the eaglets and band them. The tentative date is April 10th (rain date the 11th).

 

[Sweet Peas Corner]

Both parents gone at 1:30 pm Monday. Hope they return soon.

 

[rurichdog]

Both parents gone at 1:30 pm Monday. Hope they return soon.

Rest easy, Sweet Pea. Dad is back on the nest. You only have Mom silently tracking you now...