Out On A Limb

This is the time of year when eagles try to get their young to leave the nest. Our eagles are one of the daily treats we experience here in Florida. I write about them frequently as we like to share our joy of having these wonderful birds so close to us. Yesterday was no exception except the move is on to have the fledglings leave the nest.

The mother is now smaller and seems very tired after several months of caring for her brood.This year two babies were born to this pair and that makes 10 over the last six years. Her babies are now larger then the mother and still stand in the nest and beg for food every time one arrives at the nest. The male is a good hunter and frequently arrives home with a large fish. He presents it to the female who tears it apart and feeds the open mouths of the babies.

Young eagles are very competitive and if three chicks are hatched it is not uncommon for two of the babies to kill the third. Nature can be cruel but I believe it is a matter of having the mother overstressed with having to look after three. The mother of the chicks makes a decision to send the babies packing when the wings of the chicks are strong enough to enable them to fly.

The process is quite simple. On a particular day the parents decide to stop feeding the chicks. The chicks are relegated to a place outside the nest and are not permitted to go back. The place is usually on a limb adjacent to the nest. The parents roost away from the nest as well. Every day the babies venture further from the nest and are left in this situation until they decide to fly.

We have seen this take up to two weeks before they fly. Often the boldest will fly in a few days. The parents stand by with encouraging calls to try to entice them to come fly the friendly skies. Finally they do leave and it is a magical moment. We have observed it and on one occasion an eagle dropped from the limb and began to fly in and erratic manner. Just before hitting the ground it got its bearings and took to the open sky.

As if released from bonds it flew high and higher, tumbled and dove flew in every direction and was joined by it's family. For half an hour they played and flew in unfettered majesty as only eagles can and then returned home to the nest.

This almost ended in tragedy as the first landing was a disaster but the fledgling recovered its footing and dignity. Theresa and I will be watching for this years show and hope to have a repeat of the great one from a year ago.