A Rapid Journey To Adulthood
Over the last three weeks I visited a Heron rookery and a Bald Eagle's nest twice. After the second visit to each, I thought it was very interesting how much larger the heron chicks and eaglets were. The subject was interesting to me so I thought I'd explore their growth rate a little more.
The following two images appeared in my May 18th blog, Great Blue Heron Family, showing two heron chicks in the nest with a parent during my May 16th visit.
Great Blue HeronRookery, nesting colony
Great Blue HeronRookery, nesting colony
I returned three weeks later, on June 7th, to find a very different story. First of all, very few adults were sitting on the nests. Most of them were hunting or perched on a nearby tree.
Great Blue HeronChicks @ Heron rookery
I found a couple nests with heron chicks that were still rather small. Perhaps they hatched later than most of the rookery.
Great Blue HeronChicks @ Heron rookery
A Great Blue Heron chick will grow to adult size in about six weeks. The following group of chicks are filling up the nest leaving little room for an adult.
Great Blue HeronChicks @ Heron rookery
These heron chicks were cooling themselves by panting. They sit on the nest, in the sun, moving air rapidly in and out of their lungs.
Great Blue HeronChicks @ Heron rookery
What to look forward to... The chicks will be nearly full grown at 9 weeks of age. Their wingspan will then be as large as the adults.
My other experience was a visit to a Bald Eagle's nest only two weeks apart. The first visit, on May 23rd, I was able to see two eaglets in the nest with an adult on guard to protect them.
Based on previous reports regarding when the hatching took place, these eaglets are about 4 weeks old. After four weeks on a 5 to 6 foot platform, siblings can get a little defensive.
Taking a break in the hot sun, the little eaglet peaks over the nest.
Below is a photo of the four week old siblings. Soon, their down will be replaced by feathers.
My next visit to the nest came on June 3rd, a short two weeks later. You can see how much the eaglets have grown. At six weeks, the eaglets are very nearly as large as their parents.
Once the eaglets develop their dark feathers, the parents spend less time on the nest. (This photo was made during the first visit)
The eaglet on the left must have been the first to hatch. It is slightly larger and is the one exercising its wings most often. Once again, the activity antagonizes the sibling.
Although it is looking much older, its feathers are still developing.
A dignified and respectful profile!
Although it looks like I was very close to this nest, the credit goes to some fine digital DSLR technology and lenses. I've said it time and again we strive to photograph wildlife displaying their natural behavior, without disturbing or endangering the wildlife. I find it very peaceful sitting on a hillside waiting for an adult eagle to bring food to the nest. After four or five hours pass and darkness begins to fall, I am still without the photo I desire.
It is interesting to watch the daily events of an eaglet flapping its wings, taking a nap, flapping some more, taking another nap, an occasional poop, moving sticks around in the nest, and basic exploring of the nest they've spent the last six weeks in.
Sometimes, a different perspective is in order.
With the rapid development of feathers, the anticipation of someday taking flight is on its mind.
Bald EagleEaglets
On a side note: an adult eagle flew by overhead twice that day but didn't come to the nest during my visit.
Looking forward, at eight weeks, the appetites of the young birds will be at their greatest. The parents will hunt almost continuously to feed them. Back at the nest, the eaglets will begin to stretch their wings into gusts of wind and may even be lifted off their feet for short periods.
With growing appetites, I should have more opportunities to capture the adults bringing in food under better light.
Thanks for looking,
Dan
