Check out the Decorah eagles cam. The eaglets have grown a lot!

[lunatica]

They're beginning to feed themselves.

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

[sasha031]

1. they sure have, they are not babies anymore

:hi: thank you

[virgogal]

2. They sure have grown. I've been on eagle watch since they hatched.

[lunatica]

3. I have too.

The cam was down for maintenance for a couple of days and when I went to check on them today their feathers have grown a lot and their now feeding themselves! I'm amazed and pleased that they're doing so well!

I've learned quite a bit about eagles by watching them.

[anneboleyn]

4. Wow! I haven't looked for awhile, and they have really grown. Awesome.

[Aerows]

5. I almost feel like they are my kids :)

Not really, but it has been so amazing watching them grow. I love the little eaglets.

[lunatica]

6. kick

[lunatica]

7. .

[bobbolink]

8. Nobody pecked anyone to death!

:hi:

[lunatica]

9. They have a very interesting way of coping with that aspect

The larger one will peck but the younger ones will instantly hang their heads and become motionless for a while so the older one stops. Passivity seems to be as strong as aggression in their survival instincts. It's been fascinating to watch.

At feeding time the larger ones usually got fed first but soon they'd go into a food coma and the youngest one would then be fed till it went into a food coma. It all seems to work out as long as there's plenty of food. And living in a fishery guarantees plenty of fish.

[Duer 157099]

10. Does the oldest still peck the others?

I haven't seen any severe pecking attacks since they were really young (lol, yes, a whole 3 weeks ago).

I would think such a pecking would result in serious injury now. Earlier today, the three were alone just laying around, one in the center and two flanking him/her (I can't tell them apart anymore). The two each had a foot extending into the area where the center one was, and periodically he would peck at the foot, but only gently, almost like tickling. The foot would flinch a little, just to note that they felt it, but I remember early on when E1 was savagly attacking the foot of a dead badger! But he somehow knew not to do the same to his siblings feet.

Maybe they mellow as they age?

[lunatica]

11. I haven't seen any serious pecking

Because the pecking stops as soon as the passive behavior starts and it begins right on the first peck. I imagine it'll get pretty hectic when they all start exercising their wings and jumping up and down building their flying and landing muscles.

When it gets cold they all huddle together for warmth. Much more of that happens than any pecking.

[bobbolink]

12. I have to say that I really haven't noticed a lot of pecking.

For which I am grateful. ^_^

The passivity bothers me, but I try not to anthropomorphize too much.

After all the dire warnings that we were going to see grisly attacks resulting in death, I am just glad they are all thriving!

[lunatica]

13. I think of passivity as a survival instinct, not as weakness

The youngest eagle did it from the very beginning thereby maximizing his/her chances of surviving. Both aggression and passivity are important survival instincts. And they are instincts, not cowardice or bravery.

[bobbolink]

14. Oh, I agree. But being a domestic abuse survivor, the passivity bothers me.

Again, I try not to put myself in that picture. As I said, anthropomorphizing it doesn't help.

I also don't hunt and eat raw muskrats, so..... :rofl:

[virgogal]

15. The first time I saw an eaglet drop to the defensive position

it was only about 2 weeks old.

The one being pecked just flattened itself to the ground,face down,and remained motionless for almost a minute.

Needless to say,I thought it was dead but up came the little head and then the rest of him/her.

Fascinating to watch.

[RebelOne]

16. One keeps flapping and testing out its wings.

Looks like it will be leaving the nest soon.

[malaise]

17. They're huge

and all three are thriving which is the best news possible - sadly we won't see their first flight from the nest cameras.