Oh my goodness! I haven’t checked in for about a week and they’ve changed so much!
I love watching them go stomp stomp stomping around the nest. They’re like “Look! We figured out what these poking out yellow things growing out of us are for!”
** wipes rain off lens **
Man, I can’t wait to see them start flapping. 
They sniff get big so fast!!
Way Cool. My grandson’s school in Dexter Maine has a family of eagles right next to the school. The UofM was going to set up a web cam but didn’t. I’ll have to forward this to my son.
They look like they’re finding the heat a bit trying.
Does anyone know how long it will be until they start trying to fly?
I think I read somewhere that they usually fledge at 10-13 weeks. The oldest is not quite 6 weeks old now.
Haven’t seen the family in a couple weeks. They are huge. Mama (or Papa) just brought home some fresh sushi and Parent and chicks consumed it very quickly.
Anyone know when they get the white feathers on their heads? I was a little surprised to see black/brown feathers growing in.
According to this website, it takes up to five years for their heads and tails to turn completely white. Young Bald eagles are often mistaken for Golden eagles.
That nest sure is getting crowded!
[QUOTE=Bumbershoot]
That nest sure is getting crowded!
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It certainly is.
Yesterday I saw one of them practising with its wings. It did a sort of half jump, half flight over the other two in order to get from the far side of the nest to the near side.
It’s interesting to see how much of a change there has been at feeding time. They’re no longer prepared to wait for the mother to pop the bits of fish into their mouths. Now, it’s just a frenzy, with every bird for itself ripping away at the fish.
From the webcam page:
They have looked very uncomfortable over the last couple of days in the heat.
The biggest one certainly looks quite close. It’s fluttering around the nest quite frequently, exercising its wings. It will be a welcome relief for them once they can fly. They look rather miserable milling around the crowded nest, getting in one another’s way - rather like animals pacing restlessly around their cage at a zoo.
About half-way down this page, there’s a section on First Flights. Here’s a snippet:
If you read the article, that quote was from a book written in 1970. Not sure if you were implying it, but the quote was not referring to the Decorah eagles.
You’re absolutely right; my bad. The part I quoted is actually from* An Eagle to the Sky* (1970), by Frances Hamerstrom.
Thanks for catching that!
Edit: I knew the quote didn’t refer to the Decorah eagles, but I should have given proper credit.
I see that one of them has finally got sick of being cooped up in the nest and has moved out onto the branches.
I still watch them every day
The first one took off today (yesterday.)
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/27808/iowas+world-famous+bald+eagle+chicks+begin+to+fledge/