I took my first photograph of a Bald Eagle on 30 September 2007 at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
It has been my great fortune to observe Bald Eagles at numerous wildlife venues in the southwest Florida area. However, the mating pair at Lovers Key State Park remain my favorite birds of this species to study. One of the birds is banded allowing near assurance that the pair of birds I've seen at the Park are the same I've been photographing for five years. I have noted that the eagles successfully rear young with the diligent care of their nest. It was a special treat to observe the eagles this week with wildlife photographer
Frank Constantin visiting from Quebec. It appeared that there had already been eggs laid as the unbanded bird looked into the nest with a watchful eye on a few occasions.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Red-Shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.
The banded eagle didn't appear until about an hour after we arrived. Shortly thereafter the eagles swapped duties of tending to the nest. Additional species of bird seen, but not photographed, include Northern Mockingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Ground Dove, Mourning Dove, Magnificent Frigatebird, and an unidentified species. A Royal Tern was heard. The distance from the eagles was significantly far for photography and more so for the woodpecker with the smaller warbler borderline recognizable. The location where the banded eagle was handled perhaps as a hatchling remains unknown. A follow-up visit to the nest at week's end (photos to appear in next week's article) offered the banded bird bringing a small branch to the nest which reminded me that the banded bird is male (based on its behavior). It is hoped that at least a pair of eaglets will be observed again later in the season. When looking at the image of the Red-bellied Woodpecker immediately below, I am reminded of David Sibley's belief in birds developing an appearance with "eyes" at the back of their head to deter potential predators. My imagination is running wild.
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