From Fur to Feathers at Eagle Nest #1

Описание: The sun rose behind the eastern mountains this morning, washing the sky in soft predawn color as the river valley slowly came alive. The air was cool and still, and the sound of eagles calling echoed through the trees, a reminder that the nest was already awake and active. When I arrived, the timing felt just right. The chicks were stirring, and mom was already at work in the nest.

At first glance, I thought she was feeding them a fish, carefully deconstructing it as she often does. Looking more closely through the footage, it became clear the prey was a brown, fur-bearing animal, darker than a rabbit and likely a muskrat. She worked methodically, tearing it apart and scattering pieces across the bottom of the nest rather than placing food directly into the chicks’ mouths. The young ones squabbled over the food, awkward and determined, learning through instinct rather than guidance.

Throughout the film, both parents are present off and on. Because the camera was running in intervals, some flyoffs and landings happened between recordings, moments felt rather than seen. Dad can be spotted returning to his favorite lookout branches, keeping watch from above, while Mom comes and goes from the nest with purpose. Near the end of the film, the oldest chick stands at the edge of the nest after mom departs, tall and alert, a clear sign of growing confidence, while dad remains nearby, quietly overseeing the scene.

The chicks are large now, their soft gray down steadily giving way to dark, emerging feathers that push through more each day. This family continues to change quickly, each week bringing visible growth and new behaviors. What unfolds in this film is not just feeding and movement, but the steady progression toward independence, one patient moment at a time.

Thomas Corrao
Stray Compass Life

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