I've been watching a webcam on a Bald Eagle nest in Decorah, Iowa since 3 eggs hatched in April. All three of the Eaglets have survived and fledged now, and seldom return to the nest tree. The cam is due to shut down soon. Here they are with Mom, on a branch about 10' above the nest: The nest is 80' up in a Cottonwood, directly over a trout stream, and right next to a state trout hatchery. Needless to say, the babies had a fine diet of fresh fish. The UStream site has had over 160 million hits since April.

Gary, common yellowthroats are exceptionally pretty, aren't they? Even if they ARE common warblers, the male yellowthroat is so bright and colorful. I'm only used to seeing them along roadside ditches, but I'm sure they show up other places, too. But I think SPF would have noticed that mask...it is SO prominent. However, I also know that yellow is one of the more common colors on warblers, and getting a quick glimpse of one makes it tricky to figure out which one it is, especially if you aren't a hardcore birder. Poor SPF. We have totally confused her now. I'm tellin' ya...birdwatching ain't for sissies! Haha. Marcia (ps...just to make it more confusing, they get ya with names, too. The Common Yellowthroat is one warbler and the Yellow-throated Warbler is another. At least those two don't look much alike, thankfully. The Yellow-throated is black & white with a bright yellow patch on his throat, where the Common Yellowthroat is mostly yellow with a black mask. Getting MORE confused yet?)

I know exactly what you mean, Cathy. THis reminds me of a bittersweet moment I had several years ago. We had a redtailed hawk nesting across from the house. It was fascinating getting to watch the youngsters grow into young adults. Once I was poking around at the base of the tree and came across a freshly killed shorebird. It had puncture wounds but was not even partially eaten. I am assuming the adults brought it to the nest, but why it was never consumed will remain a mystery. I had absolutely no clue what it was, but after doing a bit of some reading I was guessing it to be a golden plover. I did the ziploc freezer bag thing and took it to a local Audubon member locally and he pretty well agreed on the id. These birds only come through on migration...you'd normally never see them. SO here was one lying dead under a hawk nest in a hickory tree in the middle of the woods. Maybe it was at the reclaimed mine lakes noth or west of us and got picked off by the redtail. Take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves I guess.

Thanks! I was hoping it was something like a prothonotary warbler.....but a scarlet tanager isn't bad! I do see a couple of the adult scarlet tanager males in early spring. They are surely beautiful. Thanks for your help.