Delta2 2019 -2020 Observation and Discussion Thread

[Jean]

1:14pm....IN on both cams.........Thanks Joan and SueD and SueB for being here earlier!

Thank you Judy. All the people involved with this nest make this successful. Great teamwork from our cam zoomers, our posters and those who work behind the scenes!

[Jean]

1:22pm.........Checked the rollback.........there was a feeding at about 12:50pm........both chicks got food. There was one "tussle" that I could see but that is all..............mostly the chicks took turns and ate. Ma is seeing that their crops are full.

[Jean]

1:30pm.......I think we say with some certainty that there is at least one chick on the tower nest. One adult is up top.........on on the nest. The one one the nest is bent over as if eating............then it moves its head from the left to the right........it has done this several times. It is feeding a chick.

[Jean]

1:40pm.....It is a very quiet day here.........and that is good. No sign of Trooper but that usually means all is well and he isn't needed here for the moment.

Ma is in the nest..........she has food circled all around. Nice to know our chicks will be well fed today.

I am now OFF both cams.

[brumac]

Hi ,
I see in the timeline post that one of the eggs might not hatch.

Pip observed: suspected on April 8th, 2020 but definite on April 10th, 2020.
Pip observed: April 11, 2020.
Pip observed: Did not pip or hatch. Opinions were that it was the first egg laid.

If that is correct, what will happen to the egg?

Thanks!

[Phil]

Feeding going on now (3pm).

Sadly, it looks like the third egg won't hatch.

[Jean]

Hi ,
I see in the timeline post that one of the eggs might not hatch.

Pip observed: suspected on April 8th, 2020 but definite on April 10th, 2020.
Pip observed: April 11, 2020.
Pip observed: Did not pip or hatch. Opinions were that it was the first egg laid.

If that is correct, what will happen to the egg?

Thanks!

Hi brumac! This was addressed earlier today, but here is that post again..........Your questions are answered in the bold text part.



9:52am...........Time to talk about that last egg..............This egg remains unhatched and unfortunately that will be the case now. If this was the first or second egg that was laid it should have hatched many days ago. If it was the last egg that was laid it is now day 38 for it. We've not seen any real pips in it, just a few dark spots which are normal for all eggs in a nest. With discussions with Admins and between us all we are guessing that this unhatched egg was likely the first egg that Ma laid. We will never know for sure. Perhaps Ma knew that egg was not viable and so she laid 2 more, which is the usual number she lays.

Although it is sad for some to see an egg not hatching, it is a blessing is some ways. Now the food will not need to be divided between 3...........only 2. There should be less competition between 2 chicks than there would be for 3. And it is far better to see an egg not hatch than to see a chick in distress.

We will continue to watch to see what happens to this egg. Various possibilities exist. It could just stay intact and become part of the nest as it gets covered over. It could get pushed over the side. It could break apart and become food for the chicks themselves or even one of the adults. These are all scenarios that are possible. If that happens, remember that our chicks will benefit by this. It is a food source and protein for their rapidly growing bodies. Nothing is wasted in nature. As we watch our cams, we learn and appreciate the truly amazing things that our eagles go through in their lives.

Now, soon we'll be thinking of naming our 2 healthy chicks here..........time to think about some possible ones for when that time comes!

[Jean]

Feeding going on now (3pm).

Sadly, it looks like the third egg won't hatch.Screenshot_1.jpg

Hi Phil! Thanks for the post.........I will have a look at what's happened since last being here.

IN on both cams.

[Jean]

3:35pm....Checked the rollback..........feedings or attempts to feed at about 1:45pm, 2:09pm and 2:57pm. All seemed well with those.

As I was getting here Ma called out and we saw Trooper fly past the nest......he landed with more prey!

[Jean]

3:39pm.....This prey looks like the one that was first in the nest a couple of days ago..........sort of fishy inside but very crusty on the outside. Maybe some sort of rock fish?? Purely a guess. Ma nibbled for a bit then flew off the nest. Trooper is now here with the chicks.

[Jean]

3:40pm......After Ma flew off Trooper grabbed a leftover wing from the middle of the nest......he took it to the side. There is so much food there now they could feed a small army of chicks.

Trooper came to the chicks and settled over them.

[Jean]

3:45pm........One tower eagle on its nest.

[Jean]

3:53pm.......Trooper is on a clean up mission. He grabbed the duck that was in the middle of the nest and dragged it over to the side. Trooper ate a meal there. The chicks got up to watch him.

[Jean]

3:54pm......One chick bonked the other one but that was all. They watched Trooper eat.

[Jean]

3:55pm.......Chick 1 seemed to be interested in the food. Trooper looked over at one point with food in his beak as if wondering if he should give it to the chick. But no he didn't. He went back to eating. The chicks are eating well, so that isn't a concern. Trooper now is back covering the chicks.