Jack and Lizzy must be very proud parents! This year’s Young Bald Eagle chick is doing acrobatic flying all around Fort Donelson National Battlefield in historic Dover, Tennessee.
Jack and Lizzy are the resident pair of nesting Bald Eagles at Fort Donelson. This year the pair only successfully hatched, raised and fledged one chick. But this Young Bald Eagle seems to have its wings under it and is flying from tree to tree. The young bald eagle is also doing long, circular solo flights around Barkley Lake and it looks like he (or she) is search for its own food.
The sibling of this young bald eagle had a bad accident this year. The sibling eagle fell out of its nest and unfortunately died. Jack and Lizzy also got a late star on the nesting that brought out this successful young immature bird.
Some sources say the first nest of Jack and Lizzy this year was not successful. These sources say this young eagle is the result of a second nesting. Also, this second nesting had two chicks and one of these had a fatal falling accident.
Sometimes photos find you in the Land Between the Lakes area. I was searching for this Young Bald Eagle, but could not find it anywhere. I went to the area of Fort Donelson that overlooks the Sidney C. Lewis Bridge across the Cumberland River in Dover.
I was watching an active groundhog and was hoping the little animal would get into an interesting position near a picnic table on the hill area. That would have been an unusual shot. As I was waiting to see what the groundhog would do, up flies this Young Bald Eagle! It lands in a tree very near me while I was sitting in my car!
The Young Bald Eagle flew right onto this limb about 25 feet from my car. I was still inside my car watching the groundhog graze. Now, the eagle did not sit right there long. I got this shot (below) and the eagle flew off to another nearby tree. Before I could get into position to get another shot, the young eagle flew a circular swath out above Barkley Lake.
The Eagle swirled around and then headed for the lower turntable area. The eagle landed in a tree between the upper and lower water batteries at Fort Donelson. I was able to get a quick shot at this tree, before the young eagle flew again.
So anyone wanting to get shots of this Young Bald Eagle had better be quick! This one does not stay still long. However, if you stay still, he (or she) may just come to you!
https://www.nps.gov/fodo/learn/news/fort-donelson-nb-fledging-falls.htm
