Friday, December 25, 2015

Harriet The Indomitable Bald Eagle

This post is a tribute to the remarkable behavior of a Bald Eagle named Harriet.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 1) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The photographs presented are from a visit to the North Fort Myers Florida nest site on 6 October 2015 when there was an interesting saga occurring.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 2) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 3) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 4) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 5) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 6) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 7) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The players at the Pritchett Eagle Cam nest site at about this time included Harriet as well as her potentially decades long mate named Ozzie, another eagle with three names (Frequent Visitor, M15, and Pretty Boy), and an eagle named Slim including other potential suitors of Harriet.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 8) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 9) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 10) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 11) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 12) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 13) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

While now well into the 2015-2016 nesting season for Bald Eagles in Florida, Harriet is at the time of this writing incubating a pair of eggs (laid on 19 and 22 December) occasionally relieved by her mate M15 (male 2015).


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 14) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 15) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 16) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 17) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 18) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 19) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

During my observations Harriet was seen stretching and preening on a branch not too far from her nest, and then is in the next moment is seemingly frenzied with determination to continue her legacy for the species with nest building in mind.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 20) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 21) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

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Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 22) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.


Harriet the Bald Eagle above (image 23) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

Please also see Ozzie And Harriet: A Closure Pt. I

4 comments:

  1. Your wonderful photos of the Eagle take me back to our visit to Lovers Key, Bob, where we also enjoyed spectacular views of this majestic raptor! Also enjoyed the previous post with all the flight shots of the frigatebird!

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    Replies
    1. The great views are always appreciated, Hemant. The patience required for the action is sometimes very well rewarded.

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