The chicks in the eagle nest we've been watching got big! All three have survived and they're right into developing some pre-flight skills. None have left the nest yet, however they practice hopping from sided to side, with lots of wing flapping and general excitement. They seem to really get into it when there is a slight breeze that lifts them a bit. Venturing onto the limbs surrounding the nest should happen soon. Fledgeling bald eagle facts: Once an eagle has taken a flight, it enters the fledgling phase of development. For the first 6 weeks, it will stay close to the nest site and the parents. They may still return to the nest. They start to follow their parents on hunting trips during this time. Then the fledglings begin to wander further from their nest area. Seven to eight weeks after fledging, they may start to move further distances. If the eagles of the area migrate, they may begin to migrate. If the eagles do not migrate, they may just move to an area that has more food. ~ Stokes, D. & L. (1989). Stoke's Nature Guide to Bird Behavior, Vol. III.

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