Dr Sharpe, If #3 chick at WE nest is not developed enought to bling and backpack, would it be possible to go back to the nest and band once the older two chicks have fledged?

I had the same question Dr. Sharpe. I hope we don't have to leave #3 Metoo without tags and GPS. H/she has been such an inspiration to us all in the will to live, we will al want to know how our survivor is doing.

I would think it would be important to know also for the researchers since this one's development has been so lagging.

I wouldn't mind seeing the tags and GPS skipped for WE #3 since he is so underdeveloped. His head looks half the size of the other eaglets, and his feathers are just now starting to grow!

So, Dr. Sharpe, what options are there for the situation at West End?

I'm guessing s/he can be banded, as I know they can band chicks at a relatively young age - and am guessing they'll take a blood sample, so we'll know if s/he is a she or a he - and seeing how much cams are improving - by the time s/he is ready to settle down, the web cams might be powerful enough that we'll be able to see the band numbers!

I too would love to see #3 Eaglet at WE banded fully, but right now it really doesn't look promising for the little one. In order to keep track of the juvies once they've left the nest, a telemetry backpack is imperative...the wingblings too!

I hope that if the youngest chick is not able to be banded fully on the day that the older two are, maybe a few weeks down the road it can be done without risk to the older juvies who have hopefully fledged or at least shown they can fly..definately wouldn't want to see the older one's scared off the nest before they're ready :(

We will just put leg bands on the smallest bird and won't be able to go back to the nest after that until they have all fledged and left the area. We may be able to trap the smaller one after it is flying to put on a transmitter and wing markers.

Thanks for your reply Dr Sharpe!