wittap
Eagle Chick -- 3 weeks old
The day before there were two eaglets, but today we only saw this one. Perhaps the other died? Turns out that "greatest survival challenge for eaglets in the nest comes from each other. Since eggs are laid a day or two apart, the first-hatching chick will have a head start on second or third chicks. The larger chick will peck at and attack the smaller chick(s), gobbling up the lion's share of the food that the adults bring to the nest. Many second- and third-hatching eaglets fail to live beyond the first two weeks. Strangely enough, adults do not try to protect the eaglets from each other."
Eagle Chick -- 3 weeks old
The day before there were two eaglets, but today we only saw this one. Perhaps the other died? Turns out that "greatest survival challenge for eaglets in the nest comes from each other. Since eggs are laid a day or two apart, the first-hatching chick will have a head start on second or third chicks. The larger chick will peck at and attack the smaller chick(s), gobbling up the lion's share of the food that the adults bring to the nest. Many second- and third-hatching eaglets fail to live beyond the first two weeks. Strangely enough, adults do not try to protect the eaglets from each other."