I checked out my favorite bald eagle nest this morning for the first time in a month. I figured the three young ones had to be getting close to fledging and sure enough, it has started. I initially saw one of the young ones across the river, hanging out with mom. Then, at the nest, two were still hanging out. Over the following hours, the two did test their wings multiple times, performing little ‘hops’ 2 to 3 feet into the air while vigorously flapping. This nest, like many along the Colorado Front Range, is running ahead of schedule this year, likely due to the warm, dry conditions of recent months allowing the parents to start early. Normally, I figure the 4th of July is when first fledging is about to happen.
