Jan 27 2016, 10:04 AM

Essec09: Nancy Van Horn - if I could share some information with you regarding that. It is a bit long so will be in a couple of posts. Tomp,could you please pause a few seconds.

Jan 27 2016, 10:04 AM

Essec09: The fluid isn’t saliva but water that has been reclaimed from the respiratory system. A bird’s sinus acts as a cooling plate for inhaled and exhaled air. Inhaled cool air is warmed in the lungs. Warm air is able to absorb more water.When it is exhaled, it meets the cooler tissues in the sinus cavities and are absorbed back into the body through swallowing. There is a structure in the mouth that is essentially a slit into the sinuses called a choana.

Jan 27 2016, 10:04 AM

Essec09: The transfer of maternal antibodies to chicks occurs through the yolk to the embryo.The chicks immune system is immature at the time of hatching and the maternal antibodies help protect the chick until its naturally acquired immune system ramps up.

Jan 27 2016, 10:05 AM

Essec09: The fluid seen coming from an eagle’s beak is more likely unintentional sinus drip rather than a purposeful act to hydrate the young.While some hydration may occur from the sinus drips, it would be impossible to provide enough for the chicks metabolic needs.

Very interesting. So completely different than what was said a few yrs ago but glad it's a much better explanation of what we saw with E7.  

 Here is a link that saliva was mention also .

http://www.hancockwildlife.org/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=751362#751362

This also found in the HWF

 Lots of differing thoughts on the following subject... Justwhat is that fluid we see coming from the eagle parent beak?
1)The following information is from a wildlife veterinarian.

The fluid seen coming from an eagle’s beak is more likely unintentional sinus drip rather than a purposeful act to hydrate the young. While some hydration may occur from the sinus drips, it would be impossible to provide enough for the chicks metabolic needs. The fluid isn’t saliva but water that has been reclaimed from the respiratory system. A bird’s sinus acts as a cooling plate for inhaled and exhaled air. Inhaled cool air is warmed in the lungs. Warm air is able to absorb more water. When it is exhaled, it meets the cooler tissues in the sinus cavities and are absorbed back into the body through swallowing. There is a structure in the mouth that is essentially a slit into the sinuses called a choana. The transfer of maternal antibodies to chicks occurs through the yolk to the embryo. The chicks immune system is immature at the time of hatching and the maternal antibodies help protect the chick until its naturally acquired immune system ramps up.

2) From another longtime mod: “from my Sutton Research Center files, and I know I still have the statement also if I can hunt it down sometime from Craig Kopke, wildlife biologist who was watches the NETC nest. Hope this is of help. "Nasal glands in the anterior part of the eagle skull produce a saline solution that runs from the nares or nostrils of the feeding adult and down the beak to drip off its tip and onto the small bits of meat fed to the chicks. This keeps the sticky fish flesh moist and makes it easier for the chicks to swallow. There is speculation over whether such secretions include some type of disease resistant content or antibodies, as does colostrum in mammalian breast milk or has been shown for the saliva of swifts, but preliminary studies in falcons have concluded only saline is present. To see the saline dripping off the adult beak is difficult, even in person, but close observation might allow sharp-eyed, lucky, camera watchers to witness this phenomenon in some circumstances."
3) From Delaware Valley Raptor Center:

Raptors have a salt-excreting gland in their nares [nostrils], located in the nasal orbits, that can secrete sodium and chloride ions to help regulate these electrolytes in their blood and tissue fluids. Falcons sneeze out these nasal gland secretions, while other raptors allow the fluid to flow from the nares to the end of the beak where it is then flicked off with repeated head shakes. When feeding their young, a salty fluid also flows from a raptor’s nares to the tip of the beak where it falls on the chick’s pieces of food. It is not yet known if this fluid has any nutritional value for the young."