Storm is 8 weeks old as of 5-29-25

What a big and beautiful eaglet Storm has become. He/she is still growing the longer flight feathers that will help with the first flight and first year of flying. The body feathers are nearly complete; except we will see more growth on the wings and tail. Storm’s beak is nearly adult size and black, the beak will slowly change to adult yellow with age. The eyes are dark brown and will become lighter with age as well. Storm will be adding about 1/2 pound of weight each week until around 9-10 weeks old. 

At 8 weeks Storm is getting more and more active, and you will see him/her jumping around the nest as well as flapping the wings a lot. Again, this builds leg and wing muscles and enables better coordination. Along with the jumping and flapping, Storm is starting to play with and move sticks around the nest and doing a great job of it. This is a grasping exercise for those feet. The eaglets’ talons are strong and sharp; however, Storm’s feet will get stronger each week. An adult eagle’s grip strength is around 400-500 PSI (pounds per square inch), which is about 10 times stronger than an adult human hand.  They need to be able to grasp the prey and hang on to it, especially while flying.

While we are on the subject of feet and talons, did you know that they lock their toes in place, similar to a ratchet. So, when you see them sitting on a branch, they quite often tuck one foot, while the other holds them up. The toes and talons are in a locked position so that they don’t fall off their perching branch while sleeping. They will also dangle the other leg at times; this shows that they are very relaxed and enables them to stretch the leg and feet muscles on the dangling leg. When sleeping you will sometimes see this stretched out leg twitch as well. It can be funny to watch.

Storm has begun to self-feed by grabbing the prey away from Skye and Soren and running away with it. This is an instinct that Storm will use more and more. Storm is taking much bigger bites now and pretty much gulps the food down when allowed. We have not seen Storm “Mantle” the food yet, however that is coming very soon. Watch your toes Soren and Skye, as Storm will grab the prey so quickly that he/she may be grabbing at toes too. Again, it’s coming soon!

Storm is sitting on the rails a lot and can really see his/her surroundings better. As in an earlier blog, Storm is constantly imprinting on the natal nest territory. With warmer weather, the rails tend to be a bit cooler, too. Remember the nest temperature is approximately 100 degrees or more. There are fewer bugs on the rails and branches too.

This week has brought a fascinating variety of prey to the nest. As expected, fish remain the primary food source—one of the main reasons eagles choose to nest near water. Until the eaglet fledges, it will receive all the hydration it needs through the prey it consumes, particularly from fish.

However, eagles are not picky eaters. In addition to fish, we’ve observed deer legs, turkey legs, wings, and other animal parts brought to the nest. Over the past few weeks, we’ve also seen squirrels and rabbits appear on the menu. Take note that eagles are opportunistic hunters and scavengers—they’ll readily snatch up roadkill or expired animals found in fields if the opportunity arises. Nature never fails to keep things interesting at the nest!

Sadly, eagles and other raptors are sometimes struck by vehicles while scavenging roadkill. We can all help reduce this risk by slowing down when birds are spotted on or near the road.

Another simple way to protect wildlife is by avoiding tossing food out of car windows. Even small scraps can attract animals to the roadside, increasing their chances of becoming roadkill—which, in turn, draws raptors into harm’s way. As young eagles fledge and begin life on their own, they often rely on scavenging, including roadkill, while they learn to master hunting and fishing. A little awareness goes a long way in keeping these incredible birds—and the animals they depend on—safe.

Those small measures will help Storm and the rest have a safe first year. This is the hardest year of their life, as they are still learning to survive on their own. During the first year they will find other eagles and fledglings to hang out with and will learn from watching the older eagles. Keep watching Storm become more and more feisty in the coming weeks. We are getting close to branching, which will be very exciting.