On the morning of February 11, 2026, HD flew toward the Decorah nest with a huge fish in his talons. The fish was long, thick, and heavy. As he came in to land, the weight of the fish pulled him lower and lower. He came in too low and it looked like he might nearly miss the nest.
Watch Live <—— nest & approach cams
HD usually glides in high and smooth. This time was different. The fish was so heavy that it dragged him down as he flew. Instead of landing in the center of the nest, he came up short. At the last second, HD stretched forward and grabbed the outer branches of the nest while keeping his talons locked around the fish. The landing was rough, but he held on and saved it.
A Split-Second Save
For a moment, it looked like HD was going to miss the nest. But he held on tight to the branches and the fish, and he did not let go.
Pulling the Fish Up
Now HD had another problem. He was on the edge of the nest, not inside it. And that fish was still very heavy. Carefully, he climbed upward. He lifted and tugged the fish bit by bit until he could step fully into the nest. HM2 had been waiting the whole time.
Receive updates like this one in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter. 🦅
As soon as HD got the fish into the nest, HM2 moved in. She accepted the fish right away and began to eat. The close call was over. The big delivery was a success.
Why This Was Important
When one eagle brings food to the nest, it helps keep the pair strong together. It also shows that the hunting eagle is doing well. This fish was so big that it almost caused a mistake. But HD adjusted. He grabbed the branches. He pulled himself up. And he made sure HM2 got her meal.
What could have been a miss turned into a powerful moment.
Moments like this are why so many people watch the Decorah Eagle Cam every day. A normal morning can turn exciting in seconds.
Thank you to the Raptor Resource Project for offering this live cam experience and allowing people to learn about Bald Eagles. This video was captured by Blossem Holland on youtube. Give her a subscribe if you have youtube(see video).
FAQ: Decorah Eagles
Why did HD nearly miss the Decorah nest?
The fish he was carrying was very heavy, and it pulled him down as he flew in. He grabbed the outer branches and saved the landing.
Why was the fish so important?
The fish was very large and gave HM2 a good meal. Bringing food to the nest helps keep the pair strong.
Did HM2 accept the fish?
Yes. She took the fish right away and started eating.
