This is Bird Note.

National symbol, though it may be, this juvenile bald eagle, not long out of the nest,

is anything but graceful at the moment.

While still in the nest, high in a tree, juvenile eagles practice

fanning their wings and jumping in the air to test how flying feels.

They may even flap out onto nearby branches, when they're finally ready.

The young eagles attempt their first test flight.

Sometimes on these initial jaunts, the birds are likely to lose altitude

and land on the ground.

They'll rest there for a while, and perhaps get fed by the parents

before they manage to lift off into the air and return to the safety of a tall tree.

A juvenile bald eagle is the same size as an adult,

but differs in coloring.

You may have seen one of these birds, without realizing it was a young eagle.

The juvenile is a modeled chocolate brown.

The young bird keeps this plumage for three or four years before maturing

into the distinctive dark adult with the contrasting white head and tail.

You can see a photograph of a young bald eagle.

And a video of one fledging when you come to our website, birdnote.org.

I'm Mary McCann.