 Nongame Wildlife Program staff holding the three EagleCam eaglets in preparation for their banding.
The three eaglets featured on the DNR’s EagleCam were banded Monday, May 11. Each United States Geological Service (USGS) band has a unique number which, when encountered, allows researchers to track their movements throughout their lives and add to the growing knowledge of bald eagle biology and behavior.
All three eaglets were identified as female, appeared healthy, and were estimated as seven to eight weeks old.
 A closeup of the USGS identification band.
The eaglets are almost at their full adult size. They are practicing flight by spreading their wings and jumping in the nest. Over the next few weeks, you will see more of this behavior, and they will begin “branching” or stepping on to the branches near the nest to practice perching and strengthen their grip.
The eaglets should fledge (take their first flight) at about 10 weeks, or in early June. Once they leave the nest, they most likely will not return and it is unlikely that we will see them on camera again. The eaglets will stay in the area while they hone their flying skills and are fed by their parents. But after a few weeks, when they are stronger fliers and ready to feed themselves, they will fly off on their own.
The DNR EagleCam live stream is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/eaglecam and on the DNR YouTube channel.
 One of the EagleCam eaglets.
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