Decorah North Eagles: Bathing Beauties! Explore.org 1-6-2026

Decorah North Eagles: Bathing Beauties! Explore.org 1-6-2026
Feathers are essential to the health and survival of birds: beautifully complex structures that require almost continuous care. They need to be cleaned, straightened, and aligned to protect their wearers from the elements, keep parasites from lodging in and beneath them, and yield a streamlined flight. They also play an important social role, since they advertise health and fitness to mates and rivals, and may cement communal or family bonds in some avian species. So how much time do bald eagles and other birds spend in self-maintenance behaviors like preening and bathing? Several studies have found that birds generally spend over eight hours a day preening, although self-care is affected by food scarcity (birds typically spend less time preening when food is scarce) and stress levels (absent the need to find food, birds typically spend more time preening when they are in stressful situations).
Source: The Raptor Resource Project
The Decorah North eagles are nesting on private property north of Decorah, Iowa. Their nest is located in a white oak tree in a scrap of forest bordering a valley.
video created with love by earlybird
Courtesy of Raptor Resource Project, Decorah North Eagle Cam & explore.org.
© 2026 Raptor Resource Project
Cam Link: https://www.raptorresource.org/birdca...
Many thanks for sharing this sweet family with all of us!
A special thank you to the awesome cam ops!
Music:
Blue Danube by Strauss
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