April 10, 2018
A close up look at D29 today showed that its thermal down is starting to pop! An hatchling eaglet's fuzzy white natal down is adorable, but not much help when it comes to thermoregulation, aka controlling one's temperature. Denser thermal down provides more insulation and helps nestling eaglets keep their body temperatures at a relatively constant 105'ish degrees. Look for the greyish down to sprout in rows along the eaglets' bodies. It will almost entirely replace their natal down by their fourth week!
The colder than usual temperatures have Mombrella and Poptent keeping a tight lid on the eaglets this spring. While it's sad to say goodbye to cute baby fuzz, we'll see more of D29, D30, and D31 once their thermal down grows in. In the meantime, enjoy those earholes now!