Greetings,

Did a quick check on the Central Woodland Park/Green Lake, Seattle, Bald
Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest (11:10 - 11:40).
Found the seven-week-old (+) chick looking good, no down left on head, upper
wings, neck and breast, but plenty on back, flanks and lower belly.
Practicing flight muscles and generally do what eaglets do, preen, scratch,
eat (tearing up its own prey now), mute (cr.p), lie down, flap wings,
"adjust" the nest (move stuff around and occasionally throw a stick/branch
over the side).
Interesting to see how the chick's horizon is broadening as it gets bigger
and more aware of things happening farther away. A few weeks ago it would
only focus at the nest and immediate surroundings, then at the adults as
they flew nearby or perched in trees nearby, but now, like the adults, it
will look at things almost beyond my (unaided) view.
In one instance it looked up and it took me several minutes to locate the
tiny speck up high, which turned out to be an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).
A couple more weeks before the eaglet it will fly (target date around second
weekend July).
The female eagle was perched in the nearby dead-top tree to the south but I
didn't see the male around.

By now you no longer need a scope to see the youngster moving around the
nest from the Aqua Theater, which is still the best vantage point.

Cheers,
Martin Muller, Seattle
MartinMuller at email.msn.com