Marg---This captive pair of eagles, Franklin and Independence, live in a huge aviary at Dollywood Park in Tennessee which is the home and headquarters of the AEF (The American Eagle Foundation). We can often see other eagles in the background either flying or running around.

Thank you so much for the s'caps!! These three eaglets are really maturing quickly! I'm working on conquering this darn Windows 7!

The folks at the AEF in Pigeon Forge are trying to get June 20th declared as "American Eagle Day". Here is an article from Reuters that tells a bit about it.....



Celebrating "American Eagle Day" on June 20th - Singer/Songwriter & Actress Dolly Parton and American Eagle Foundation president Al Louis Cecere take a moment to visit with Bald Eagle 'Mr. Lincoln' and reflect upon the majesty and symbolism of the USA's National Bird. For over two decades, Parton's Dollywood park in Pigeon Forge, TN has been a major supporter of the AEF's (www.eagles.org) work to care for and protect eagles and other birds of prey. (Photo: Business Wire)

The rest of the article is here---

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/ ... BW20120619


I'm not sure when the eaglets will be moved to the hacking tower but I'm guessing that it will be soon. They are more feathered out than last year's trio was when they were removed from the nest. Maybe cam viewers have something to do with the fact that they haven't been moved yet.

This was at the top of the cam page ------ On June 15, eaglets were weighed: 9.07 lbs, 8.01 lbs, and 9.075 lbs!----Looks like it might be two girls and one male

I was told just a few minutes ago by a mod on the USTREAM chat that the eaglets will probably be moved to the hacking tower next Tuesday, June26th.

Thanks for letting us know, Mary. I saw in the newsletter on the AEF site that there were a couple of Florida eaglets in the hacking tower that were scheduled to be released today, I think - so that may be a factor in their decision to wait a little longer to move this year's eaglets over to the tower. There are several rooms there - but it might simplify things to not mix age groups.

I just looked, and last year #1 was 38 days when he moved to the tower, and #2 & #3 moved 9 days later, when they were 41 & 40 days old. This year's eaglets are 43 & 44 days old now, so will be 49-50 days when they move. I understand that it's important to move them before they get too accustomed to seeing/hearing the people who tour the exhibits - but I am glad that they had this extra week or so with their parents.

JudyB---The two Florida eaglets were successfully released earlier today. I'm thinking in celebration of American Eagle Day.

I'm glad that I have had an extra week to look at these beautiful eaglets. I'm only sorry that I haven't been able to document their cute antics.

From the AEF home page-----


June 16, 2012 - Curious and endearing, our window to the world of the nest of Independence and Franklin has been made possible with the help of 4 cameras strategically placed - 2 on opposite sides of the nest, a tilt-pan-zoom cam that has received such accolades from our viewers (Cam 1), and an overhead cam. In this photo, you can easily spot one of the cameras hidden in the side of the nest.






Our babies have grown into juveniles! We have 3 very large, healthy eaglets who await their next stage of life as they will soon graduate to the Hack Tower on Douglas Lake. We will miss them terribly but rejoice in their future. May it be bright, hopeful, and safe. God bless these creatures as they continue to grow into the majestic Bald Eagles that symbolize our great country.

MaryF I will post some pics tomorrow.

Marg

Marg!! I would just love for you to do that!! I need to find the time to just sit and tackle this Windows 7 problem that I'm having!!!