Eagle cam eaglets now on the fly
Fish, squirrels, carrion and even a leg bone from a deer — the latest brood of Southwest Florida’s most famous eagle pair, Harriet and M15, are flying high and feasting right, thanks to mom and pop.
E19 and E20, which fledged from their nest at the Pritchett Farm along Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers in March, are now doing what juvenile eagles do — cruising the pasture, splashing in the pond and still relying on their parents to provide most of their food, which they then squabble over.
“They survive mostly during their first year by eating carrion and stealing from other eagles or following vultures for food,” the Southwest Florida Eagle cam’s administrator said in response to a deer leg bone being brought to the nest by M15 Wednesday.
E19 fledged from the nest on March 20 at 11:57 a.m., while E20 fledged on March 22 at 3:46 p.m.
Both were in the nest roughly 12 weeks before their first flight, which is about normal.
Andrew Pritchett, who runs the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, which allows viewers to experience the lives of the parents and eaglets, said it’s exciting to watch the eaglets learn the surroundings and their ability to fly and land.
It’s also a surprise that the whole season was so uneventful.
“This whole season has been very routine. It’s comforting to see and it’s great to see the eaglets take the next step in their progression,” Pritchett said. “Coming in and out of the office every day, it’s always exciting to see where the eaglets will be that day.”
The Eagle Cam, now in its 11th season with more than 172 million views, has caught the two fledging, flying around the pasture, perch on the driveway fence and admiring their kingdom, bathing in the pond and, since sibling rivalry never ends, fight.
The eaglets will hang around the nest for a little while longer as they perfect the art of flying and learn to hunt for their own food (since mom and dad will soon stop feeding them) before going off on their own.
“It’s really up to them when they feel comfortable enough to leave the area. Then they go wherever,” Pritchett said.
Harriet and M15 will wait until the eaglets leave before they leave for the summer, returning in August or September to rebuild the nest and get ready for another mating season in October.
Until then, everyone is welcome to take pictures of the family from the church side of the fence so the eaglets can roam the area without human interference, Pritchett said.
You can watch the eagles on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam at www.swfleaglecam.com
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com