Bald eagle nesting season has returned to Sanibel, and the island’s most famous feathered couple is back. The “DQ Duo” has made its home above the Dairy Queen once again.
Lala Costa, who recently moved next to the nest, shared her excitement about living near the eagles.
“So I Google, you know what it is to move to a house I have an eagle’s nest, and it says, you know, it’s good luck, prosperity, new beginning,” said Costa. “So I was just like, that is really what’s happening my life now.”
Costa moved in just three days ago and was surprised to find the eagles so close.
“When I moved here, I wasn’t aware that there was an eagle’s nest right at this property,” she said. “So it’s very like surprising and exciting at the same time. I mean, I never seen an eagle before.”
Despite initial apprehension about her small dog, Costa has embraced her new neighbors.
“At first, I was very scared, because I didn’t know they live here,” she said. “And then I was walking here, and I look, and I was like, Oh my God, what are those? And I was like, it can be an eagle. And I was like, wow. Like, this is really different.”
WINK News reporter Bridget Bruchalski highlighted the significance of the “DQ Nest” during this nesting season.
“It’s officially mating season for these two up here,” said Bruchalski. “And the nest they’re rebuilding is pretty famous… islanders call it the ‘DQ Nest.'”
The nest, a symbol of resilience, has been a fixture on the island for years.
“They’ve been nesting here for years,” said Samantha Hinsz, a shorebird technician with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. “People have been coming to see this nest for generations. They’re very popular with the public. We’re thankful that this nest is still here.”
Hinsz expressed concern about the nest’s survival after Hurricane Ian, but the eagles have continued to thrive.
“We were a little worried after Hurricane Ian,” she said. “And then the male arrived with a new female, and now that pair has been building this nest since Ian.”
Costa is thrilled to witness the eagles’ nesting activities firsthand.
“It’s mating season now, so excited to see the babies and I’m gonna be here for awhile so I’m gonna see them growing up and it’s just so special,” she said.
The “Dairy Queen Nest” has stood the test of time, surviving multiple hurricanes, including Ian and Milton. It remains a symbol of Sanibel’s strength and resilience.
Construction near the Dairy Queen requires careful monitoring due to federal and state laws protecting eagle nests. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation works with the City of Sanibel to oversee 10 active eagle nests across Sanibel and Captiva.
Nesting season typically starts in October, but eagles may return as early as August. Each pair’s timing varies, with some nesting earlier than others. Eagles mate for life and return to the same nest every year after migration.
The eagles on Sanibel and Captiva represent hope and resilience, mirroring the island’s recovery after hurricanes. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation currently monitors 10 active bald eagle nests in the area.