The Decorah Eagles camera captured two wonderful wildlife moments on November 10, 2026. First, deer stirred in the grass before sunrise. Then HM2 caught a fresh trout in the retention pond and carried it straight back to the nest. However, her peaceful breakfast took an amusing turn when she attempted to swallow the remaining fish whole.
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Deer at Dawn Near the Decorah Eagles Nest
The morning began with a peaceful scene near the retention pond in Decorah, Iowa. Before sunrise, the cameras slowly scanned the dark grassy area surrounding the water. At first, only a few pairs of eyes appeared above the grass. Then the camera revealed deer resting quietly nearby.
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As the sky gradually brightened, the deer began to stir and wake up. It was a charming glimpse of the wildlife that shares the area with the Decorah Eagles. Although most viewers tune in to watch HD and HM2, the cameras occasionally capture other animals going about their daily routines. And this morning, the deer provided a lovely opening act.
HM2 Catches Trout at the Retention Pond
After the peaceful deer sighting, HM2 took center stage. The adult bald eagle successfully caught a fresh fish in the retention pond near the Decorah Trout Hatchery. With her catch secured, she flew straight back to Nest N6 to enjoy breakfast.
Once she settled into the nest, HM2 began tearing into the trout with her powerful hooked beak. She carefully pulled apart the fish, eating piece after piece. Before long, she had consumed roughly half her catch. For a while, everything looked like an ordinary, relaxing breakfast. However, HM2 apparently had a different idea about how to finish her meal.
HM2 Attempts One Giant Gulp!
Instead of continuing to tear the fish into smaller pieces, HM2 decided to try swallowing the remaining portion whole. Unfortunately, her ambitious attempt didn’t work!
The leftover fish proved too much for one gulp, despite her best effort. It was a funny little moment during an otherwise peaceful morning. Even an experienced fish-catching eagle can sometimes underestimate the size of her breakfast!
The Raptor Resouce Project makes this live cam experience possible. The video was uploaded and shared by chickiedee64 on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Decorah Eagles
What did the Decorah Eagles cameras capture on November 10, 2026?
The cameras captured deer resting in the grass before sunrise. Later that morning, HM2 caught a fresh trout in the retention pond and carried it back to Nest N6 for breakfast.
Where did HM2 catch her trout?
HM2 caught her trout in the retention pond in the Decorah Trout Hatchery in Iowa. Afterward, she flew directly to the nest to enjoy her fresh catch.
Did HM2 swallow the remaining trout whole?
No. HM2 ate roughly half the trout before attempting to swallow the rest whole. However, the remaining portion proved too large for one gulp, and her attempt failed.
Why were deer near the Decorah Eagles nest?
The grassy area surrounding the retention pond provides a place for local wildlife to rest. On November 10, several deer rested in the grass before dawn. As the sky brightened, they began to stir.
Do bald eagles normally swallow their prey whole?
Yes, sometimes. Bald eagles can swallow small fish and other small prey whole. However, they typically use their sharp, hooked beaks to tear larger prey into manageable pieces. They may also swallow surprisingly large chunks of fish. HM2’s attempt to gulp down the remaining trout was natural feeding behavior, even though she didn’t succeed.
