Eagle banding with Endangered Species Program at the nest I have watched since 1996. Best surprise: three chicks in the nest! (From my spotting scope observations, I thought there were two, but the nest has grown so deep in the last couple of years that it's no longer possible to see into it from my lookout point.) Three chicks is unusual in eagles (usual broods are 1-2 chicks), but this is the second time this nest has produced three. All looked healthy: two females and one male, about 7 weeks old. (Thanks to Mick Valent for the photos of the chicks in the nest.)
This was the first chick from the tree and the oldest and largest, a female (by bill proportions), about 7 1/2 weeks old (determined by primary feather lengths). She weighed 3.5 kilograms. NJ band number C06.
This was the first chick from the tree and the oldest and largest, a female (by bill proportions), about 7 1/2 weeks old (determined by primary feather lengths). She weighed 3.5 kilograms. NJ band number C06.
