Harrison Mills 2021-2022 Observation and Discussion Thread

[IrishEyes]

5:35am
Mom Dimple incubating the eggs

[IrishEyes]

5:57a
Sun is peeking out on Mom Dimple incubating the eggs

[Heather L]

Good Morning Bev, I reported 6:56AM Cam went to Black Screen TTFN

[IrishEyes]

Thank you Heather and thank you Judy
7:30a
Cam is streaming .. beautiful sun on Mom Dimple incubating the eggs

I am out for a while..

[JudyB]

Good morning, Heather, Bev and all!

Thanks for posting about the cam being down, Heather - I've restarted the stream.

Today is day 40 for the first egg and day 37 for the second egg. Eagle eggs normally hatch in 35-40 days, though occasionally they can take an extra day or two. As I expect most people reading this know, we don't expect the eggs to hatch. (My long post about that is here.)

I'm not quite sure how to say this, but I think the eggs not hatching will bother us more than it will Dimple. I believe that eagles have feelings and do mourn the loss of a chick or a mate - but I don't think they see the eggs as little chicks-to-be the way we do. My guess is that they see them as something that their instincts tell them needs to be protected and kept warm - the same as they see sticks as things that should be brought to the nest in the fall and early spring and arranged around the edges. They don't know why this is so - they just know that they have an instinct to bring in sticks and build a nest. And in the spring they have an instinct to incubate eggs.

We are still in the time frame when one or both eggs could hatch, but so far I've seen no indication that Dimple has noticed any pre-hatch activity in the eggs (the first stage of a hatch is what's called the internal pip, when a chick pecks into the air sac and takes its first breath and begins to peep - this begins the amazingly complex procedure by which it disconnects from support system in the egg that has nourished it through incubation and prepares for its first little bite of food). Once the chick starts peeping in the shell, the adults tend to look at the eggs more often and more closely - and that's not happening.

There's no way to know how long Dimple will continue to incubate. I would expect a few more weeks - or maybe a month or more. I've always found that hard to watch, even though I know objectively that she doesn't have a calendar and isn't expecting chicks, though I know that next year when (I fervently hope) chicks appear, another set of instincts will immediately be triggered and she'll know just what to do with them (though it may take a few tries to get the right sized bit of food into the tiny beak reaching for it).

Dimple may be a bit bored - but she's fine.

I've posted versions of this before - it's a thing I've found helps me at times like this:

Find a peaceful spot; close your eyes or look at something peaceful or joyful
Breathe in slowly, feeling the calm and peace of the universe wash over you
Breathe out slowly, letting the stress go out of your body like a gentle out-flowing tide
Repeat as needed

[IrishEyes]

Thank You Judy ! Well said.. This is all very sad .
12:07 pm
Mom Dimple incubating the eggs

I just came home...BBL

[IrishEyes]

1:33pm'Mom Dimple is incubating the eggs

I checked the DVR back to my last post Mom Dimple left twice .. she wasn't gone long when she came back and attended to the eggs.

So many times I hope and prayed that all would get better here and that didn't happened .. Now I am hoping and praying Dad Duffer is alright .... I used your verse many times Judy , I remembered it from years ago
I am going for a walk and then I will start dinner

[JudyB]

Big hugs, Bev.

We won't know for sure until we see them both coming to the nest to prepare for next season, but I'm pretty sure the other eagle I've been hearing from time to time is Duffer.

3:40 pm
I just took a quick look back at the dvr, and Dimple has taken a few breaks this afternoon, and seems to be taking a longer one now - after a couple of short breaks, she left at 1:51 pm, so has been gone almost 2 hours now. I took a quick look around and didn't see any birds I could confirm as eagles, though there were a couple of birds flying in the distance above the "water by road" preset, and we've seen her fly in from that direction occasionally.

Almost time for dinner here as well. Have a good evening, everyone.


Added - Dimple returned at 3:48 pm, rolled the eggs, and settled in.

[Heather L]

Hi Judy and I can say for sure that was an Eagle chasing another bird . I took another look and think 2 separate EAgles. First there was Eagle up high flying about then down lower Eagle was chasing a bird could be an Osprey Hawk or Duck , First scap eagle flying left to right 3:30 pm

Eagle flying right to left just before turn

[Heather L]

Eagle on left chasing Bird 3:31 pm

Eagle now on the Right

The Eagle chased bird down low bird out of sight but still see Eagle in this scap

[IrishEyes]

Big hugs, Bev.

We won't know for sure until we see them both coming to the nest to prepare for next season, but I'm pretty sure the other eagle I've been hearing from time to time is Duffer.

3:40 pm
I just took a quick look back at the dvr, and Dimple has taken a few breaks this afternoon, and seems to be taking a longer one now - after a couple of short breaks, she left at 1:51 pm, so has been gone almost 2 hours now. I took a quick look around and didn't see any birds I could confirm as eagles, though there were a couple of birds flying in the distance above the "water by road" preset, and we've seen her fly in from that direction occasionally.

Almost time for dinner here as well. Have a good evening, everyone.


Added - Dimple returned at 3:48 pm, rolled the eggs, and settled in.

Thanks so much Judy enjoy your dinner

[IrishEyes]

Thanks Heather I just saw your S 'Caps

[IrishEyes]

4:02p
Windy Mom Dimple incubating the eggs

[Heather L]

Mom Dimple back , I almost expected some evidence of prey but nope , maybe was Dad Duffer chasing 4:48 pm

Tended to her eggs

[Heather L]

Mom Dimple vocalizing and Dad Duffer nearby answering her back 4:03 pm

Incubating , quiet 4:06 pm