Scuffle Between the Kids at West End Bald Eagle Nest Explore.org 5-3-24

It's early evening on the West End Bald Eagle Nest on Catalina Island, California.
The eaglets are on the nest alone and they are cranky!
"Treasure" wants to wingercise but is finding it a bit crowded to do so! Treasure goes from edge to edge of the nest trying out the branches to hold onto.
Sterling is laying at the front of of the nest when Treasure slips and squeezes in next to Sterling; who then goes on the offensive and a scuffle ensues.
Koa is in the background, and she calls out and shows off her big wings!
The scuffle is short and everyone gets over it.
Thunder arrives with food, checks on the kids, and feeds them all.

All is well at West End.

The West End Eaglets have been named by donors to the Institute for Wildlife Studies!
1) "Koa" (means protector/warrior)
2) "Treasure"
3) "Sterling"

Eaglet 1 Hatched March 9
Eaglet 2 Hatched March 9
Eaglet 3 Hatched March 12

Institute for Wildlife Studies iws.org
Return Flight: Restoring the Bald Eagle to the Channel Islands:
   • Return Flight: Restoring the Bald Eag...  
West End Bald Eagle Nest
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My reply to comments about the blue wing tags is as follows:
The Channel Islands Bald Eagles are part of a long-time eagle restoration project after the eagles were wiped out by the effects of DDT. The blue tag is a "wing tag" which has been critical to monitoring the eagles to help restore this magnificent bird the the Channel Islands. Several years ago they banded and used wing tags to help track the eagles and keep records on where they went, what could be done to help them flourish, etc. Obviously the wing tags are much easier to see at a distance or when flying than the leg bands are. One of the things they discovered is that many of the eagles return to the Channel Islands after a number of years travelling the mainland. Reports were kept of all the sightings (as they do with California Condors too) and people could more easily see wing tag numbers to assist in the restoration project. Nests are monitored, eaglets are counted and yearly reports written. These cameras are not 'just for fun' but have a scientific purpose, too. The tags are treated just like a feather to the birds, and are designed to fall off over time. "Akecheta (A61) was hatched and banded in 2016 and wears tag A 61. "Andor" (A14) hatched in 2017 and wears ta A14. They have stopped using wing tags simply due to the organization who used to keep track of them is no longer doing so, and the improvement in spotting scopes to read leg bands in recent years. Eagles also used to carry radio transmitters also, but also no longer do so. The tags don't bother the birds - they preen them just like another feather!