We'll get to the fun stuff pretty quickly, but I wanted to write a quick note on abbreviations. Why do we call the active Decorah eagles nest N2B? What in the world is DN1? Do other nests use the same nomenclature?
In general, we use nomenclature to label eagles and nests. In Decorah, our first nest was never online and was not included in the initial nest count. Mom and Dad occupied N1 from the fall of 2007 to the summer of 2012. In the fall of 2012, they began building N2. They lived in N2 from the fall of 2012 to the summer of 2015, when N2 fell in a storm. If we were following the rules, we would have named the nest we built for them N3 (since three follows two) or N4 (since it is the fourth nest on their territory). But since Bob had just passed away, we named it N2B in his honor. Mom and Dad North are on DNN3, or the third nest built in the Decorah North territory.
Eaglets are given a territorial signifier and long count number. This makes it easy for us to differentiate between our nests and reminds of us of how many eagles have been produced at each territory. Unhatched eggs are not counted. Young that die in the nest are counted. So:
- The first eaglet to hatch in Decorah this year will be D26 (the 26th eaglet produced by Mom and Dad Decorah).
- The first eaglet to hatch at Decorah North this year will be DN4 (the 4th eaglet produced by Mom and Dad North since we started counting, and possibly the 4th, period).
- The first eaglet to hatch at Fort St. Vrain this year will be FSV34 (the 34th eaglet produced on this territory, although it appears we had at least one female turnover).
Other nests may or may not use the same nomenclature system. If the moderators use names, they probably don't. But if the moderators use numbers, the numbers are indicating a count of nests, eaglets, and/or adults. Names like D26, E9, and M15 provide context and information once you know how to read them! And now for the fun...
Presenting....The Diction-Aerie!
With Eggstraordinary Graditude to chatters, and many other EAs who contributed to our eggspanding vocabulary of Eagle-ese / Eaglish we proudly present the Decorah Eagles Diction-Aerie for you to print out, mantle over, and devour the knowledge presented by the Fledge-U-Ating Eagle 101 Classes of 2011-2016. A huge thanks to Sherri Elliott, who posted this for the first time in 2011, and has kept it up to date ever since!
Air-obics - Extending wings and catching a bit of air.
Anthropomorphism - projecting human characteristics onto animals.
Apteria - area on breast with no feathers; aka -brood patch.
Babylets – The fuzzball stage of baby eyas.
Balloon Mantle - a puffball of feathers exhibited by E3.
Bantling – A baby mantle … not a full juvenile mantle yet – coined by ElfRuler.
Beak-A-Boo – D14’s beak was often the only thing seen from his hiding spot.
Beak Bonk - depending on level of intensity can be a slight bump to a sibling or a one-two lead up to a TKO.
Beak Geeks - a term for people who avidly watch the eagles everyday!
Beak Kisses - ahh, one of our favorite spectator sports.
Beak Lips - area of beak sides to corner of mouth.
Beak Off - eaglet beak joust.
Beakering - sibling disagreements.
Beakathon – 3-Way Beak contest of power.
Beakdown – A beak squabble resulting in a take down of a sibling.
Beakoff - eaglets fake fighting with their beaks.
Bedreagled Eaglets - raggedy look after bad weather.
Benihana Dad – aka Bunnihana Dad – No one can defurr and slice and dice better than Dad!
Big Gulp Protein Smoothies - swallowing a whole fish.
Bird Nerds - another term for people who avidly watch the eagles everyday!
Birshimi - mystery prey of the bird variety.
Bling - unidentified accouterments brought to the nest from Nest Depot - usually brightly colored.
Bobbleheads - self explanatory, but especially adorable dressed in fuzzy white natal down.
Branch Office - Mom & Dad spend most of their time in this space adjoining the nest after the eaglets grow into juvies.
Branching - eaglets hopping from one branch to another prior to fledging.
Breakfish - first meal of the day that is fish.
BreakFur – the first meal of the day that is furry.
Cameraflague – D14 was expert at hiding above the camera and cables.
Cameritisi Permanentitis Bugitis - bug on camera lens, also known as camera bugs.
Camming – jumping on the camera.
Cere - fleshy, membranous covering of the base of the upper mandible.
Claw Floss - name given to Pinky, the baling twine. from 2011.
Chef's Surprise - When eagle bodies obscure the meal being served.
Chicken of the Tree – not tuna … squirrel served in the Cottonwood.
Chicklet - affectionate name for our hatchlings ... see also Babylet.
Circe du EEEaglee’ – Feats of aerobic performance (or feets).
Cleaning Coma - behavior emulating Dad’s cleaning skills, but generally tiring quickly, lapsing into face plant.
Clown Clomp - comical eaglet first steps learning how to walk.
Clown Feet - oversized feet/talons that the eaglets haven't grown into yet, nor know what to do with.
Clutch - total number of eggs laid, or birds hatched during a single nesting period.
Convocation - group of eagles in tree or on ground.
Corn Husk - outer dried corn covering coveted in nest.
Corn Husk Pillow - said item used as head rest.
Corn Stalk - building material for nest crib rails.
Clutch - number of eggs laid in a nest.
Crittergetter – Mom & Dad’s wings used when combating an intruder.
Crop - area in neck where food gathers first before entering stomach if it is full.
Crop Plop - aka Crop Flop - falling over or laying down, usually proceeded by a food coma.
Crop Prop - the ability to use the enormous crop to prop up a bobblehead.
Crop rotation - food moving from the crop to the stomach for digestion (and filling up again).
Cuddle Huddle - all the e's close together for safety/warmth in a group.
Cuddle Puddle - horizontal E cuddle sprawl.
Cuddlelet - one hatchling all cuddled up by itself.
DDD-ia Pets - just add water to little eaglets.
Decorah - the idyllic location in Iowa where our family set up its Home-Tweet-Home.
DecorahLand - A magical place at the top of a Cottonwood Tree.
Decorah Drop - nap flop.
Decorah Front Porch - our place to watch the EEeee's.
Decorah Shimmy - back and forth motion that Mom/Dad use to position themselves over the eggs/eaglets.
Decorahating - beautification of the nest.
EA'S - Eagle Addicts, aka: Eagle-holics.
E-Bots – hatchlings more ambulatory at age 4+weeks.
E-ddicts - those who watch eaglets and stay in pajamas all day.
E-Gulp - swallowing food whole.
E-Heap - pile of eaglets.
E-Lump - same as cuddle huddle.
E-Pology - Submission bow or another act of 'sorry' after a sibling altercation.
E-Team - long suffering worrywarts who love eaglets.
E-Ticket Ride - the Decorah Eaglet antics are the ultimate ticket to fun in DecorahLand.
EEE-Mail - self explanatory.
E.N.S. - Empty Nest Syndrome
EWOT - Eaglet Without Transmitter (believed to be D18 from 2014).
EWT - Eaglet With Transmitter (believed to be D19 from 2014), now known as Four.
Eagle Condo - eagles in penthouse, smaller birds in lower stories.
Eagle Kneivel - daredevil or showoff behavior.
Eagle Time - no time that has anything to do with human time.
Eagleholics Anonymous -12 step recovery program for eagle addiction.
Eagleholics - (Eagle-holics) people that are avidly watching them daily.
Eagleology – online camera course in eagle watching.
Eaglestock/Eaglefest - 300+ million viewers united on web cam broadcast.
Eagle-ese - our unique vocabulary, also known as Eaglish.
Eagleibrium - balance achieved only by eagle walking.
Eaglemaniacs - people who eat, drink and sleep eagles, with not much real sleep actually occurring.
Eagleicious Delicious - any delightful E behavior.
Eagletecture - construction skills used by Dad to create the nest.
Eagletude - any display of eagle attitude.
Eaglish - all the words we made up for this dictionary.
Eagulp - swallowing food whole.
Ealergies - involuntary sneezing reaction.
Eeelie Button – D14 gave us the first view of the protuberance at belly of the outtie left from yolk sac cord.
EEElympics - athletic feats of prowess.
EEEnsane - an affliction of most Eagleholics.
Eggnant - Mom's condition prior to egg lay.
Elebenty Billion – an enormous number .. coined by our ElfRuler.
Ellergy – eaglet sneezesEyas – eagle hatchlings
Eyas stage - fresh from nest.
Face Plant - off balance eaglet plopping into nest face first, perhaps going into food coma.
Feaking - cleaning a beak on a stick or branch.
Feathairdresser - wind redecorating Mom's hair.
Featherline - the eee’s hairline feather growth giving them distinguishable identifiers.
Fish Fledge - result of food fight when intended meal accidentally goes off the nest bowl.
Fish Flops - any of the EEeee's wearing a skewered fish are said to be wearing fish flops.
Fishapalooza - a buffet bounty consisting of 4 or more fish brought to the nest in rapid succession.
Fishereagle - Dad, Dad, Dad!
Fishcicles - a serving of frozen fish nestovers.
Fjerky - fish jerky
Flap Mob – siblings rushing to mantle over new food item brought in.
Flapadoodle - Amusing flurry of wing flaps performed by Mom or Dad while sitting (incubating) the eggs. Generally occurs in middle of night and scares the heck out of everyone watching.
Flappathon - endurance contest of eee 's getting pumped up.
Flatabit – aka Goodyear Rabbit – unmistakable steel belted rabbit roadkill.
Fleaping - flapping & leaping - aka hoppersizing
Fledge - taking the leap from branches to the air of the big beyond.
Fledge Fest - gathering of Eagleholics making road trips to witness fledging.
Fluffles – new tail feathers emerging in a ruffle pattern.
Fly-By - parent checking in, but not landing, and with or without food.
Fly-By-Fake-Out - parent flying by with food to lure E's out of nest.
Flying monkeys - teenlets similarity when wingersizing to the Wizard of Oz flying army. Hum the song: oh weeee oh...ohhhh oh when seeing this behavior.
Food Coma - state of suspension E's go into after eating too much.
Food Fledge – result of food falling/ going overboard from nest.
FOUR - our 3rd transmittered eaglet (believed to be D19 from 2014).
Fret of chatters - a group of chatters worried about the eagles.
Flapping Jacks - eaglets exercizing their wings.
Flash Chat – If something important happens on the nest, there is an immediate convocation of chatters and mods to discuss and view.
Fledge - when the juveniles are ready to leave the natal nest. Unforunately, Eagleholics are unable to due the same.
Fledge-U-Ation - eaglets graduate to fledging.
Fritching - itching new emerging feathers.
Full-Feathered - a loving way to describe Mom Decorah's 'plus size'.
G.F.Z. - gnat free zone -- a mythical place in Decorah.
Gnat - larger than noseeums and especially fond of the eagle's head area resulting in eagle neck jerk twitching.
Gnat Gnat - a term of endearment used interchangeably for nite nite by EAs.
Gnat Off - miracle deterrent for gnasty gnats.
Gnat Scat Boogie – the eee’s headtwich dance.
Gnatercizing - shaking off the gnats.
Goodyear Rabbit – flat rabbit road kill.
Grub Buddy – sibling feeding food to another sibling … D11 did this often to its siblings.
Guest Nest - aka N1 as when FOUR (believed to be D19 from 2014) took over N1. Kind of like having your kid move out ... but to the detached garage.
Guy-liner - one way to identify Dad is black liner around his eyes.
Hallux - rear locking talon, also known as eagle thumb.
Hard Penned - feathers firmly attached to bone.
Home-Tweet-Home – The nest.
Homeland Seggurity - mythical agency in charge of nest enforcement rules and regulations.
Hoo-Coos - soft little vocals from the eaglets.
Hoppersizing - up and down movement, usually in conjunction with wingersizing.
Hop-Squash - exhuberent nest hop resulting in a sibling step on. Usually E2 gets hop-squashed.
Hoppiness - what else would you do after a good feed and found you had wings?
Happy-Hop!
Hover Mantle - mantling behavior parallel to the prey of the day.
Hovering - catching air with outspread wings while staying in a fluttering suspended motion.
Hugbrella - wingstretch from one e to another.
Kettle - group of eagles in the air.
JuvEEE's - our beloved eee 's and ddd 's just before ready to fledge.
JuvEEE Court – Justice of the Peeece presided over the matter of D14 allegedly dislodging a cam mount screw and breaking the cam on Trunk Tower in 2012. The case against the daredevil was thrown out by the EEE-Pellet Court and the darling was eeequitted.
Juvie Jump – another name for the game of leap eaglet.
Juvie sprawl - juveniles taking up extra nest space spreading wings out while napping.
King of Mulch Mountain - EWOT (believed to be D18 from 2014) defending city mulch pile, aka N3.
Leap Eagle - hopping over a sibling.
LEGO Eagle - pixilated image of our eagles.
Lumpasizing - E's staying close together or sleeping in a pile.
MODA - new acronym for is it Mom or Dad when a very rainy 2014 day prevented a positive ID by chatters and mods.
M.O.D.S - Master Ornithological Data Searchers; also gatekeepers of the RRP FB page or chat.
Mantle - The action of a bird spreading its wings, fanning the tail & arching over prey, to hide it from other predators, including other birds or siblings. From Old English/Norse for cloak. (E3 delighted us with several distinct mantles: Balloon Mantle and Ninja Mantle).
Mantle Fluff ... not a mantle, not a bantle, but a puff of the feathers to intimidate and claim first noted by D18 at 6 weeks old.
Master Mantler - E3 showed extraordinary mantle diversity.
Mest – the nest in disarray from active juveee’s.
Moist Fowlettes - wet eaglets.
Momblock – Mom’s windbarrier for the babies.
Mombrella - Mom covering her eaglets with her wings, mostly in inclemate weather. (see also poptent).
Moonwalk - backup walk prior to a poop shoot.
Mousepad – off-season nest at night turns into a mouse pad.
Mulch Mountain - City of Decorah's mulch pile site. It's where D18 was found a week after his fledge. Also the place where D19 (EWT) (FOUR) was relocated to be with her sibling. AKA N3 (Nest 3).
Muskrat jerky - poor thing which gets picked on by the eee’s when unearthed from the nest.
N1 – the original Cottonwood nest used from 2007/08 thru 2012.
N2 – the New Nest, aka: Yonder Nest used in 2013 and 2014. Subsequently destroyed 7-18-15 after a microburst toppled the top 20ft of nest tree.
N2B - (in Bob's memory = N2Bob) starter, human-built nest constructed and installed in a cottonwood tree just 75ft from the former N2 site, and has been adopted by Mom and Dad Decorah for the 2016 season.
N3 - temporary mulch pile nest taken over by EWT & EWOT in 2014.
N.W.Z - the state of zen Eagleholics try to remain in during each season.
Name That Prey - a favorite chat game of guessing what prey has just bee brought in by the P's.
Nare - nostril holes on the beak.
Neck Biter - D19 from 2014 wasn't a beak bonker as much as she was a back of the neck biter.
Nest Depot - wherever Mom & Dad can find new decor for the nest; ie- horsehair, corn husks, branches, straw.
NestFlix - the nightly video round-up.
Nest Bowl - the deeply insulated vault within the nest that corrals eggs and/or hatchlings.
Nest Guests - anyone watching the UStream video.
Nest Potatoes - eagles lazily lounging, usually after eating.
Nestcapades – any eee antics of a comedy nature.
Nestflix – the videos taken during the day of our famileee.
Nesterpiece Theatre – after dinner play antics .. sometimes accompanied by a food free for all.
Nestication - staying put in nest or branches; too relaxed to pack and fly off.
Nestogarbage - nest garbage or debris.
Nestoration - The act of rearranging or redecorating the nest.
Nestovers - uneaten food found in the nest.
Netiquette - a level of decorum expected on Decorah RRP Facebook page.
Nictitating Membrane - transparent inner eyelid, also known as the third eyelid protecting the eye.
Numb Butt - affliction caused by sitting at the computer too long.
Ninja Mantle - heightened Zen-Like state of mantle & hover (first exhibited by E3 on 5-29-11).
O.C.N.D. – Obsessive Compulsive Nestoration Disorder.
Obstacle Occlusion - varying perspectives of the reality of the nest.
Outstinkt - eaglets knowing instinctively to PS out of the nest.
Owl - urban legendary creature purported to have attacked eagle nest; totally mythical.
P.I.P. – People In Panic waiting for impending pip.
PS - poop shoot - evacuation of the bowels.
Pancake - flat eagle in sleeping position.
Pantaloons - feathered leg eaglet britches.
Pantree – the nest storage locker where extra food is stowed.
Peaglets – piggy little eaglets clamoring for food.
Pet Pillow - using your sibling as something to rest a part of your body on.
Pffffftt! - the distinct sound coming from a PS.
Pickup Stalks - eaglet version of child's game played with cornstalks.
Pinky - the name given to the pink/red bailing twine brought into the nest that inadvertently wound around E2 (D1’s) foot in 2011.
Pip Squeek - a new emerging hatchling.
Pipping Toms – Eaglholics watching for pipping to start.
Pole Dance – D14’s wiggles on the Trunk Tower in front of the camera.
Piscivore - fish eater.
Poop Art - original whitewash gouache on the nearby trees; a takeoff of the 1960s Pop Art Movement.
Poopcasso - PS artist.
Poptent - Dad standing over the chicks with wings spread keeping them safe from snow/rain/wind or predator.
Porch Peeps - The E's adoring EA's who sit on an evereggspanding porch overlooking the beloved cottonwood tree to pay homage to our eagles.
Post D-Epartum Depression - condition to what will happen to Eagleholics when eagles leave the nest.
Predicure - manicure for a predator.
Prey Buffet - whatever the parents happened to bring for dinner.
Prey Toy - meal tidbit used as plaything.
PSFS - Print Screen Finger Syndrome synonymous with copy, print and save web stream photo captures.
Puddle 'O Eaglet - description when too big for a cuddle puddle.
Puffmallows – the hatchlings first puffy and fuzzy phase.
R.O.T.N.S.O.L. - Rolling On Nest Squeeing Out Loud.
RWS - restless wing syndrome.
Raptor - a bird of prey, regal in the birddom. (Latin, one who seizes, from rapere).
Re-Decorahations - Eagles can redecorate, or nestorate, but only in Decorah can you Re-Decorate for the next nest season!
Raptortherapy - what all Eagleholics need after each season is over.
Reverse Sexual Dimorphism – In most cases when size differences exist between the male and female of a species, it is the male that is the larger of the two sexes. But in a few species, such as birds of prey and owls, it is the female is the larger of the sexes, and such a size difference is referred to as reverse sexual dimorphism.
Rictus - wide open mouth.
Riding The Rails – First perching times on the crib rails.
Rockem’ Sockem Baby Bots – Hatchlings pecking order squabbles with siblings.
Rug O’ War – A food item tugged between two eaglets trying to claim said item as their own.
Rumpicitis – Eagleholic affliction from sitting for 13+ weeks.
SED's - abbreviation for Sweet Eagle Dreams or Sweet Eaglet Dreams.
Screeching - sound associated with food frenzy.
Screech-fest - sound associated with food fest.
Screagling - screeches made by the eee’sScreeeeeeee - typed sound the eee’s make in one or multiple vocalizations; can interchangeable with squeeeeee.
Scree-Geee’s – D12, D13, D14’s scree band.
Screeenami Siren – the screee alarm alert by juvies at an impending food drop.
Screeescendo – ear piercing frenzy of little eee vocalizations.
Separation Eagxiety - the anxiety that the last eaglet feels when it is left in the nest alone, sans siblings.
Shaking Juvie Syndrome - trying to get the gnats off ones head by shaking it.
Shell Helmet - D20 emerged rolling out of its shell in 2014 and wearing a shell hat.
Snack Pack - another name for the eaglets crop, courtesy of "TeamCarnes 2nd grade class" in the 2015 season.
Snite - an eagle or eaglet sneeze.
Snuggle Huggles – simultaneous spooning and hugging while planted in a pile resting.
SOAR - Saving Our Avian Raptors - premiere rehab faciity in Iowa and present temporary lodging for injured eaglet D20 aka SOAR Baby.
Speggulation - wondering when those eggs will ever pip and hatch.
Spicules – knobby part of talons to hold onto slippery fish like suction cups.
Splish Splash - three eaglets taking a bath in rainstorm 6-18-14
Sprawled Eagle - eaglet sleeping with wings spread covering a larger mass area than spread eagle.
Spread Eagle - eaglet sleeping with wings spread (see also sprawled eagle).
Squabbit - what we call the newest furry snack when we can’t figure out if it is a squirrel or rabbit.Squeeep – babies vocalizations characterized as between a squeee and a peep.
Squeeeisnart – Mom & Dad’s fast and furious filleting of food at chow time.
Squeeesame Street - mythical play place for eaglets.
Squerky – unidentified leftover meal of either squirrel or rabbit jerky.
Squibetti - long entrail strands from mystery food source.
Squibbit – aka Squabbit – unidentified meal of squirrel or jerky.
Squirrel Slippers – fur bits taloned by the juveniles and worn around the nest.
Squish – unidentified meal of squirrel or fish.
StarBeaks – Eagleholics favorite corporate cawfee. Most popular blends: Decorah Decaf and Mocha Mantle.
Sub-Adult - juvenile eagle.
Sun Pose – aka Sunning – the regal eagle iconic horizontal wing drop stance associated with thermoregulation and E1, D12, D13, and D14 all D18, D19 and D20 offered their own versions.
Sun Pose Sundial - all 3 eaglets simultaneously in sun pose noted 5-20-14 by D18, D19 & D20.
SED – Sweet Eagle Dreams.
Sweagle Dreams - sweet eagle dreams.
Synchronized Switching - Mom & Dad's precisely timed incubation take-overs.
Syrinx - flap between esophagus and lungs for eagles vocalization sounds.
T.H.E. – abbreviation for ‘The Eagle Way’.
T.K.O. - Technical Knock Out -- usually preceded by eaglet beak bonking.
Tail Wiggle-Waggle - movement of the eaglets tail after they realized they had one.
Tarsus - the section of vertebrate foot between the leg and metarsus.
Teeter Totter – using a stick on the side of the nest as a see saw.
The Beakerson’s – affectionate term of endearment given to Mom & Dad during their occassional tiff's.
Three Amigos – 2011 clutch of E1, E2 (D1) and E3. (see Tree Amigos for 2012).
Tippytalon - eaglets doing the ballerina thing.
Tree Amigos – 2012 clutch of D12, D13, D14.
Treeples – Eagleholics, aka Tree People.
Trunk Tower – the Cottonwood camera trunk that D14 ascended as its main lookout point.
Trunked – a vertical jump up to the tree trunk that D14 was most famous for doing. D18 & D20 also utilized the cam tree trunk for vertical branching in 2014. All three of these eaglets while "trunked" at the top of the cam, stayed long enough to give us some "selfie" photos.
Tweagles - juvenile teen eagles.
Tweed Overcoats - when woolly down replaces white natal down.
Tween Preen - eaglets in their eee-awkard phase trying to get their feathers unfurled.
Twigging – going out on a twig prior to official branching.
Twiggs - playing with branches like Lincoln logs.
Twittering - calls made by young eaglets.
U-Branch – the U-shaped branch at the uppermost right of our screen frequented by Mom & Dad.
U.F.E. – unidentified flying eagle in background.
U.F.O - unidentified food object.
U.L.O. - unidentified laying object as when a well-intentioned but misguided fan dropped off a hay bale for extra nest warmth and seen in 2014 yonder field.
Whackdown - Wingwhack Wrestling takedown
Whatta - The best way to start a sentence!
Wilson - name given to the beloved cornhusk that resembled the volleyball in the film Castaway.
Windteruption - high wind day that causes the e's to lay low.
Wingercizing - excercizing the wings.
Wingertainment – new clutch fun in experiencing the joy of those little appendages. The EA’s of course can be Wingertained by this action.
Wingpits - self explanatory.
Wing Nuts – Eagleholics, Beak Geeks or Bird Nerds … aka devoted fans.
Wing Smackdown - exhuberent wingersizing between two or more eagles resulting in a takedown.
Wing Whack - one eaglet stretching his wing while laying down and hitting his/her nearby sibling with it.
Wonderstruck - The overwhelming feeling produced by the EEeee's.
Y-Branch - the most beloved horizontal branch in N1, the old nest.
Yellow Suede Shoes - D20’s distinctive clown feet appeared to be wearing famous footwear.
Yonder Nest – name given to the new nest constructed by Mom & Dad in Fall, 2012. Now known as New Nest or N2.