[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Last year the oldest eaglet branched at 67 days. (Branching is when the eaglets try their wings and land on a branch beside the nest)

Camellia, this year's oldest eaglet, is now 60 days old. She is spending a lot of time sitting on the side of the nest and looking over. I think she'll start branching sometime soon.

Bare, thanks for the heads up!

[pooh]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Last year the oldest eaglet branched at 67 days. (Branching is when the eaglets try their wings and land on a branch beside the nest)

Camellia, this year's oldest eaglet, is now 60 days old. She is spending a lot of time sitting on the side of the nest and looking over. I think she'll start branching sometime soon.

Thanks for the info. I watch the birds every day and it's amazing just how much they've grown.
They've changed from little balls of fluff to magnificent birds.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by pooh

Thanks for the info. I watch the birds every day and it's amazing just how much they've grown.
They've changed from little balls of fluff to magnificent birds.

I feel the same way Pooh. It is an amazing site. From tiny cute fuzzy ewoks to magestic birds. I keep thinking if I check it a few times during the day, I may be the first person to see them branching!

[bxmt54]

The largest of the eagles is really stretching his wings today. You can see him 'lift off' just for a few seconds and then land again...it is so cute. He's really practicing - the others are just watching but it won't be long for them too most likely. I bet today or tomorrow he leaves the nest for the first time.

[bkcunningham1]

It is exciting. Like a teenager with a new license who wants so badly to drive.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by bxmt54

The largest of the eagles is really stretching his wings today. You can see him 'lift off' just for a few seconds and then land again...it is so cute. He's really practicing - the others are just watching but it won't be long for them too most likely. I bet today or tomorrow he leaves the nest for the first time.

I've seen all three eaglets today "nest flying" and exercising their wings. The moderater calls it Wingersizing. Where they lift off and flap their wings but don't really travel anywhere. The next step is branching, which happens before they get the nerve to take their first flight.

Even after they start flying, they return to the nest to be fed. That should be fun to watch.

I always worry that one of the eaglets will get bumped out of the nest by accident. Apparently one year an eaglet did miss a branch and land on the ground. The parents didn't return the eaglet to the nest, but they did continue to bring it food.

[Pturner]

As big as the nest is, it's starting to look like the eaglets are outgrowing it. In the past few days, I haven't seen all three of them lying down at once and it almost looks like there's not enough froom for all three of them to.*

Bet they'll be taking flight soon. I seen some "wingersizing," but haven't any of them branching yet. Have you Bare? Cuz? Anyone?

* Look Tony-- I ended the sentence with a preposition. No English major, I.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Pturner

As big as the nest is, it's starting to look like the eaglets are outgrowing it. In the past few days, I haven't seen all three of them lying down at once and it almost looks like there's not enough froom for all three of them to.*

Bet they'll be taking flight soon. I seen some "wingersizing," but haven't any of them branching yet. Have you Bare? Cuz? Anyone?

* Look Tony-- I ended the sentence with a preposition. No English major, I.

PT, I'm so addicted to this web site.

The nest is the size of a queen-size bed. However the wing span of the eaglets is now five feet. So there isn't much spare room when they all start wingersizing at the same time. It can be quite comic.

Yes, all three are branching now. If you look on the right hand side of the eagle cam page, there is a link to Camellia branching on May 15 and on May 23. They should be fledging (taking their first flight) by the end of May.

It will be exciting to see their independence, but sad to see our little eaglets disappear from our lives. (They will still return to the nest to be fed for a month or two, so we can enjoy their coming and going).

[Pturner]

Bare, one of them is on a branch right now!! How funny.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Bare, one of them is on a branch right now!! How funny.

They are branching a lot. Cam (the male with the transmitter) is on a branch right now (8:00 PM). They are just chilling, hoping the dad will bring more fish for dinner.

[K9-Lovers]

I used to live in that area of Virginia where the eagles nest. There was a nest just across from my back yard. What you don't get to see on this webcam is how the parents encourage and "talk" to their babies. It is just facinating to watch the parents circle and circle around that nest, calling all the while to the babies. When the babies start answering back they all can raise quite a racket! I haven't been watching like you all have, but I am reliving my memories reading your comments.

[Barefoot]

K-9 - There is a website with sound:
www.hornbyeagles.com/webcam.htm

I think the camera is better on the Hampton Roads, Virginia, website.

[Pturner]

Bare, have you been watching this evening? They've been so active, flapping and flapping, moving from branch to nest and back, flapping some more. Their wing spans are already amazing, as you said. They are still exciting to watch. It's amazing that they were those tiny little fluff balls such a short time ago. Wow!

Where's Cuz?

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by K9-Lovers

I used to live in that area of Virginia where the eagles nest. There was a nest just across from my back yard. What you don't get to see on this webcam is how the parents encourage and "talk" to their babies. It is just facinating to watch the parents circle and circle around that nest, calling all the while to the babies. When the babies start answering back they all can raise quite a racket! I haven't been watching like you all have, but I am reliving my memories reading your comments.

K9, I like the sound of those memories!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Bare, have you been watching this evening? They've been so active, flapping and flapping, moving from branch to nest and back, flapping some more. Their wing spans are already amazing, as you said. They are still exciting to watch. It's amazing that they were those tiny little fluff balls such a short time ago. Wow! Where's Cuz?

They are getting braver with each passing hour. Now they're flying from branch to branch. Soon they'll be taking their first flights .. within a few days. Even when they start flying, they'll still return to the nest to be fed by the parents.

In a month or two they'll be gone for good. As much as I hate to see them leave, in a way I'll be glad ... so I can get my life back!