Harriet lays two eggs
After the area was struck by one of the worst hurricanes to ever hit Southwest Florida, many people wondered whether the area’s most famous birds would be able to rebuild their nest and have it ready in time for nesting season.
That question was answered last week when Harriet laid her first egg on Tuesday, Nov. 29, shortly after sunset at 6:09 p.m. The second egg was laid on Friday, Dec. 2, at 8:09 p.m.
Harriet has traditionally laid her eggs in late afternoon or early evening, so that stayed pretty much the course. The eggs also came a little bit later than usual, as they are usually laid before Thanksgiving.
According to the YouTube video that showed the first egg being laid, you can see the egg briefly three times before Harriet began incubation. M15 was on the attic during her labor and delivery and had not seen the egg until later.
Once he saw it, he started taking turns with Harriet incubating and rolling the egg.
When Harriet and M15 came home after Hurricane Ian and saw they no longer had a nest, they went right to work rebuilding it in the same location it has been for years. In about two weeks, the nest had been rebuilt and the eagles went about the business of mating as they have done since 2015, after Harriet’s previous partner, Ozzie, died.
The eagles will continue to incubate and rotate the eggs every two hours, which is important because it helps distribute warmth and nutrients evenly. The yolk stays in the middle of the egg and doesn’t stick to the inner membranes. This helps the developing chick inside the egg grow healthy and balanced.
The eggs will incubate for about 35 days, which means the hatchings should come just after the new year.
You can watch all the happenings in the nest on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, which is fully operational following the storm.
For more on the eagles, dickpritchettrealestate.com.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com