E8 eaglet returned to nest
It was certainly a harrowing week for the little eaglet, but E8 finally returned to the nest on Pritchett Farm on Friday, and the parents and fans of the eagles couldn’t be happier.
E8, half of a brood of two, was placed back in the nest by CROW officials, and while there were questions about whether the 2-week-old baby would be accepted back into the nest, those were allayed quickly.
Andrew Pritchett, who runs the eagle cam, said he was alerted by CROW on Thursday that E8 was ready to go home.
“We were able to arrange to have a bucket truck from LCEC show up around 1 p.m. At the same time, Heather Barron (from CROW) arrived with E8 and we were able to release them back into the nest,” Pritchett said.
The eaglet’s mother, Harriet, was in the nest off Bayshore Road at the time and, after some vocals and circling, was able to return and greet E8. The moment was captured by an outside photographer who took video, with her providing play by play.
Pritchett said he and those who follow the family had some fear that the parents wouldn’t take the eaglet back, as happens with some species. Those fears were washed away quickly.
“We’ve never witnessed anything like this. We talked to wildlife officials and they said in the times they’ve seen them, it’s never been an issue,” Pritchett said. “That was good news to hear.”
The process to have something like this done can be very time consuming and complicated, with many moving parts, especially when it involves a protected species, Pritchett said.
“The biggest chess piece is when to determine when intervention is necessary. Once that happens, it’s a matter of getting everyone together and determining what to do and how to do it,” Pritchett said.
The Pritchett Eagle Cam was shut off as the return took place. It was also shut off during Tuesday’s rescue. Still, Pritchett said, at peak time there were about 3,500 people viewing and chatting.
The most drama that occurred Friday had nothing to do with E8, but by two juvenile eagles that appeared in the nest tree. Mom and dad quickly sent them on their way.
E8 was rescued from its nest Tuesday after it presumably got caught in some fishing line that was somewhere in the nest.
CROW, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, LCEC and a contractor came together, secured a bucket truck and rescued E8 from the entanglement.
The bird spent three days at the CROW facilities, where it was fed, had its injured foot treated and got over a case of dehydration.
The eaglet was fed by people wearing masks so as to not leave an imprint that humans as a food source.
With the baby back in the nest, everyone is happy for the happy ending.
“Everything seems to be back to normal and it’s great to see him survive,” Pritchett said.
The Souhtwest Florida Eagle Cam may be viewed at dickpritchettrealestate.com/eagle-feed.html