SW Florida Eagle Cam 2023~2024

[MaryF]

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HWF welcomes you to Season 12 of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam 2023-2024 starring, for now, M15. It's hard to believed that this is our 12th season! M15 lost his beautiful mate, Harriet, on February 2nd -early in the season. For now the territory and the nest belong to M15. We are waiting anxiously to see if the visiting lady eagle becomes his new mate --stay tuned!

It seems that M15 does have a pretty, new mate. She has been named F23 for female who showed up in 2023. We hope to see beautiful eaglets from this pair!


M15 and the beautiful Harriet -- courtesy of Melana Devereaux

The SWFEC nest has been adopted for the 2024 nesting season:
~ by Sue McCarty in memory of Debbi Skluzak /Essec09, our head administrator for the SWFEC chat, and also in memory of our beloved Harriet, forever remembered and forever in our hearts ~


The nest is located 60 feet up in a slash pine in North Fort Myers, Florida in a pasture on the Dick Pritchett property. It is located right in the middle of a fenced horse pasture giving us many views of the beautiful horses, a pond, and other wildlife as well.


Handsome M15 -- courtesy of Sue McCarty

Link to the cams - with chat ~~ https://dickpritchettrealestate.com/eagle-feed.html

youtube link to cam ~~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDwwrw92Qgg

Link to the FB page ~~ https://www.facebook.com/SouthwestFloridaEagleCam

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Nest Notes ~~ https://southwestfloridaeaglecam.tumblr.com/archive

Link to the SWFEC Foundation ~~ http://southwestfloridaeaglecam.com/


Dick Pritchett Real Estate is pleased to continue bringing you this live look into this bald eagle family and their nest located on their property. This season there might possibly be 4 cameras that will live stream the eagles 24/7. We are not sure which cams will be working this season yet after damage to them and the trees last fall by hurricane Ian.

Camera #1 is positioned 6 feet above the nest and is carefully attached to the tree so as not to damage it and is equipped with night vision or infrared light, which emits no actual light or noise. The eagles do not see or hear anything coming from the camera.

Camera 2 was located approximately 60 feet from the nest in another tree which was destroyed and had the ability to capture images of the nest action from a distance that are outside the view of cam 1. It is a PTZ cam which means it can be moved to catch the action. We will see if they can find a good placement for this cam

In 2015 we added a third camera, pond cam, which gives us great views of the pond area where Harriet takes her wonderful baths as well as a different view of the nest.

In 2018 our 360 degree cam (cam 4) was added. When launched from a button under the cam it allows the user--anybody-- to operate the cam themselves. This cam allows you to click and drag to any viewing area for a fully immersive experience. AMAZING!! We have not heard about this cam yet--I believe it needed to be repaired.

All of our cameras are environmentally friendly, non-intrusive and positioned to offer a good view of the nest and eagles while preserving the beauty of the nest and its' surroundings. These 4 (?) cameras will capture every moment at the nest, 24/7, and stream it live .


Nest area

LINK TO LAST SEASON'S THREAD~~viewtopic.php?p=609326#p609326

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[MaryF]

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Our first family during the first year for the cams. Ozzie, E2, E1, and Harriet. (from a video by ncaerie-2013)

I'm putting last years stats here as it was such an unusual different and important year for this nest.


..STATS FOR 2022-2023 ~~~

* Cams on -- a little before October 1, 2022

* Eggs laid -- Egg #1 November 29, 2022--6:09:34PM EST ~~~ Egg #2 December 2, 2022 -- 8:09:54

* Eggs hatched -- Egg #1 (E21) January 4, 2023 -- 8:22PM ~~~ Egg #2 (E22) January 7, 2023 -- 4:43AM

* Branching -- E21 branched at 11:45:59AM on March 17, 2023 ~~~ E22 branched at 17:04 on March 21, 2023

* Fledged -- E21--March 30, 2023 at 7:28:14 AM (84 days old) ~~ E22--April 1, 2023 at 9:24 AM (84 days old)

* Last seen -- E21--April 29, 2023 at 1:02 PM ~~~ E22 June 10, 2023 at 9:59 AM



OUR BEAUTIFUL FEMALE BALD EAGLE AND QUEEN OF THE NEST TOOK OFF WE THINK TO CHASE OFF AN INTRUDER IN THE EARLY EVENING OF FEBRUARY 2, 2023 WHEN HER EAGLETS WERE ONLY 5 WEEKS OLD AND HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE. HER AMAZING MATE, M15, HAS BEEN RAISING THEM ON HIS OWN SINCE THEN THROUGH MANY INTRUDERS AND OWL STRIKES. THEY ARE NOW NEARLY READY TO FLEDGE AND HARRIET WOULD BE SO VERY PROUD ALL THREE OF THEM! WE ALL MISS YOU HARRIET-- FLY HIGH AND FREE! I'M SURE THAT OZZIE IS WAITING FOR HIS BEST GIRL


E2 by cam--E1 lying down counting cars our cams have improved greatly!

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[MaryF]

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Our second set of eaglets--E4 and E3 (2014)---courtesy of Urdognu from her video---we lost E3 quite early to an unknown cause.

~~ Stats for 2023-2024~~


* Cams on -- September 30, 2023

* Eggs laid -- Egg 1 - November 24, 2023 -- 5:54PM ~~ Egg 2 - November 27, 2023 -- 1:44PM

* Eggs hatched -- Egg 1 -- Sunday December 31, 2023 - 7:07AM ~~ Egg 2 unfortunately did not survive the hatching process. It was too early for it to hatch and not strong enough to complete the hatch. Fly high baby eaglet!

* Branching -- E23 branched on March 2, 2024. E stepped right up to the veranda at 8:04:19 AM

* Fledged --

* Last seen --



Our E5+E6. (2015) We lost E5 quite early as well. We lost eaglets 2 years in a row. E6 was Ozzies last eaglet.

Plaques in memory of E3 and E5 on the fence.

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[MaryF]

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2016-first hatched, E7--hello world

SOME HISTORY ABOUT OUR NEST AND OUR EAGLES ~~~


Our thanks to the Pritchett family for installing, maintaining and running these cams on their property. This is a family owned and run business. The cam and nest are located 60 feet up in a slash pine in a horse pasture on the Pritchett property. The first cam was installed in early September, 2012.

A mature pair of bald eagles, Ozzie & Harriet, had been coming to this nest since they built it for the 2006-2007 season until Ozzie's untimely death in September of 2015. The nest on the Pritchett property had been occupied by Harriet and her mate M15 until she disappeared on February 2, 2023.

Right now the nest and the territory are the property of M15--we are waiting to see if he chooses a new mate to share it for the 2023/2024 season.


E8 as a very young eaglet at CROW for removal of fishing line on it's leg and once again right after fledge for repair of a broken femur after an owl attack

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HISTORY SINCE THE CAM HAS BEEN IN THE PASTURE TREE --


Two eggs were laid November 26 & 29 in 2012 -- Both chicks, Hope and Honor ( E1 and E2 ), fledged successfully.

Two eggs were laid Nov. 17 & 20 in 2013.
Only one eaglet, E4, fledged successfully E3 sadly passed away on Feb. 2 at 41 days old of unknown causes but most likely a respiratory problem.

Two eggs were laid on November 19 & 22 in 2014
Just one of the eaglets, E6, fledged. We lost E5 on Jan 20, 2015 at due to unknown causes.

Two eggs were laid on December 19 & 22 in 2015
Both eaglets fledged but shortly after were attacked by an owl. The younger one, E8, was lost for a week and found by three folks from CROW. E8 was transported to CROW where he received intense treatment and rehab. E8 was finally released into the nest area on August 18, 2016.

Two eggs were laid in November of 2016
Egg #1 (Eggbert) was unviable and never hatched. E9 hatched, was the apple of everybody's eye, and successfully fledged

Two eggs were laid in November of 2017
Both eggs hatched and our beloved E10 and E11 successfully fledged.

Two eggs were once again laid in November of 2018
Both eggs hatched and wonderful E12 and E13 fledged successfully.

Two eggs were once again laid in November of 2019 (clutch #1). Only one egg containing our precious E14 hatched. Unfortunately we lost E14 to a combination of rodenticide and a terrible accident when one of his---yes he was a boy---blood feathers broke and he bled to death

To our surprise we had a second clutch of eggs laid in February of 2020!! Our miracle eaglets E15 and E16 hatched and successfully fledged! E15 hung around the nest for a record 169 days before leaving on it's adventure! What a season!!

Two eggs were laid in November of 2020. Both eggs hatched but E17 and E18 both had severe infections when only a few days old. They were sent to CROW, were treated and re-nested. They survived and both fledged successfully.

Once again two eggs were laid in November if 2021. Both eggs hatched and the eaglets, E19 and E20, both successfully fledged.

Just like clockwork Harriet once again laid two eggs in November of 2023. Both eggs hatched and were raised by both Harriet and M15 until February 2nd when Harriet took off from the nest and never came back. At first M15 was looking for Harriet to return and did not quite know what to do but he stepped up and did an amazing job of protecting and raising E21 and E22 by himself and they both fledged. He was the father of the year for sure.


E7+8 scooting across the nest

A family meal with E7+E8 shortly before they fledged

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[MaryF]

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E9 was our solo eaglet in 2017. The second egg (nick-named Egbert) was non-viable and did not hatch.

.SOME HISTORY OF THE OLD NEST-prior to 2006 (across the street from the Pritchett property)---


We are really not sure IF or for how long Ozzie and Harriet occupied the old nest. It may have been Ozzie and a different female-- or a different pair altogether---we just don't know. The nest on the Pritchett property was occupied by Harriet and her mate, M15 until the middle of the 2023/2024 season.

Before the present nest was built in 2006, a pair of bald eagles had a nest on the opposite side of Bayshore Road, across the street. That old nest tree was deliberately killed by someone to get rid of the eagles nest in order to remove the tree.

here is now a subdivision called Eagle's Landing at what used to be the undeveloped property at "Yonder Pond" in the near vicinity of the "old nest" and across Bayshore from the present nest. Our eagles used to spend a lot of time at that pond.

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Precious E9 SO cute!

It is not known for sure if these eagles were Ozzie and Harriet. While CROW told us that Ozzie was a very old eagle when he died, Harriet could not possibly be this old by now. She would have to be well into her mid to late 30s thirties or so at the time of her disappearance if she was the female in the nest in the "killed" tree. The history of that old nest is interesting though.

LE-26A (designated nest number for the old nest---- Donald road Nesting History --

Year ------------------- History

90-91 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed
91-92 Active, 1 Fledgling confirmed
92-93 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed
93-94 Active, 3 Fledglings confirmed
94-95 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed
95-96 Active, 3 Fledglings confirmed
96-97 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed
97-98 Inactive--
98-99 Active, 1 Fledgling confirmed
99-00 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed
00-01 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed
01-02 Active, 1 Fledgling confirmed


..02-03 two adults observed at nest tree 4/21/03 -- (perhaps this is when Ozzie and Harriet took over the nest--we do not know )

03-04 Tree observed dead 9/29/03. ES Staff inspected the tree on 9/29/03
and found the tree had been girdled by machete or hatchet. Birds have
been observed in the territory but did not nest this nesting season.

04-05 Active, Two adults observed incubating posture in Dec '04. 1 chick
fledged about April 6, 2005

05-06 Active, 1 fledgling confirmed

06-07 old nest Inactive *Ozzie and Harriet built a new nest north of Bayshore Rd (at the present location)



The famous photo of the incident between E9 and Andy Pritchett's big black truck

photo courtesy of News Media

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[MaryF]

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A diagram of the nest tree with the branch names

.History so far of the nest in the Pritchett pasture from 2006 on

This nest has been designated LE-26B


Ozzie and Harriet relocated their nest for the 2006/07 nesting season to its present location on the Pritchett property.
Ozzie and Harriet had 7 confirmed fledglings before the cams were installed.


Year ---- History
06-07 Active; Built a new nest north of Bayshore Rd: 2 chicks fledged
07-08 Active; but fledglings not confirmed
08-09 Active; 2 chicks
09-10 Active; 1 chick
10-11 Active; 1 fledgling confirmed
11-12 Active; 1 fledgling confirmed


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Our 2018 eaglets---E10 and E11 (10 top and 11 bottom)

.History since the cams were activated on the SWFEC nest in 2012~~


12-13 Active; 2 fledglings confirmed (Hope + Honor E1 and E2)
13-14 Active; 1 fledgling confirmed (E4)
14-15 Active; 1 fledgling confirmed (E6)
15-16 Active: nest now occupied by Harriet and M15---2 fledglings confirmed (E7 and E8)
16-17 Active: 1 fledgling confirmed (E9)
17-18 Active: 2 fledglings confirmed (E10 and E11)
18-19 Active: 2 fledglings confirmed (E12 and E13)
19-20 Active: 2 fledglings confirmed (E15 and E16)
20-21 Active: 2 fledglings confirmed (E17 and E18)
21-22 Active: 2 fledglings confirmed (E19 and E20)
22-23 Active: 2 fledglings confirmed (E21 and E22)---mostly raised by M15




E10 and E11 Almost grown up---a little beaky-beaky!

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[MaryF]

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.We had 2 eaglets again in 2019---E12 and E13

.Where do the eagles get their food? There is a large river close to the nest, (about a half a mile away - as a bird flies) that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. It is called the Caloosahatchee River, This is a prime source of food for this nest along with many local ponds including the small one in the pasture. Also being opportunistic eaters they will also besides fish, eat small mammals, reptiles, road kill, and other birds--just about anything they can find.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are 128 nests in a 25 mile radius of Ozzie and Harriet's nest. The closet nest is about one mile away, although it was last known to be active during the 2009 season.


A map of nearby nests---

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This is the twelfth season Dick Pritchett Real Estate has provided the live look into Harriet & Ozzie’s (now M15's) Southwest Florida nest. We now have three HD-PTZ cameras that film the birds 24/7 and stream live video directly to this site. Camera #1 is positioned six feet above the nesting tree and is equipped with night vision or infrared light, which emits no actual light. Nor does it make any noise. The birds do not see or hear anything coming from the camera. Camera #2 was located approximately 100 feet from the nest and has the ability to capture images of the nest action outside of Camera #1. Cam #3 is located down at the pond which is on the property where the eagles tend to spend a lot of time. In the 2017/18 season a 360 degree camera was also installed in the nest tree. It can be launched and operated by viewers of the cam!! All of our cameras are environmentally friendly, non-intrusive and positioned to offer the best view of the nest and birds while preserving the pristine beauty of the nest and their surroundings.

Due to a lot of damage in the pasture during hurricane Ian in the fall of 2022 we are not sure of all of the cams at this time. Hopefully they will be able to all be repaired and will be broadcasting eagles to us again for the 2023/2024 season.




(12 and 13) Just about ready to leave.

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[MaryF]

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Aside from losing three of our eaglets (E3, E5, and E14) and and 2 nonviable eggs, we have had our share of other sad happenings at this nest. ---


in 2015 ~~~ has it really been 8 years since we lost this handsome eagle?

OZZIE!! ~~ What can we say about Ozzie? We lost the handsome, smart, wonderful 1st Dad of our nest and Harriet's mate on September 29th, 2015. He was an elderly eagle according to CROW and he went septic from some bad wounds that he received and they couldn't save him. All of us who watch this nest and love this family will always miss this wonderful, intelligent, entertaining eagle!


Ozzie photographed by Desiree Deliz--Ozzie's #1 fan...used with permission

Plaque honoring Ozzie on the pasture fence

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In 2016 ~~~


Perhaps the most important of all of the dramatic happenings at this nest in 2016 was the complete and total loss of the nest probably due to weather, old age, and leaping eaglets. Thank goodness the eaglets had already fledged Fortunately for those of us who watch this nest Harriet and M15 chose to rebuild their nest right in the same tree and the same spot--what a relief!!


A nest comparison--before and after

SWF nest comparison 5-20-16.jpg (75.4 KiB) Viewed 35349 times

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2017 ~~~


We had our own catastrophe just before the start of our new season. In the very late summer of 2017 on September,11trh, hurricane Irma, hit a good part of Florida including our nest area in North Ft. Myers. We had an overflowing pond, a large tree in the pasture was uprooted and although our nest stayed right where Harriet and /M15 built it the nest tree itself sustained quite a bit of damage. Believe it or not even out snag trees stayed standing!!! We waited patiently to see if out pair of eagles had safely weathered the hurricane. We were rewarded a few days later when they showed up safe and sound!!

Below is a before and after picture of our nest tree before and after the hurricane courtesy of whiskrsnwings/VickiO

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2020 ---

In 2020 we had a very sad tragedy. Out precious E14 passed away at the age of 27 days. He somehow broke a blood feather and we found out that he was full of rodenticide from a rat that he had eaten. Since that prevents blood from clotting our baby bled to death.



Our beautiful E14

E14 plaque on the pasture fence

E14 memorial on the church side of the fence

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2022-

Before the start of our 11th season another very bad hurricane ,Ian, hit the Ft Myers area. Some trees in the pasture were lost and the nest was damaged. This storm left our tree with a few less branches and it now looks like this.

SWF new tree view 10-4-22.jpg (35.73 KiB) Viewed 35349 times

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[MaryF]

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On February 2, 2023 we had the saddest thing happen that has ever happened at this nest. We lost our Harriet. It was early evening and there were several intruders around the nest. It's possible that Harriet took off to chase them away and became engaged in a fight with one or more of them and was overpowered. Especially after hurricane Ian there were many nests that were lost and plenty of eagles looking for new ones. We will never know for sure what happened to her as she never returned and she was never found. The only thing that we know for sure is that our beautiful, smart and brave female bald eagle and Queen of the nest is gone. Her eaglets were only 5 weeks old and her amazing mate, M15 , raised them alone. He fed them well and protected them from intruders and owl strikes. They both fledged and Harriet would be so very proud of all three of them--E21 and E22, her last eaglets , and M15 for raising them so well! We all miss you Harriet--fly high and free! I'm sure that Ozzie is with his best girl

This last screencapture of Harriet was taken when she was clearly aggravated with the intruders. It was probably one of the last pictures of her as it was maybe not even 2 minutes before she flew off.

Harriet's memorial bench

Harriet's plaque on the fence

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[MaryF]

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.We had 2 eaglets again in 2019---E12 and E13

aside from losing E14 season 8 was also a season of a lot of strange firsts!!

List of firsts for the 8th season 2019/20


First year we have ever seen an owl pair both on the nest tree at the same time
Earliest date an egg has ever been laid – Egg#1/E14 - 11/12/19
Earliest date an egg has hatched - Egg#1/E14 - hatched 12/19/19
First for 4 days between egg laying – Egg#1/E14 and Egg#2 - (11/12/19 and 11/16/19)
First broken blood feather - E14,
First to know decisively the gender of an eaglet – E14,
First second clutch - Egg#3/E15 - laid 2/22/20
Two of the longest hatches to date on the nest - Egg#3/E15 46 hours, Egg#4/E16 - 59 hours



Gorgeous 12 and 13

Longest time between hatches - Egg#3/E15 and E16 - 2 days 11 hours
First time the 2nd egg of a clutch has taken 37 days to hatch - Egg#4/E16 hatched on day 37.
First stuffed animal (Squirrel) brought to nest – by Harriet 4/7/20.
First time curriculum driven open classroom sessions for the benefit of students and teachers staying at home due to COVID 19, spring 2020.
First time seen on cam Harriet locking talons with an intruder 5/1/20.
First time a mollusk brought to the nest 5/2/20 - attached to bird beak, brought by M15
First time a fledgling/juvie has stayed so long in the nest area---E15---169 days---Sept 16, 2020

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Once again in 2019 we had 2 eggs laid and a solo eagle, E14, hatched. We already know his story --we were all so sad to lose him!

Then we had a surprise quite a while after we lost E14---the first ever second clutch after having lost a living eaglet on any eagle cam -- and what did we get? Our surprise eaglets-- E15 and E16!

E15 and E16 with their feathers coming in. E15 decided to stay with Harriet and M15 for so long after fledging that H+M built a back up
nest. We sure are glad that they didn't use it or we would never have seen what went on in season 9.

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[MaryF]

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Season 9 was very successful for our eagle pair as well once those beautiful eaglets, E17 and E18. were cured of their horrible eye infections by none other than the excellent staff at CROW and re-nested. Thank you CROW!!!

Once again Harriet laid her expected 2 eggs and both hatched and the eaglets successfully fledged!! We did have that eye drama but we were much relieved when after a successful treatment at CROW they were both re-nested and started to thrive!!


E17 and E18--our surprise eaglets for 2021

Love 18's wing around 17

17 and 18 in their little nest at CROW being treated for really bad eye infections

Returning E17 to the nest from CROW

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[MaryF]

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After their illness E17 and E18 flourished and grew and turned into beautiful young eaglets and juveniles. They were quite a sight to see.

E18 in the front and E17 in the back

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[MaryF]

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2021/2022 started off with Harriet and M15 having their normal 2 eggs at Harriet's normal time


Our beautiful pair--Harriet and M15

Once again we had two pretty eaglets to watch grow

They grew into great looking juvies

Two scaps of the entire 2021-2022 family

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[MaryF]

M15~~ Father of the year

The season did not start off well as hurricane Ian hit the Ft. Myers area on September 28th 2022 just as we had turned the cams on. we did sustain a lot of damage in the pasture with downed trees and snags and the loss of more branches in the nest tree and after some time had passed things got even worse.
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The 2022/2023 season was at the same time our saddest and most courageous that we have seen so far. The story was told already but who would have ever expected that we would lose our beautiful Harriet and that even in his grief, which was obvious to all of us, that our M15 would step up to the plate and raise Harriet's last two, very young eaglets? He did an amazing job of keeping intruders and owls away from them and keeping them fed all the way through fledging and when they finally left the area!


Here they are--E21 and 22--Harriet's last eaglets and her legacy.


Welcome to the world E21 and E22!!

Second coat of darker down coming in

Almost completely feathered out.

Fledglings--Harriet would be so proud!

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[MaryF]

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.Happy new season everybody!!! It will be interesting to see what our M15 does this year.


I just have a few reminders for you. Remember this thread is for photos, videos, and discussion about the SWFEC nest only. News of other nests goes on the thread for that nest if there is one.

If you are doing an answering post to the last one on the page please don't quote it---just answer it Also please do try to limit your use of smilies just a bit!

If you have a question just ask and I will try to answer you Thanks all---have fun--- and enjoy!!!

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