Busy times - glad you are back to report on them, Sue! It does make sense that the one you thought you saw across the river was one of the older ones and fledged intentionally, while the one in the tree is likely one of the younger ones who wasn't quite ready to do this. Like golden1, I've followed a few eaglets who ended up out of the nest before they were quite ready, and they do seem to work on their flapping and eventually make it back - though it sometimes will take a few days or even a week, because flying up is a lot harder than glide/flying down.

It will be interesting to see if the adults feed them and how that works - learning to eat while perched on a branch is another skill that they may not have mastered yet, but I bet it will come quickly!

There are three eaglets in the nest this morning. I have not been able to spot the one that was in the lower branches of the tree yesterday. It was still very low when it got dark last night. I can't imagine that was the one that is back in the nest.

The biologist might be able to check near the tree today to see if she can spot it. So we don't know who the third one is that's back in the nest. So at this time, I can only confirm three. I'll feel uneasy until I see all four.

Still only three in the nest. No one left today. No sign of the fourth one down in the tree all day, so perhaps it really did make its way back up. Or else it went all the way down. Parents have been nearby all day. Wherever he is, he's being watched. At least he didn't fall out of the tree and become injured. There's no sign of him. The biologist has confirmed that.

This is always a hard time. Most of the time, they do eventually return - especially as long as there are still siblings being fed in the nest. But there's never a guarantee. My guess - and only a guess because I'm not a biologist or anything, just a long time cam watcher - is that if it's the youngster who returned, he/she will take it easy and not do a lot of flapping for at least a few days. And if it's one of the older ones, I'd expect him/her to take off again soon.

And I'd also be interested to know what the biologist thinks of that theory.

We had a lot of cats when I was growing up - and rarely had two that looked identical. There are times like this that I wish eagles were more like cats.

Sue Hi!

Also, Hi to Judy and Donna......

I can understand your concern until you see all four safe and well. It's kind of being like a "mama bear" - yes I picked that intentionally so shoot me! This is the hard part of watching these spectacular birds as it involves trust. Yet, you have a biologist so you can rest assured that the biologist will follow this. What an opportunity - 4 healthy eaglets.

Love that comment about eaglets looking more like cats Judy- I know I have a few and before I shut the door for vacation am always counting them to make sure no one is playing hide and seek in a closet. (they do that).

Happy eaglet counting today.....
carolyn

Hi Sue, How's it going? Been thinking about you and your four eaglets...Any sign of the fourth yet? I know these eaglets have a special place reserved in your heart...so it's totally understandable that you would be concerned...

Looking forward to an update from you whenever you have the time...always appreciate them, Take Care!

One eaglet has really claimed a back branch where Mom used to sit. This morning, one is about 15 feet below on the tree, acting confident, just sitting and occasionally flapping. Mom is even lower, sitting on the top branches of nearby low trees. She just flew off, making low circles around the lower trees. She must be keeping an eye on one of them.

Woo hoo! One eaglet just flew from the nest at a 45 degree angle down toawards some low trees. He can't be seen right now. But they are gaining in confidence. I'm sure it's going to take a week or so before they get coordinated enough to make it back to the nest or higher trees with ease. Only one in the nest right now that I can see. One on a branch under the nest. Mom just took off again, flying low down into the trees.