SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EAGLE CAM
\nIt has become apparent M15’s and F23’s second egg is nonviable. On the positive side, that means E26 will get all the attention by both grown-ups in the nest, will not have to deal with sibling rivalry and will grow in a healthy stable nest.<\/p>\n
It looks like Southwest Florida\u2019s most famous eagle pair will be raising a brood of one this season after it has become apparent that their second egg is nonviable.<\/p>\n
M15\u2019s and F23\u2019s single eaglet, E26, hatched on schedule.<\/p>\n
For the second egg, day 40 came and went on Christmas Day without even a pip.<\/p>\n
This will be the third year running where both eggs either failed to hatch or hatched but the eaglet or eaglets did not reach the age of fledging.<\/p>\n
SWFL Eagle Cam founder Virginia Pritchett-McSpadden said it had become apparent there would only be one eaglet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve looked at the different factors thinking the egg would be unviable. We\u2019ll see what plays out in the next couple days,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
That means E26 will get all the attention by both parents in the nest, will not have to deal with sibling rivalry and will grow in a healthy, stable nest, Pritchett-McSpadden said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have mixed emotions because we were expecting that second eaglet. Mother Nature must have had something else in store,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
It is unknown what happened to the second egg. There is no way to tell from the outside if it was just infertile or if something happened during incubation. That could be determined only by examining it, which has not been done since bald eagles are endangered.<\/p>\n
Pritchett-McSpadden said the eagles could do a number of things.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see them possibly consume the egg for protein or roll the egg out or put it in the bole, the soft area in the middle or cover it up with nesting material and disintegrate in the nest,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Last year, two eaglets died within days of each other after it was believed they contracted the avian flu along with their parents.<\/p>\n
Two seasons ago, the first for M15 and F23, one egg broke days before it was scheduled to hatch and the eaglet did not survive. The other eaglet was able to fledge, the only eaglet with this couple to have done so.<\/p>\n
E26 will continue to grow steadily, eventually able to regulate its own temperatures, will lose its down coating and growing feathers, feed itself, and reach the size of its parents within six weeks. After branching and exercising its wings for a couple weeks, it is expected to fledge from the nest sometime in March.<\/p>\n
Pritchett-McSpadden called it the \u201c30-30-30,\u201d the time between the hatch and the fledge.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the next 30 days we\u2019ll see huge growth in height and weight. The next 30 days we\u2019ll see them get their feathers and physically change, and the 30 days after that they\u2019ll spread their wings and fly,\u201d she said last year. \u201cIt\u2019s the most exciting time and there\u2019s a lot of action in the nest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fans can watch everything in the nest on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, which started its 13th season in October as the famous eagles returned home early to work on their nest before mating.<\/p>\n
Viewers can catch all the action using four cameras that stream the bald eagles live directly to the site.<\/p>\n
Camera 1 is positioned seven feet above the nest and is equipped with night vision. Camera 2 is located at nest level capturing the side view.<\/p>\n
Camera 3 is in the nest tree and the first ever live camera in history to capture a 360-degree look into a bald eagle\u2019s daily activity. It allows viewers to click and drag to any viewing area for a fully immersive experience. Camera 4 is installed closer to the pond to capture activity happening around the pasture and in the pond area.<\/p>\n
To watch, visit https:\/\/dickpritchettrealestate.com\/southwest-florida-eagle-cam\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n