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March 25, 2022
 March 25, 2022
And just like that there were two chicks Have you tuned in?
Right on time, the two chicks have hatched on our EagleCam! The first chick hatched on Tuesday, March 22. Tuesday was one of the wettest days we've had at the cam site, but that didn't stop the chick from emerging from the egg. Because of the cold, windy and wet weather, the parents have been sitting very tight and keeping the nest aerated in order to keep their young warm and dry. They wiggle their bodies to get the chicks close to the brood patch - the exposed skin on their bellies. The second egg hatched on March 24 at about midnight and has already had its first feeding.
There is now a cache of food at the nest for feeding the two hungry mouths. The male has delivered a muskrat, a pigeon, several fish and a large portion of a deer carcass. Earlier this week, Thomas Demma, a fabulous photographer who monitors the nest site and raises money for our program, reported a deer had been hit by a vehicle and was dead on the road near the nest. He contacted us and our local DNR staff moved the carcass off of the road and closer to the nest. Leaving the deer on the side of the road could have been deadly for the eagles, as they often feed on road-killed animals and get injured or killed by passing vehicles. Thank you, Thomas! Today, the male delivered part of the carcass to the nest. This select cut of venison will provide long-term sustenance for the adults and the chicks as they raise their majestic offspring.
You will now see lots of "bonking" on the head of the new chick from the older chick. This behavior is nest competition and is completely normal. It is a survival instinct and once the younger one gets a little stronger, it will learn to fight back. This strengthens each of the chick's survival instincts to compete for food as they grow up to become fierce hunters and fight rivals in the future. Their neck muscles are not fully developed yet, so they look like little bobble heads trying to get food and push each other around. we've posted some video of the antics on our site, so be sure to tune in to all the fun! mndnr.gov/eaglecam.
NOTE TO CAM WATCHERS - clicking noise: The microphone at the nest is faulty. A replacement arrived too late to install this season. The eagles cannot hear the clicking noise, but it can be bothersome to hear when watching the EagleCam. We suggest muting your sound until next season if it is bothersome.
It is an exciting time at the nest, so stay tuned to watch nature up-close and learn all about eagles.
Hey, you! Yes, you, reading this email! We want to sincerely thank you for your continued support of the Nongame Wildlife Program. We rely on your contributions and we just couldn't do our important work without your support. Don't forget to make your donation on your Minnesota tax forms this year. YOU make our program and we appreciate each and every one of you!
delicate feeding and new chick peeking out
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