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The nest I used to monitor never had more than two eggs and it seemed inevitable one of the checks would fall out of the tree during the limb-hopping stage. If there was a broken wing, they typically didn't survive. We had one that fledged from the ground, however.
I've been shooting Bald Eagles for a good while now. I'm aware of most of the accessible nests within a 50 mile radius of my home. Alaska has the highest concentration of nesting Bald Eagles in the lower 48, followed by Minnesota.
This year was one I'll probably never see again. One of the nests I follow raised FOUR chicks to fledge. Two is typical, three not particularly unusual but less common and four is quite rare.
You'll see all four in the last photo. This location really isn't the best nest to shoot -as you'll see- but it's close to home. The first two shots are the same bird about a week post fledge.
That's truly amazing & has to be quite a chore for the adults keeping all 4 fed. Not mention it has to get a bit crowded in the nest as they grow. And they do grow fast!
I've been following a nest online in SW Florida about 7 years now & most times the female lays 2 eggs.
Originally Posted by savewave
That's pretty amazing. I've heard of an occasional three eggs hatching, but not four. Statistics seem to indicate about 50 percent of eagle eggs hatch and successfully fledge. Hope this group defies those odds.
Actually, from what I read, the stat is only 50% make it past the first year. Which I think is true for a lot of little ones out there in the wild. (birds & animals)
Thomas already indicated these 4 have fledged, which is great.
That's truly amazing & has to be quite a chore for the adults keeping all 4 fed. Not mention it has to get a bit crowded in the nest as they grow. And they do grow fast!
I've been following a nest online in SW Florida about 7 years now & most times the female lays 2 eggs.
Actually, from what I read, the stat is only 50% make it past the first year. Which I think is true for a lot of little ones out there in the wild. (birds & animals)
Thomas already indicated these 4 have fledged, which is great.
You're probably right. Bald eagles continue to be vulnerable after they fledge until they learn to hunt well enough to sustain themselves. I'll note, however, that bald eagles are opportunistic feeders and will eat carrion at times. Yes, the amazing news is that the four chicks Thomas monitors all fledged!
I've got a few Egret shots around here somewhere. VERY difficult subjects from an exposure standpoint. Not blowing out the whites is challenging. If you do expose for the highlights the bird winds up an ugly gray. You can kind of fix some of this in post of course but maintaining feather detail in a white bird in the sun is a B. I. T. C. H.
This is why I don't shoot weddings. That and you have to deal with humans.
I've got a few Egret shots around here somewhere. VERY difficult subjects from an exposure standpoint. Not blowing out the whites is challenging. If you do expose for the highlights the bird winds up an ugly gray. You can kind of fix some of this in post of course but maintaining feather detail in a white bird in the sun is a B. I. T. C. H.
This is why I don't shoot weddings. That and you have to deal with humans.
I agree. The white birds are difficult. FYI, this thing is a juvenile little blue heron.
You're probably right. Bald eagles continue to be vulnerable after they fledge until they learn to hunt well enough to sustain themselves. I'll note, however, that bald eagles are opportunistic feeders and will eat carrion at times. Yes, the amazing news is that the four chicks Thomas monitors all fledged!
You're right & to be clear, fledge only means taking their first flight away from the nest. Even after they fledge, the eaglets will continue to stay in the nest (& area) & be fed by the parents for weeks because like you alluded, they still haven't learned to hunt on their own. And no doubt they will eat carrion & learn to steal from others whatever & whenever they can. All part of surviving on their own. Being able to fly on their own, it's an important time to learn those important hunting skills from their parents.
And when they feel confident enough to leave the nest area for good, the critical time for them is that first year when sadly only 50% make it.
Having watched the nest in Florida over the years & seeing how challenging at times it can be for the adults to feed to 2 eaglets, I'm truly amazed seeing a nest with 4 eaglets. Those 2 adults will need a well-deserved rest when those 4 leave the area for good.
I've been shooting Bald Eagles for a good while now. I'm aware of most of the accessible nests within a 50 mile radius of my home. Alaska has the highest concentration of nesting Bald Eagles in the lower 48, followed by Minnesota.
This year was one I'll probably never see again. One of the nests I follow raised FOUR chicks to fledge. Two is typical, three not particularly unusual but less common and four is quite rare.
You'll see all four in the last photo. This location really isn't the best nest to shoot -as you'll see- but it's close to home. The first two shots are the same bird about a week post fledge.
I’m sure you are aware of this, but Alaska is not in the lower 48.
so for me, i turn on zebras.. then i turn the exposure compensation down till they just go away and clean up the image a bit in post. Works for me. Much easier to lighten the underexposed area then try to recover a blown out white
so for me, i turn on zebras.. then i turn the exposure compensation down till they just go away and clean up the image a bit in post. Works for me. Much easier to lighten the underexposed area then try to recover a blown out white
The R5 doesn't have zebras. My formula is usually to make sure the blinkies are not blinking then go down from there. My personal opinion is blown highlights are significantly more distracting the blocked out blacks.
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These things are an exposure nightmare.
