BALD EAGLES ARE BACK!!

For the third year in a row, a pair of bald eagles have nested in an area of Pembroke Pines, Florida.  In 2009, they produced 2 chicks; in 2010, they produced 3 chicks; and this year there are 2 more chicks in the nest (born probably sometime in early January 2011).  The chicks are still real small and I couldn't see them very well, the mother (or father) was fiercely protecting them - sitting right above the nest.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Parent just watching over the nest

 This is the nest.  I could only see one chick, but

there are 2 in there

 The chick's black head is on the left

 Hard to see because he is behind the tree.

 At one point, a turkey vulture came too close to the nest.

The parent who was watching over them took off after

the vulture like a bat out of hell.

 The vulture ran from the eagle, but was no match

 The vulture finally left the area

 The eagle quickly flew back towards the nest

She got back on her branch to watch her babies

 The nest is right below her

 And all is well again