THE CATHEDRAL NEST--AND THEN THERE WERE THREE!!!

6:35PM Isolde has fed the eyasses and has been standing on the edge of the nest for awhile now making herself apparent to Norman. A possible cue to bring food. So far the food drop offs that I've seen have been just that, drop offs. No hanging around just a zippy in and out.


But today, Norman flies in, his wings settle, and he looks at the eyasses with her for a moment.

And that is all Isolde needs. Note she is leaning slightly forward?

And before Norman knows it, Isolde has nabbed the food and taken off.

Hey , where'd she go?

Isolde has decided to eat off nest this evening and leave Norman to Eyass sit.

This is the first time I've seen her do this, during Norman's tenure, and stay for any length of time.

He may be surprised but Isolde is about to leave him there for a good while. A while long enough where the the little white fuzz heads are going to get restless and want to be fed.. Remember how Tristan, Isolde's former mate, fed the eyasses their last meal of the day and she ate off the nest and then had a long break before tucking back in with the little ones for the night. Well, she's about to teach Norman how things are going to work evenings from now on if she can help it.

He looks down at the eyasses some more.

Then turns round and it appears that he is expecting her to be coming back about now.

Okay where is she?

He looks.

Then gets distracted by the kids.

Note the eyasses.

Isolde?

Time passes.

He stares at the eyasses.

Note the two eyasses in front of him.

And the third in the back right corner. Time passes. The eyasses get antsy and want to eat. No Isolde. And Norman appears to be waiting for her to come back and do it.

I think that the sequence of the boxes of video is confused but I can't tell for sure. Therefore here is what you'll be looking for. Watch for the two eyasses near St. Andrews head to pop their heads up now and again.

In another video look carefully and spy the third eyass beyond Norman's tail in the back right corner of the nest.

But the best part of all is when Norman realizes he's going to have to try and feed the eyasses, but hasn't quite got the knack yet and almost falls off the nest himself into the bowl because he can't seem to keep his balance on the edge, tear the food, lean down, and also possibly keep his talons folded under all at the same time. For a moment there I thought we might get some squashed eyasses. But Norman did not keel over and no one was squashed. Isolde and the other experienced hawk parents make it look very easy, only when you see Norman dealing with it do you realized much the activity is a learned behavior.

Due to size constraints not everything would fit on one post therefore scroll down to the following post, also from today, for the last section of today's observations.

KEEP GOING DOWN FOR MORE.