2013 Generation Of Bald Eagles

A visit to the eagle's nest was made most recently, as of this writing, on 30 December 2012 with images from that trip represented in this article.

The Osprey above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

It was a treat to observe the eagles with Frank Constantin visiting from Quebec, Canada, and Melissa Groo visiting from Ithaca, New York. Both have the highest regard for discretion of the nest location and well-being of the eagles. I initially thought that the eagles might mate at sunset as they showed typical behavior. After some time, however, the sound of eaglets was heard.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

I speculate that the eaglets were mere days old while the female eagle remained perched on the side of the nest. The male was almost always present on a not too distant tree watching over his family. The previous visit to the nest was made on 20 November when a failed mating attempt was observed. The male eagle was observed to bring a small branch to the nest. The most intriguing action involved an Osprey that approached the nest closely.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

Although I am not positive of this, I believe that the male eagle stole a catfish from the talons of the Osprey and brought it to the nest. The action happened extremely quickly and it is possible that the Osprey attempted to take the fish from the eagle. There was unquestionable contact between the two species. An eagle's nest in North Fort Myers has been observed by thousands with an Eagle Cam sponsored by a local business. The young eagles appear to have been very well fed.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2012.

Future Generation Of Bald Eagles

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.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker 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 banded Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.

The banded Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.

The banded Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.

The banded 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 Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in November 2012.

Fort Myers Area Birds Of Prey: Early 2011

This week's blog is again not the regular update I wish to convey with "current events" typically the norm. Images seen below are a revisit of observations made in the first few months of 2011. It will hopefully be a long while before I give a mid 2011 report. In any event, I hope you find interest here. Press on an image below for a slideshow that offers a better appreciation of the wildlife seen.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in January 2011.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in January 2011.


The Osprey above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in January 2011.


The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in January 2011.


The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in January 2011.


The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.


The Bald Eagle with Osprey above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.


The Northern Harrier juvenile above was photographed at STA5 in February 2011.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Devil's Garden in February 2011.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Devil's Garden in February 2011.


The Swallow-tailed Kite with jumbo jet making a landing approach above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2011.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at STA5 in March 2011.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at STA5 in March 2011.