Ready to fly!

Eaglet on nest at Volco Road, Edgewater, FL 3/16/26

Those of you who have been following this blog knows that we have been monitoring several Bald eagle nests in the area near our winter quarters in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. It’s been great watching these little guys go from being totally dependent upon Mom and Dad for daily sustenance to the point where they have almost outgrown the nest. Today was a milestone for us as we had our first images of the eaglets getting out of the nest and starting to “test their wings”.

Bald eagle chicks begin "branching" at about 6–8 weeks old, leaving the nest to clamber onto nearby branches while continuing to return for food and rest; this stage is crucial for building wing strength, balance, and coordination as they practice flapping and short hops between perches under the watchful eyes of their parents. Initially awkward and prone to slips, the juveniles gradually extend flight muscles and learn takeoff and landing techniques (see image below), relying on parents to supply frequent meals and occasional encouragement. Branching reduces time in the nest, lowers the risk of overheating and overcrowding, and exposes chicks to the varied perching surfaces and wind conditions they’ll need to handle once they make their first true flights which typically occurrs several weeks after branching begins.

‍ ‍ A juvenile eagle practicing take offs and landings - Volco Road - 3/16/26

‍ ‍ Adult returning to the nest - Volco Road nest - 3/16/26

Above, one of the adults has returned to the nest with a small “snack” which the second chick (still deep in the nest) made quick work of. The more precocious bird out on the limb seems to take exception to the fact that his lazy brother has gotten the treat!

Eventually, Mom leaves the nest and the second chick and joins junior out on the branch. As seen in the video below, the youngster still has a lot to say, either bragging about how much he’s accomplished or complaining to the older bird about his lack of reward for his efforts.

Today’s final image is one of the Ranken Road eaglets who has also left the nest to begin “branching”. The weather had turned bad and this shot was taken through heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and wind. The young eagle still chose to brave the elements out on the branch rather than return to the relative safety of the nest. It will be interesting to follow all our new eagles as they make their way into the natural world .

A rain-drenched eaglet out of the nest on Ranken Road - 3/16/26