The bald eagle chick featured on the live nest camera at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in western New York is continuing to grow rapidly.
The eaglet, which has drawn a growing audience online, is spending much of its time eating, sleeping and building strength as it moves through the nestling stage, according to the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, a nonprofit that supports the refuge.
Eaglet growing stronger each day
As the only chick in the nest, the eaglet is being fed frequently and is developing quickly, according to refuge staff.
The young eagle is now taking larger bites of food and can digest fur, feathers, scales and small bones. It has also begun reaching toward its parents and pecking at them to ask for food while occasionally feeding itself dropped scraps.
Its body feathers continue to grow in, and primary flight feathers are beginning to emerge on the wings and tail. Viewers of the nest camera have also seen more “wingersizing” — practice wing flapping and movements that help strengthen muscles needed for flight.
The eaglet is standing more often and is expected to soon begin “riding the rails,” a term used when young eagles perch near the edge of the nest.
First flight expected later this summer
Over the next several weeks, the eaglet is expected to spend more time standing upright, walking and practicing flapping exercises to build wing and breast muscles.
By late June, officials expect the juvenile eagle to begin balancing on branches, hovering above the nest and moving from branch to branch. The bird is expected to fledge — take its first flight — in late June or early July at around 72 days old.
After fledging, the young eagle will likely remain near the nest for several weeks before leaving to establish its own territory.
The juvenile will keep its dark brown coloring for several years and will not develop the iconic white head and tail feathers of an adult bald eagle until it is nearly 5 years old.
How to watch the nest camera
The live nest camera was funded and installed by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge with assistance from PixCams and Treeman Tom tree service of Wilson.
The feed can be viewed at the refuge visitor center on Casey Road in Alabama or through the Friends group’s website at Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge in Genesee and Orleans counties.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Watch: Bald eagle chick in upstate NY nest cam shows rapid growth
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
