1-23-15 ~ Nest News: Fort St. Vrain ~ Platteville, Colorado Update by Golden 1 Mom and Dad Fort St. Vrain have been busy preparing the nest for future eggs and eaglets. The weather warmed up over the weekend with temperatures in the low 60s. It got cold again but will warm up again over this weekend. They mated twice on January 21st, and will mate often now that the time is nearing when they are most fertile. Eggs have been laid as early as Valentines Day and as late as Feb 20th. There are often 3 eggs laid. Some years all 3 hatch. Weve seen in the past that unhatched or unviable eggs have been on the nest for a week or so before the parents will bury it in the nest. The eagles have been delivering grass and creating a cozy, soft nest. The fence has been built up at the top of the nest, and it is always so interesting to watch how they weave those sticks into place. They work so hard and by the end of the season the juvies have shaken many of those sticks overboard. On January 22 I watched an interesting interaction between Mom and Dad. He had been pulling sticks out of the new grass and found a turtle shell, which he then started to eat. Mom could be heard off-nest and as she arrived into the nest, he left with the turtle. They called and answered each other for a few minutes. Mom stood on the nest about 5 more minutes and when she moved to the center of the nest I noticed she had brought in food. She began to feed on the small critter and I could hear them still talking to each other too. It was quiet for a bit before Dad arrived with a stick. She continued to eat, and he stood watching over the Creek while she finished her meal and then they both exited the nest. We will see more interactions that make us grin, puzzle us, or just let us see more of the daily life of an eagle pair. Our thanks to Golden 1 for the screen caps. And thanks to our partner Xcel Energy for the eagle cam at Fort St. Vrain. Follow the season with us at: birdcam.xcelenergy/Cams/Eagle_Side/Xcel_Energy_Eagle_Cams
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 02:15:15 +0000
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