Eagle's Nest Harriet and M15 - webcam

23.3. E18 watched E17 eat fish for a long time until he couldn't stand it at 13:53:10 and stole it from him 🙂

16.3. 2021 
CROW UPDATE - E17 AND E18 EYE BLADE RESULTS
 
Smears from infected eagle eyes Southwest Florida Eagle Cam
were positive for chlamydiosis in birds. Avian chlamydiosis is a bacterial disease caused by chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) that is commonly transmitted by birds. This finding is consistent with the results of our cytology, which enabled effective treatment. Thanks to the incredible work of our team of veterinarians, technicians and wildlife rehabilitators, the eagles have been returned to their nest health and are still growing and thriving!
More on AC: https://www.northeastwildlife.org/disease/avian-chlamydiosis

https://www.facebook.com/CROWClinic/photos/pcb.3739255872796042/3739238782797751/

15 – .3. - 15:43 E18 perches on rails

13.2. - 23:22:30 The eagle attacked Harriet again. which perched on a branch above the nest. At that time E17 was standing on the nest, he was lucky that the eagle owl did not choose his target. Harrietka is fine.

11.3. - 11:00 Beautiful close-ups of eagles. Can you still recognize them after washing? E17 has completely black feathers and the younger eagle E18 has white tips on the tail feathers. This is probably the only character by which they can still be identified.

8.3. - 14:58 camera 3 by the pond is warming up the cormorant

6.3. - 18:10 Beautiful close-up shots of Harrietta, the poor man is soaked, so are the eagles, fortunately he can already regulate the temperature.

27.2. 23:33:42 The owl knocked Harrietta out of the Camera 2 branch

25.2. Questions and answers from Southwest Florida Eagle Cam - Part 2
Essec09 (administrator) answered the questions:

Are there updated or current numbers from Florida Fish and Game about the approximate number of bald eagles and / or nests in the Florida Florida area?
 
No information on the Florida bald eagle population has been updated from the FWC. It still shows an estimated 1 nesting pairs. The FWC states that at this time eagles maintain their own populations. I do not believe that there are any organized numbers of bald eagles in Florida at the moment.
 
Do adults ever wear skunks?  
 
Eagles and other predators are known to eat skunks. The skunk is not so often seen in nests; unlike the Virginia Osprey, which are known to eat skunks regularly.
 
Do mature female bald eagles stop laying eggs at a certain age?  
 
As long as the adult female is healthy and food is available, the eagle can continue to lay eggs. Eagles in their 30s have been observed laying eggs. However, as they get older, they may skip seasons or lay infertile eggs in their clutches.
 
Is it true that most eagles stay many miles from their nest as they mature? 
 
From information about ringing and transmitters, biologists have learned that pups usually migrate to "popular" feeders once they leave their homeland. They usually do not stay close to their home territory unless their parents provide them with food.
For the first 3-5 years, juvenile eagles and adults will travel to good hunting areas - first more eagles will follow and finally visit the best places to look for food. It has been found that most young eagles return to a distance of 40-80 km from their homeland when they are ready to find a partner.
Young eagles from Florida usually migrate north to the Chesapeake Bay area and even as far north as Nova Scotia.
 
 
Will adults ever be rewarded?
 
Not in the sense you mean. But they "beak" or "kiss" each other.
Here they touch the beaks and it is part of the mating process.

Here is a good photo of Harriet and M15 beaking:  

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137965877@N06/32361057841/
 
Do eagles have any control over their prey, or do their bodies determine which feathers will fall out and be replaced?
 
No, eagles have no control over their moth. Hatching occurs in response to a mixture of hormonal changes caused by seasonal changes. Adults usually begin to melt during the breeding season, which ends sometime in the fall.
They flutter symmetrically and lose equal amounts of feathers on each side of the body at about the same time to maintain flight ability.
 
Do you think that in the season when M brought a plush toy, he knew it was a toy and gave it to his children?
 
It was Harriet who brought "Stuffy" to the nest last year. I think she's more likely she thought it was prey. This happens quite a bit in nests, where adults bring stuffed animals to the nest.
 
And I wonder what happened to Stuffy the stuffed animal?
 
We happen to know what happened to "Stuffy". During one of the strong winds, the toy for the dog was thrown over the nest. It hung a little to the side before finally falling to the ground.
Andy Pritchett searched for the "Stuffy" field after mowing, found four pieces and gave them to the Wskrsnwings (a member of our group) for safe storage. It is sealed and secure. "Stuffy" lives in our memories.
 
Was Harriet born to be owned by Pritchett?
 
No, as far as we know, Harriet didn't lie on Pritchett's estate. Until 2006, there was no nest on the property - built by Harriet and her friend Ozzie.
 Harriet was first noticed by her first friend Ozzie as they nested across the street.
Ozzie and Harriet were named when they arrived at the Pritchett estate in 2006. We're not sure if Harriet and Ozzie were the only couple to nest across the street. Most likely, more pairs have nested in this nest over the years.

Are there any leucistic eagles?
 
Yes, leucist eagles were observed. Leuism affects only bird feathers, while albinism is evident in feathers elsewhere. This genetic inheritance prevents the transfer and deposition of the pigment - melanin in the bird's feathers.
For example, albino animals almost always have red eyes, as well as pale pink or red skin and legs. Like albinism, leucism results in the depletion of all colors from creation. Surprisingly, leucism does not affect shades of yellow. Leucistic birds usually have normally colored eyes, skin, and feet; the state of leucism only affects feathers.
 A completely leucistic bald eagle would have pure white feathers. An eagle with partial leucism can be described as mottled and has white spots.
 
Here is a photo of a Leucistian bald eagle

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/leucistic-bald-eagle-loree-johnson.html

 
Will E start swimming in the pond when they are young? And how do they bathe at all? Or don't they bathe at all?

The only shower the eagle kids will have right now is rain showers. Shortly after the eagle chicks leave their nests, they begin to explore the immediate surroundings and eventually head for the pond. It may take several trips to the pond before they decide to enter the water; but in the end they try it and take a nice bath.
Adults use the pond (and other ponds / lakes in their territory) for swimming. Eagles can see adults swimming in pastures from their vantage point in the nest. Right now, eagles are imprinting their homeland - and learning by observing adults.
 
What is the difference in life expectancy between eagles in captivity and in the wild? CDawg: What is the typical life span of an eagle?
 
In the wild, the bald eagle can live up to thirty years or longer. However, the average life expectancy in the wild is 20-30 years.
The oldest known wild bald eagle was killed by a car on the road in western New York on June 2, 2015 at the age of 38, according to New York government officials. The eagle was a graduate of a conservation program that brought the eagles back from near extinction in New York City. The 38-year-old bald eagle broke the previous longevity record of this species by five years.
Eagles that cannot be released into the wild tend to live longer because they are protected from the dangers of climatic extremes, predation and do not have to worry about where their next food comes from. An eagle in captivity in West Stephentown, New York has lived to be at least 48 years old!
 
Before going to bed at night, I check on our Eagle family. Do parents and Es sleep most of the night like us?  
 
Eagles are usually vigilant, so they never sleep too deep. They are usually napping. When you see them tuck your head in your wing - that's probably the deepest sleep you can see.
 Wild birds poke their heads when they want to rest. Although they seem to have tucked their heads under their wings as they sleep - their heads are actually under a tuft of feathers that are draped over each shoulder on their backs. It lies in their neck muscles and helps with heat protection.
Usually birds are 'half asleep' - and birds choose which half is napping.
Birds that are literally half asleep - with one warning of the cerebral hemisphere and the other with delay - control which side of the brain remains awake. The cerebral hemispheres alternately sink into a phase of sleep characterized by slow brain waves. The eye controlled by the dormant hemisphere closes, while the eye of the awake hemisphere remains open and alert. This has only been found in birds and some aquatic mammals, such as dolphins, whales, seals and manatees.
 
I know that H&M never sleeps "completely", my question is, do young eagles sleep "fully"?
 
Young eagles fall into a heavier sleep. During the first 30 days or so, eagles gain about half their body weight - most of their energy goes into growth. The cultivation is exhausting and you will see the eagle chicks sleeping in the nest day and night. They have the added reassurance that their parents will protect them.
 
I see Harriet sleeping, but I've never seen an M15 sleep - does he never sleep?  
 
Yes, the M15 is also asleep. We don't see him resting too often, because he usually sits on the branches of a nest tree or in other popular nesting places around the pasture. Eagles are wary of any danger, especially when raising their young. So when they're asleep, they're really just napping. It doesn't take much to wake them up.
 
Is the eagle just a bird where the female is bigger than the male?

No, there are many bird species where the female is larger than the male - for example, birds of prey and coastal birds. When a female of a species is larger than a male, this is known as "reverse sexual dimorphism." This is true for most predators, including the bald eagle. For most species, the opposite is true. When males are larger, this is known as “sexual dimorphism. Reverse sexual dimorphism occurs in several groups of birds, including hawks, vultures, falcons, owls and eagles. There are other groups of birds where reverse sexual dimorphism occurs, but we will limit the list to predators.
There are several ideas as to why a female is larger than a male. Biologists and scientists believe that one possible reason may be that the female must accumulate supplies in order to produce eggs. In many species of birds, females do not usually feed for a significant period of time by incubating eggs and reproducing their young - during which time they avoid the risk of hunting. They rely mainly on a small male who will feed the whole family.
This is not the case with eagles - because both adults share nesting responsibilities and provide food. But it could explain why many species evolved in this way.
More information from Stanford.edu: “One explanation for the larger size of females suggests that it protects them from aggressive men who are well equipped with sharp claws and beaks and killer instincts to go with them. "According to this theory, during evolutionary time, females prefer to mate with smaller and safer males - in fact, the female may be able to control the male so that couples can properly mate and the male to remain in his key role as a food provider for both females and young.
 "Such a system would require sexual selection for smaller sizes in males. Birded predators are expected to show aggression the fastest and pose the greatest threat to their comrades, with the largest differences in size. "
 
At what age do eagles usually feather?  

It usually takes 10-13 weeks for feathers. Once the young eagles have escaped (to obtain the feathers needed to fly), they remain around the nest for four or six weeks, performing short flights while their primary feathers have completed their growth and their muscles have strengthened. It takes an average of 80 days from hatching to leaving the nest. The average plumage data for eagles at SWFEC is 83 days. One of Harriet's (2014) previous offspring, E4, did not fly until day 100. Another factor may be the "accident effect". The eagle could sometimes cross the side of the nest or mistakenly step on a branch and eventually accidentally fell from the nest or nesting tree. It happened at SWFEC in 2017, when E9 was perched on a branch and did not get back into the nest. E9 accidentally feathered at 73 days.

When will E have their black and white feathers? When will E reach full adulthood?

It takes the Eagles a while to reach their white head and tail signature. Bald eagles are five years old when they finally look like we expect them to be and are considered mature. However, it is a gradual change during the first five years of their lives.
The change in color of their feathers is caused by hormonal changes as the bird ages and is ready to breed. The bald eagle is intertwined with several transitional feathers before reaching the white characteristic of an adult's head and tail. While five years is considered mature, this does not mean that eagles will not mate and raise young until they reach this age. Many recorded couples have a partner who is four years old.

The question is, both eagles are so close in age, why is one much more advanced when it comes to dark feathers. Shouldn't they have very similar growth? Why is one E feather darker than the other?

That is a good question. As you can see, E17 initially received more food than what E18 received. The growth of feathers depends on proper nutrition. Lack of nutrition means that feathers also do not develop well during this time. Now that E18 is eating the same amount of nutrition from food, its feathers will now develop faster.
 
 
 
 

25.2. Interestingly! Questions and answers from Southwest Florida Eagle Cam - Part 1
Essec09 (administrator) answered the questions:

I noticed how the zoomies scan Harriet, especially her claws, where I think I see two bloodstains. I'm not an alarmist, I'm just asking if they're looking for possible injuries?
 
 Why are all eagle claws scratched?
 
I think you mean Harriet's feet / toes? A while ago, it turned out that Harriet was in physical conflict with another eagle and could suffer several injuries to her feet. They still heal and look much better.
This is quite typical of predators. He injures not only his feet / soles / toes during conflicts, but also during everyday activities - hunting live prey (which he defends) and grabbing sticks from trees to build a nest.
 
Does it seem that H&M has to leave the nesting area and / or fly on patrol more than in the past? Do you think that there is an influx of new eagles on their territory more than in the past?
 
This season, adults seem to spend more time warning others about their nesting locations, but I'm not sure if it's really more than in some past seasons. However, it would make sense because the population in Florida has reached maintenance levels. There are a number of teenagers and adults who are "floats". This is a word used for eagles without a partner or territory.
 
What prevents bones from piercing the crop? (Proventriculus is part of the digestive system of birds.) A crop (or proventriculus) is a sac-shaped area located in the bird's esophagus. It is a strong muscle wall and expands. Most of the time, the crop is able to expand to fit any bone that could be consumed. However, the crop can be pierced by bones.
 
The question is, is it known whether female eagles mature more slowly than males? I thought it was mentioned somewhere, and now I started to think that E18 is female because their feathers come more slowly.
 
 Good question. Here is some information from the Center for Conservation Biology: Like all birds, eagles show an asymptotic growth pattern, meaning they start slowly, have a fast growth phase, followed by growth retardation to final size. Adult males are smaller than females, so they reach their final size at a younger age.
 The older the chick, the faster it gains weight until the 8th or 9th week, after which the weight gain slows down again. In 80 days, the pups change from approximately 70 grams to 4,5 -5,5 Kg. depending on whether it is male or female. During the period of rapid growth, the chickens gain 140-150 grams per day. T90 (time required to reach 90% of final weight) is reached between the ages of 36 and 42 days, depending on gender.
 
Did you find out what disease affected E? If so, what are the effects and what is the disease called? Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, Inc. (CROW) shares the fact that it was a bacterial infection. They did not share the specific type of bacterial infection that eagle chicks had. The eagles had scaly closed eyes from the discharge.
 
 
Zoom on the M15 in the attic (close up of feathers) it looked like a twig coming out of the feathers in the chest area, the camera seemed to zoom in. Is it an injury or something sticky? Thank you for everything the Pritchetts do and the great moderators who inform us and enjoy this miracle of nature.
 
 I think I remember what you saw. It wasn't an injury - just some food that stuck to the feathers in the chest area. Many times, when you see the camera approaching and slowly moving over the eagles, you just notice various things - such as legs, feather growth, eyes and beak. There are times when it would be possible to record something that could cause concern, but usually it is only the cameraman who gives everyone a good detail.
 
What is the approximate weight of eagles at this time?
 
The approximate weight of eagles less than five weeks old is between 2,6 - 3,1 Kg. These scales come from ringing records of eagles that were ringed at the age of 4-5 weeks.  
 
About how many times a day is E fed at this age?
 
It really depends on what the adults find and bring back to the nest. There are usually at least four feedings a day at this age, because eagles eat more with each feed and store food in their crop (Proventriculus). But we can see some days when they are fed more often - and other days when they can have only one feeding (or none if the hunting is difficult).
 
 
How many weeks do eagles have when they vomit? Pellets are cast as soon as eagles consume indigestible parts of prey - such as furs and feathers.
 
When the eagle chicks first hatched, the adults carefully fed them selected pieces of meat that the eagles were able to digest completely. As adults begin to offer food that includes furs and feathers, eagles expel indigestible parts of the prey in the pellet. This usually happens when they are a few weeks old.  
 
 Will these eagles be ringed and find out their sex when they are a little older?
 
No, the eagles on SWFEC will not be ringed - unless they get into trouble and end up in an animal hospital. If the eagle is old enough, the hospital can have the bird circled with a certified ring before the bird is released. (as E8)
 
Because eagles will not be banded, biologists will not make measurements to determine sex (which is not always accurate). Only by size can we estimate gender.  
 
How old are M and H?

Harriet and M15 are not ringed, so there is no way to find out their exact age. Based on local viewers who have watched a couple nesting over the years, Harriet is at least 21 years old. She has been seen in this nest since 2006.
We reach this age by combining how many years Harriet has been seen in the nesting area and adding five years - which is when the eagle matures and is ready to marry and start reproducing. Age M15 is easier to guess. The M15 is approximately 11 years old. When he first arrived at the SWFL's nest in 2015, he still had some darker feathers in white feathers and his eyes are still a little darker. These are the symptoms of a newly mature bald eagle (approximate age 5 years).

I wonder what this tree is like, in which there is a nest. Is it in bad shape? Is there another large tree on the same pasture where H&M can build another nest?
 
Every year, camera owners check the tree, or when they install cameras, they check the status of the tree. Although there are some problems with the nest tree, such as a crack in a loft branch, the overall health of the tree seems to be good.
 The camera is securely attached to the trunk of the Slash pine tree using a specially designed mounting harness that does not use screws or nails. The tree is uninjured during this process. In fact, there are no trees in the pasture that are suitable for building a nest the size of an eagle. Harriet and M15 started a new nest on a tree in a western pasture at the beginning of the season. But after working on it for several months, they decided to return to their original nest.
There are other trees on their territory that eagles might consider suitable for the second nest
 
Does E start closer to each other? They seem to be more together.
 
If you mean emotionally closer, I don't think it builds on lasting friendships. It's more about warmth and location on the nest than about being close to their siblings.
 
 Due to the heat and without shade, do eagles don't need water? Do they drink water?  
 
At this time, the eagles receive all the necessary fluids from the food they consume. In particular, fish contain a lot of fluid. Once feathered, you will see them go to the pond to drink water, as adults do.
Eagles also get most of their water from the food they consume. They also "create" water through their metabolism - called metabolic water and is a by-product of digestion. For every gram of fat metabolized, the bird receives 0,04 ounces (1,1 grams) of water as well as energy. Adults will drink water in the ponds. You may have seen them on camera 3 drinking water.
 
One eagle is darker than the other, which is which. Will it also be darker when he is older? Can you tell me which eagle is which? One has more black on the back than the other, but I'm not sure who's who.
 
At this point, you can easily tell the difference between the two eagles. It used to be a real challenge to split them because they hatched so close. Feather growth in E17 is more advanced than in E18.
The formation of juvenile feathers (contour and flight feathers) usually begins on or before day 27. These dark feathers are arranged in tracts and come out in order starting with the head (capital) and back (back) tracts. The abdominal (ventral) tract is the last group of feathers to appear. Flight feathers (including wing and tail) continue to grow during the development period and reach their maximum lengths at the time of plumage.
Good nutrition is necessary for the growth of feathers. Due to the fact that E17 managed to get the lion's share of the offered food, the growth of feathers is more advanced than the growth of feathers of E18. In the coming days, we should see the E18 feathers emerging rapidly.
As for the color of the eagle's plumage - the differences in the color of their plumage may vary. Some eagles have darker brown feathers than others. But both will be dark brown. They may also have mixed lighter feathers with dark feathers.
 
Why do the eagle's parents seem so much cleaner this year? It seems that in recent years, there has always been partial food everywhere? He also heard about an eagle in TN laying three eggs. What is the average number of eggs that females lay?
Harriet and M15 regularly remove nestovers from the nest. Nothing goes to waste and keeping the nest free of nestovers helps when it comes to unexpected dinners when guests show up. We are not sure what determines eagle cleaning. There are times when the nest is full of prey, other times the pantry seems empty.
 
The average number of eggs usually laid is two, although 3 are not uncommon. There are several nests where four eggs have been observed, but they are very rare. I think there are several nests in Tennessee that have females that lay 3 eggs each breeding season. The number of eggs laid is usually due to the availability of food - although many nests with two eggs seem to have sufficient food sources.
 
 
 

25.2. - 07:05 M brought a hare, both eagles ate. 08:13:47 M with another hare.

23.2. - 16:35 Camera 3 M 15 is bought 🙂

23.2. From two o'clock at night, Éčka spends the night alone in the nest. Both parents are on a branch above the nest and guarding the eagles. For breakfast, there is an opossum nest in the evening.

22.2. - 9:19:37 M brought a hare. Both eagles were basting, E17 moved to the rails, so E18 enjoyed the feeding, he has a nice ruffled call.

20.2. - 10:42 Both eagles ate hares, they have pretty full cries. E18 has eaten to the breaking point, he already knows how to stand for food so that his brother can give him peace. It is very agile, it quickly takes food from its beak compared to the E17, which has its food pushed directly under its beak.

19.2. It's raining a lot in Fort Myers today, it's cloudy, it looks like it's going to rain. 15:03 M brought a squirrel. 16:12 And it's already raining