Bald Eagle nestlings

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 4:43 pm

The bald eagles that nest in my local park, Seabranch Preserve, hatched three eggs this season. The hatchlings can't fly yet, but occasionally flap their wings. The nest is maybe 50 feet above ground at the top of a sand pine. The distance from the trail to the tree is about 200 feet, all of it impenetrable underbrush.

Here is a picture of the three young ones:

The proud parents stand guard on a nearby branch.

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 11:10 pm

Thanks, Richard! Cool pics!

Tom Kenney · Post by **Tom Kenney** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:39 am

Didn't know they nested this far south. That's very cool!

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Sat Feb 18, 2017 12:33 pm

Tom Kenney wrote: Didn't know they nested this far south. That's very cool!

Richard is in Florida...

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:09 pm

I now live in Florida, but my heart is still in the San Gabes, Sierra Nevada, and Death Valley.

Post by **JeffH** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:24 pm

I know that's a lot of zoom in the pic but they look pretty large already. How big are they when finally departing home?

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 5:31 am

very cool!

RichardK · Post by **RichardK** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:10 pm

JeffH wrote: I know that's a lot of zoom in the pic but they look pretty large already. How big are they when finally departing home?

The lens used was 500mm plus there was a lot of cropping. I was surprised at how big the young birds are. It takes them 2 1/2 to 3 months to reach the point of flight. They become fully grown within 2 or 3 weeks after that. The head and tail feathers don't turn white for 4 to 5 years.

I don't know when these birds hatched. I couldn't get to the park last weekend, but I will visit again this Saturday.