Eyass action on Thursday, June 17

All three eyasses are now flying strongly on and off various perches and landing spots around the nest area. Carolyn Sutton and I were down at the nest early this morning. Here's what Carolyn observed:

"Got a late start today, so when I got to the nest, the eyasses were already on the move - one was on the south Civil War monument, one on was on the pediment of the Franklin Institute Winter Street entrance, and one was in a tree on Winter St. As I watched, that eyass flew over to the trees alongside Barnes construction site. Mom was.....guess where?.....atop her favorite construction site crane! The young hawks have upped the decibel level of their calls for food. You can now hear them above the traffic noise from way across the Parkway. The three little guys all flew to the facade of the Franklin Institute, then two moved up to the roof and one flew into the nest. Still no Dad and I had to leave. Luckily Della arrived to take up the vigil and I am sure will continue this update later." - Caroline Sutton

When I arrived on Winter Street, I immediately saw the eyass on the nest. It was calling out with that distinctive seagull-like sound that brought back memories of last year's eyasses. In the absence of Kay Meng, I chugged along with my little point-and-press camera, but if you look closely, there is a hawk in every picture!



As busy as it was calling out to the haggards for food, the eyass also was keeping an eye on what was happening on the street below.



One of the eyasses on the roof above the nest moved down to a lower ledge...



... on the 21st Street end of the Franklin Institute



A flurry of wing-flaps to the left caught my eye as a haggard flew towards the nest. Within a minute or so, the second haggard landed on the nest.



I looked over to the Civil War monuments, and there on the closest one were two of the eyasses eating breakfast from a food drop just made by one of the haggards now on the nest.



Actually, one of the eyasses was doing all of the eating, while its sibling watched hungrily. The size and shape of one of the back legs of the carcass led me to believe it was a rabbit.



Each time the foodless eyass made a move toward the food, the other mantled over its meal...



... then resumed gobbling down its breakfast.



Finally, it appeared to be sated, and allowed its sibling to move in on the remaining scraps.



And in the background, the huge cranes working at the Barnes Museum construction site, roared into action.


It was exciting to see all three eyasses flourishing, and so well taken care of by their parents.