Southwest Florida Eagle Cam

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The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam is a website featuring live streaming webcams trained on a bald eagle nest, which sits 60 feet above the ground, in a Slash Pine tree in North Fort Myers, Florida. The live streaming website shows the parent eagles and their family as they build and restore the nest, mate, lay eggs, and challenge the natural elements and predators in the area. The site launched with one camera in September 2012. It is one of more than a dozen eagle webcams across America. [1]

Contents

The live webcam was set up by the landowner's company, Dick Pritchett Real Estate, to observe the eagles in their natural habitat in hopes of providing an educational and learning experience.

Nest

This nest is labeled LE026-B of the Florida State Monitoring Program. It has been monitored for six years. The first year was when the nest was across the street in 2007. The pair relocated the nest in 2006-2007 to its present location.

A typical nest is around five feet in diameter. Eagles often use the same nest year after year. Over the years, some nests become enormous, as much as nine feet in diameter, weighing two tons. [2] The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam nest is approximately eight feet in diameter and a short one mile flight away from the Caloosahatchee River, which serves as their primary food source. The pair of eagles rely mostly on fish from the river (Mullet, Catfish, Red Fish, Snook, Gar), but may also eat small rodents if the opportunity presents itself.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service, which tracks bald eagle nests, M15 and Harriet have 133 neighbors in a 25-mile radius. Their closest neighbor is one mile away.

Cameras

To preserve the natural habitat of the eagles, the camera is positioned six feet above the nest and is attached to a tree limb, using no screws or nails. The noiseless camera also uses night vision. This feature allows the camera to see at night without disturbing the eagles.

For the second season, Dick Pritchett Real Estate installed two cameras, hoping to enhance the viewing experience.

Harriet and Ozzie

Harriet and Ozzie received their names by the landowners and area birdwatchers who fell in love with the duo from a distance. Their names are based on an American sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet .

On March 17, 2015, Ozzie was found by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials and taken to the Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. (CROW) for evaluation after showing signs of disorientation and injury. After 97 days of care to recover from a broken left clavicle and a broken left coracoid bone, Ozzie was released back into the wild near the nest. On Saturday, September 19, Ozzie made an appearance at the nest. On September 27, after seen fighting with a male eagle in the area, Ozzie was found injured and again admitted back into CROW's care. On Tuesday, September 29, Ozzie died.

Nesting season history

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there are at least 9,789 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the contiguous United States. While the largest concentration of bald eagles is in Alaska, bald eagles can be found in every state except Hawaii with Florida, Wisconsin, Washington, Minnesota, Oregon, and Michigan all having a prevalent bald eagle population. The 2012-2013 (October 2012-May 2013) marked the first year the nest was streamed live to the world. Over 18 million viewers tuned in to watch the adult eagles, Harriet and Ozzie, raise their 2 eaglets (Hope and Honor) from birth to fledge.

• The 1st egg (E1/Hope) was laid on November 26 at 1:47 pm., hatched January 1, 2013, at 10:44 p.m. and fledged the nest on March 25 at 7:51 a.m. • The 2nd egg (E2/Honor) was laid on November 29 at 6:38 pm., hatched January 3, 2013, at 9:49.p.m. and fledged the nest on March 25 at 8:23 a.m. [3]

While cameras were not set up to watch the activity prior to 2012, the below activity has been documented about the past nesting seasons: [4]

2006-2007: Two eaglets fledged.

2007-2008: Fledglings not confirmed.

2008-2009: Two eaglets.

2009-2010: One eaglet.

2010-2011: One fledgling confirmed.

2011-2012: One fledgling confirmed

2012/2013 Season [5]

The 2012-2013 season marked the first year the nest was streamed live to the world. Over 16 million viewers tuned in to watch Adult Eagles Harriet and Ozzie raise their 2 eaglets from birth to fledge.

Hope/E1

Honor/E2

2013/2014 Season [6]

The 2013-2014 season brought many challenges to both the viewers and the eagles. Ozzie & Harriet returned to the nest in October and laid two eggs in November.

E3

E4

2014/2015 Season [7]

The 2014-2015 season marked the third year the nest was streamed live to the world, this time with two high definition cameras. Ozzie and Harriet returned to the nest in October and laid two eggs in November.

E5

E6

On March 17, 2015, Ozzie was found by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials and taken to the Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. (CROW) for evaluation after showing signs of disorientation and injury. After 97 days of care to recover from a broken left clavicle and a broken left coracoid bone, Ozzie was released back into the wild near the nest. On Saturday, September 19, Ozzie made an appearance at the nest. On September 27, after seen fighting with a male eagle in the area, Ozzie was found injured and again admitted back into CROW’s care. On Tuesday, September 29, Ozzie died.

2015/2016 Season [8]

The 2015-2016 season was a season of many firsts for Harriet & her new mate M15 (short for Male 2015). After Ozzie’s passing, Harriet spent a few weeks courting possible new mates but eventually bonded (or mated) with M15, laying two eggs.

E7

E8

On February 9, 2015, E8 had to be cut free from the nest after getting monofilament fishing line wrapped around its leg and foot, cutting off circulation and causing swelling. E8 was taken to the CROW clinic for treatment and released back to the nest 3 days later. The young eaglets continued to thrive and develop into juvenile eagles, fledging the nest on April 16 (E7) and May 3 (E8).

But, as the nest started to deteriorate, the eagles were attacked by an owl on May 7. E7 returned the next day, E8 did not and was feared dead. On May 13, nearly a week after the attack, volunteers found E8 alive in a nearby neighborhood with a broken leg. E8 was admitted to CROW for a second time for rehabilitation and recovery. After nearly 3 months at CROW, E8 was released back into the wild on August 18.

2016/2017 Season [9]

2016–2017 marked the second season Harriet and her new mate M15 mated as a pair. The season started with much anticipation if the eagles would return as the nest had been completely lost after the end of the last season. Luckily, Harriet & M returned to the area and got to work in September and the nest was in great shape for the laying of their two eggs in November.

Egg #1 (was not viable and did not hatch)

E9

Being the only eaglet in the nest, E9 thrived and grew on schedule, even setting a record for the earliest fledge when accidentally fledging on March 14 at 7:22 (age 73 days). Making a triumphant return to the nest after its accidental fledge, E9 learned all the fundamentals of survival from Harriet & M and was last seen in the nest area on May 2.

2017/2018 Season [10]

The 2017-2018 season was the third year as a mated pair for Harriet and M15. Both Eagles returned to the area in mid-August, working together to build up the nest before eggs were laid.

E10

E11

E10 and E11 hatched just 19 hours apart. With just hours and not days between hatching, the siblings had a close bond and developed at a similar pace. Never far apart; they spent hours learning to hunt, fight and survive in the wild.

2018/2019 Season [11]

The 2018-2019 Season was the fourth year as a mated pair for Harriet and M15 and the seventh year streaming this nest live. Both Eagles returned to the area in mid-August, working together to build up the nest before eggs were laid. Similar to the previous season, the siblings had a close bond and developed at a similar pace. Never far apart; they spent hours learning to hunt, fight and survive in the wild.

E12

E13

2019/2020 Season [12]

Although 2019-2020 was the fifth year as a mated pair for Harriet & M15, it was a season of many firsts for our dynamic duo. We saw death, resilience and new life along with many new milestone records hit by E15 & E16.

E14

Egg #2 (was not viable and did not hatch)

E15

E16

E14 died on January 15, 2020 (Cause of death: loss of blood caused by broken blood feather). The liver tissue of E14 was found to contain markedly increased levels of brodifacoum, a type of anticoagulant rodenticide or rat poison. Anticoagulant rodenticides, or rat poisons, prevent the blood from clotting normally and cause an animal that has ingested a toxic amount to bleed to death)

The second 2019/20 egg was laid November 16, 2019, at 18:30:43pm, but never hatched. It was removed from the nest on January 15 when CROW removed the remains of E14. CROW determined that the egg had been fertilized, but the embryo stopped developing.

2020/2021 Season [13]

On January 29, 2021 (approximately 1:30pm): E17 and E18 were removed from the nest by CROW when concern for the eaglet’s health was noticed (eyes swollen and crusty). E17 and E18 were re-nested by CROW on February 5, 2021, at 9:41:00am. Harriet returned to the nest at 2:38pm and M15 returned at 4:02pm. Food was brought to the nest February 6, 2021, at 8:41am. From CROW: MARCH 16, 2021: E17 & E18 EYE SWAB RESULTS: Swabs of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam eaglets infected eyes came back positive for Avian chlamydiosis. Avian chlamydiosis is a bacterial disease caused by Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci), which is carried commonly by birds. This finding is consistent with our cytology results which allowed our treatment to be effective. Thanks to the incredible work by our team of veterinarians, technicians and wildlife rehabilitators, the eaglets were returned to their nest healthy and have continued to grow and thrive!

E17

E18

2021/2022 Season

E19

E20

2022/2023 Season

On September 28, 2022, a category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Ian, [14] destroyed the nest. Harriet and M15 left the nest prior to the storm's arrival and upon returning, quickly rebuilt the nest. Two eggs were laid, Egg 1 on November 29, 2022, and Egg 2 on December 2, 2022. On February 2, 2023, the beloved eagle matriarch, Harriet, was seen heading ENE and had been vocalizing at intruders in the area. She did not return to the nest. [15]

E21

E22 (Harriet's last eaglet)

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Eyes on Our Eagles". www.theattic.space=12 Mays 2020.
  2. ↑ "American Bald Eagle Information".
  3. ↑ "Ustream".
  4. ↑ "Eagle Nest Locator".
  5. ↑ "History - 2012".
  6. ↑ "History - 2013".
  7. ↑ "History - 2014".
  8. ↑ "History - 2015".
  9. ↑ "History - 2015".
  10. ↑ "History - 2017".
  11. ↑ "History - 2018".
  12. ↑ "History - 2019".
  13. ↑ "History - 2019". www.dickpritchettrealestate.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  14. ↑ "Hurricane Ian's Path of Destruction". National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  15. ↑ "Hunt for Harriet: Search for famous Florida eagle continues, eaglets still OK". The News-Press. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
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