We have a hatch!
What a year 2023 was for the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam.
It started with the disappearance of Harriet and the remarkable raising of the eaglets by M15 and ended with the first clutch of eggs from his new mate, F23 in the nest off Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers.
Unfortunately, the first clutch produced by the cam’s new international stars will result in only one eaglet being raised.
M15 and F23 saw the hatching of eaglet E23 early Sunday morning around 7 a.m. However, the second egg, which was badly damaged, will likely not hatch, cam organizers said.
Ginnie Pritchett-McSpadden, co-founder of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, said that since this was the first clutch by the pair, the result isn’t that surprising.
“We assumed this was the first attempt for M23 laying and incubating. She was a rookie all-around so our expectations were low. We didn’t know what to expect,” Pritchett-McSpadden said. “She incubated the eggs and feels more comfortable being the matriarch.”
The pip from the first egg, created by the eaglet with the “egg tooth” on its beak, was spotted Friday night at 8:54 p.m. However, before that there was a large crack spotted in the second egg.
Many at first thought it was just a different pip from all the others, and the chick was seen and heard from inside.
Over the course of the next 24 hours, the condition of the egg worsened, with a spot of blood visible. By Sunday morning, the egg was cracked and crumbled.
“That second egg doesn’t seem to be developing or hatching any further. We have to assume that egg is no longer viable,” Pritchett-McSpadden said.
The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam was evaluating what exactly happened to the second egg. It is the first time this has happened on the live 24/7 multi-camera eagle cam founded by the Pritchett McSpadden in 2012. While there have been eggs that were viable (it has happened twice), never has an egg cracked in the nest in this manner.
“We’ll be speaking with wildlife experts. We’re watching and waiting to see what unfolds like everyone else,” Pritchett-McSpadden said. “This isn’t the first time we’ve had an egg not hatch. It’s not that uncommon.”
People on social media were hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. As it was just Day 34 for the second egg, the eaglet inside would have been premature.
M23 laid her first egg Friday, Nov. 24, at around 5:47 p.m., with the second egg coming Monday, Nov. 27, at around 1:45 p.m., with the first view at 2:28 p.m.
All seemed normal for the new pair, with the first egg beginning the hatching process pretty much on schedule.
As always, the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam provided viewers with all the action in the nest. This is the 12th season the eagle cam will show the goings on in and around the nest at the Pritchett Farm.
Pritchett-McSpadden said that it’s better that the eagles have one hatchling to celebrate than to mourn the other egg that didn’t make it.
“It’s big because it’s the first attempt ever for this couple. To successfully hatch one egg, let alone any, is a huge story,” Pritchett-McSpadden said. “Four months ago we didn’t think we would be looking at any eggs. It’s an amazing blessing to have one to watch and hopefully grow.”
The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam may be viewed at dickpritchettrealestate.com .