News and Blogs

Announcing: Camera Shutdown

January 6, 2025: DNF. Our camera operators noted that she was busy defending her territory. I wouldn't cross her!

The Trempealeau Eagle, Decorah North Eagle, and Decorah Eagle cams will go offline for maintenance at 5:00 PM (CT) on Friday, August 15. Join us on the Trempealeau Eagles page for two final live chats before the break: Thank you for your support and donations – it truly takes a village to share our incredible birds with the world. We’ll be back in October with even better equipment and high hopes for 2026! 🙌

Six swans a swimming? How about two Bald Eagles instead!

July 30, 2025: A subadult eagle shows off its swimming technique

Did you see? On July 30, we watched an adult Bald Eagle swim with a fish in his talons. He churned his feet, paddled his powerful wings, and stroked steadily across the deep, fast-moving channel as the current carried him downstream. After several minutes, he reached a shoal where he could stand. He shook the water from his wings and paused to recover, but he couldn’t take off with the fish. After a short rest, he left it behind and

Putting your donations to work!

May 31, 2025: John with the crate!

We posted about our fledge fundraisers and a lot of you asked what we would be doing this fall. Here’s how we’ll be putting your donations to work in September and October! You can help us pay for it all here: https://www.raptorresource.org/support-the-raptor-resource-project/make-a-donation/. Decorah and Decorah North At Decorah and Decorah North, we’ll be… Trempealeau Eagles At Trempealeau, we’ll be… GSB and Castle Rock At GSB and Castle Rock, we’ll be… Various Peregrine Falcon Sites At our other falcon sites, we’ll

Fledge Friday Fundraiser!

July 8, 2025: Side by side with Mrs. T!

Every year, we witness something extraordinary: young raptors standing on the edge of their nests, testing their wings, and taking flight for the first time. Fledging is a leap of instinct, strength, and hope, and a reminder of why our work matters so much. This Friday, we’re celebrating Fledge Day with a special fundraiser to support the Raptor Resource Project’s mission: safeguarding birds of prey, monitoring their nests, sharing their stories through livestreams, and empowering people to protect the wild

TE3: Learning to Fly

July 18, 2025: Mom and me! We've also seen Mr. T perched with the family.

Where is TE3? Our eaglet adventurer fledged on July 10 at 7:02 AM, making a short but powerful flight to a branch in an adjacent tree. Since then, she’s been busy learning to fly. Flying, like walking, is instinctive, but skill is learned. Every fledge is different, but there are broad commonalities that show up across nests and between species. During TE3’s first two days on the wing, she made point-to-point flights up, down, and between the two trees that

Falcon Fledge Factors!

Dana's first flight was strong and controlled.

The Great Spirit Bluff Falcons began fledging on June 14th. It started with a fludge from falcon Caden, who miscalculated the distance between the nest box rails and lip. Falcon Dana took a strong, beautiful first flight on June 15, falcon Hallie fludged on June 17, joining Caden, and falcon Madi fledged on June 18, flying from the nest box porch to a perch near a cedar snag. Two fledges appeared to be accidental and two appeared to be deliberate.

July 10, 2025: TE3 Fledges!

July 10, 2025: TE3 explores the camera!

TE3 fledged this morning at 7:02 AM nest time when she made a short flight from the nest tree to the cam tree next door! It was just what we like to picture when we picture a fledge: a lovely, controlled flight, a good landing, and a quick flight back to her nest. She spent the day exploring, flying, branching, and discovering her wonderful wings. So that’s what these things are for! A hat tip to everyone yesterday that suggested

It TE3 a Male or a Female?

July 9, 2025: Look at that beak!

Fans are asking whether TE3 is a boy or a girl. Of course we can’t really know without measurements and/or a feather test. But since (almost) everyone has an opinion, we wanted to talk about ours. TE3 turned 89 days old today and we’re starting to wonder if she – break out the pink trout! – will ever fledge. Here’s why we think she’s a she… Size Matters! Females are larger than males. Although it can be hard to determine

July 7, 2025: NestFlix and News from around the nests!

July 7, 2025: The wild blue yonder is calling!

Hi all! We’re (mostly) back from banding falcons. Next up: ATF! https://www.raptorresource.org/2025-after-the-fledge/ Our banding work starts with surveys that begin in late February or early March. Things really ramp up in early May as we begin spending hours in the field. Are sites active? Are parents out of full brooding/early incubation? Are we seeing and hearing nestling falcons? Who are the adults? Are they the same adults as last year? We begin banding in mid-May and we are on the

Happy Independence Day!

Celebrating the 4th of July: https://www.raptorresource.org/2021/07/04/happy-4th-of-july/

On July 4th of 1776, the Declaration of Independence was ratified by Congress. We remember and celebrate that day today. From every mountaintop, river bottom, prairie vista, city park, rooftop, picnic, suburb, garden, balcony, from every cliff, from every phone, from every computer, from where ever you are watching, learning, caring, and sharing, let freedom ring! The bald eagle’s role as a national symbol is linked to its 1782 landing on the Great Seal of the United States. The First

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