Freestyle Friday in Decorah
From Raptor Resource Project:
April 5, 2024: Day 11 and 12. That might be the biggest cropzilla I've ever seen!
The eaglets are rapidly gaining weight, growing feet and beaks, and filling out.
They've mastered sitting up and their talons - look at DN17 on the right - are
beginning to turn black.
Eaglets hatch with clear talons. As they grow, their talons darken. Melanin not
only produces colors ranging from dark black to reddish brown and pale yellow,
it also makes talons (and feathers) stronger, stiffer, and more resistant to breaking and wear.
April 4, 2024: A closer look. A remnant of the egg tooth is still visible on DN17's beak. At least I
think it is DN17 based on beak shape and eye. These two can be hard to tell apart!
April 5, 2024: Compare beak shape with yesterday and admire those earholes - squeeee! - while you still can!
April 6, 2024: Day 12 and 13. Morning brings bigger, grayer eaglets! Their necks are like periscopes,
their tiny flip flappers suddenly look like wings, and they are wingercizing and warbling more. Wings,
wings, what marvelous things! Happy growing!