NEWS FROM THE NEST — happy, sad, hopeful

A few days after I wrote (in this post) about a visit to the nest, but a day before it was scheduled for publication, we drove past the pasture.  And even from the the car we were pretty sure we saw an eagle that did not have a white head perched on a branch above the nest.   We turned around and drove back.  

 

 Yes — we saw correctly.  There was E-6,  proud as could be several feet above the nest.   Posing beautifully.   Happy news.

 But the  next day (the same day that earlier post was published), there was a report of an injured eagle  found dazed on a railroad track a few miles from the tree.  That eagle was rescued by a passerby who called Fish and Wildlife.  The eagle, later positively identified as Ozzie, was taken to a rescue facility on Sanibel Island called CROW (Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife).  (Click the hypertext link to get to their website).  Veterinarians are treating him for a broken clavicle and they report that he is eating well and recovering (sad news but hopeful).

 

 

Meanwhile back at the nest, E-6 continues to progress.    The constant watchers reported on FaceBook Monday morning  that he had fledged  (he took a short flight away from the tree and came back for a fish breakfast).    Harriet of course continues to bring food.    Those watchers also report that sub-adult eagles have been flying near the nest with twigs and small pine branches,  apparently trying to intrude on the nest.   They must know there is only one adult there to defend the territory.   Harriet has chased them away successfully so far (but she still has to hunt and can't be near the tree all the time).  Bird watching  isn't always easy.  

There are so many questions.  

Without his father to urge him on, will E-6 fledge completely and fly off to succesfully begin his independent life?  Will Ozzie recover well?  Will he return to the nest?  Will Harriet be able to fend off the intruders?  Will she wait for Ozzie to return before flying off herself?

 (The adult pair has always left the nest for their summer 'residence' shortly after their eaglet(s) leave the nest permanently.  They are true snowbirds, with their time in Florida coinciding beautifully with the months we human snowbirds are here.)

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I had decided at the beginning of this season that I wouldn't monitor the eagle- cam this year; I was pretty much 'over it' (not completely over the eagles, just the web-cam). Everybody has learned a lot about eagle behavior from the cam, but  … 

… I was beginning to think that becoming so "familiar" with their behavior makes it too easy to for us to anthropomorphise  … to forget that these are wild birds who don't behave or "feel" like people do.

(Ozzie and Harriet from a previous — happier — year.)

 

But I have to admit that with the latest chapter, it is hard not to sneak a peek at the website every so often.  I hate to miss an episode of this drama.

I'd be seriously interested to hear what you think about bird-cams in general and would love it if you'd share your thoughts in a comment!

 

 

 I am sharing this post with Michelle's NATURE NOTES; with Stewart's WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY;  with Anni's  RATHER B' BIRDING, and  Eileen's SATURDAY CRITTERS.    Thank you to all the hosts.