Pine Straw, Pine Straw and Less Snow
Azalea Leaves Alligator River NWR
February 2, 2010Egg #2 Feb 3, 2010 at 11:50am
February 3, 2010
Feb 2 was a very busy day for the adult eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden. It was bring pine straw, bring pine straw, and bring more pine straw. So much pine straw that their egg was completely covered (photo 3). In photo 1 the female is uncovering her egg. Why did she not just leave the pine straw on the egg?. It is important that she (and he) be able to place her (and his) brood patch directly on the egg so that her (and his) body heat can keep the egg warm. What is a brood patch? It is a bare patch of skin that develops on the chest during breeding season through hormonal changes in the eagles. This patch fills with blood thus providing the heat to keep the egg warm.
Compare photo 2 with photos from Jan 31 and Feb 1 and you can see how much snow has melted in the nest since the egg was layed, and how much pine straw the adults have brought to the nest. Let’s hope it works.
5 Comments
How interesting! I didn’t know about the brooding patch. Nature is fascinating. Yes that fortress of a nest has changed a lot over the last couple of days. This pair seems so bonded to this little egg, and it is really sweet to watch. No doubt the resulting little eaglet will be special indeed. Thank Reese. 🙂
That was interesting reading. I had heard of the brooding patch, but not about how it fills with blood for warmth. Fascinating! I hope all they have done will keep this egg viable. They are a hard working pair of eagles.
Thanks Reese.
Margy
I’m wondering what the likely hood is of any other eggs being laid?
What a day, Reese!!
Reese, that is so interesting. Thank you