M9, the baby Eagle

M9 just took his very first flight to a branch right near his nest. Over the last several weeks, his parents, Harriet and M15, were teaching him how to tear apart a fish in order to feed himself. Soon, he will have to take care of himself. He should spend 4-12 weeks in the nesting territory post-fledging, the time during which he learns to hunt and fly.

The mortality rate for eagles is high--2.5 adults survive for every 20 (1 in 8) {Bald Eagle Facts]