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M15 is honored on this special Father’s Day. After the tragic loss of his beloved mate Harriet, he soldiered on as a solo Eagle Dad to raise their eaglets to fledge and go on to live their best Eagle lives. M15 accomplished this unmeasurable feat with courage and bravery. M15’s overwhelming instincts to protect and preserve his families through the years have come full circle. The desire to carry on his legacy found M15 in the company of a new Female Eagle, eventually winning her over. She became his mate,… Read More »swfec nest notes extra: father’s day honors for m15

M15 successfully raised E21 and E22 after losing his beloved mate and Eagle Mom, Harriet. M15 took time to renew and refresh and found a constant Female companion. Their courtship gave promise that M15 would have a mate. He showered her with attention and food gifts. She took time to warm up to this new arrangement. The Female was stepping into a role that required the highest standards. She became F23 and Momma to a new generation. Although one egg sorrowfully did not hatch, E23 became a joyous and uplifting presence… Read More »swfec Nest Notes extra: mother’s day past and present

M15 and F23 began their story over the late summer months of 2023 and engaged in building a bond. They became Dad and Momma, raising E23 to become a remarkable Juvenile Eagle. E23 watched, learned, and progressed through all the milestones and lessons. E23 has mastered many of the skills needed to succeed in Eagle Life. M15 and F23 brought food to the nest, and the familiar vocal of E23 racing to the nest to claim the prey was nowhere to be heard. E23’s daily adventures have been farther from… Read More »SWFEC Nest Notes: e23 may be starting a new chapter

M15 and F23 were home more throughout the last week. They each brought prey to the nest. Dad waited for E23 to arrive and claim the food. Momma was not as patient and proceeded to eat her catch, a reminder to E23 to be on the lookout for an easy meal. Mastering hunting will be trial and error for the first few years. E23 practiced fishing in the pond with good technique. E23 has impressive flying skills, dodging the smaller chasing birds. E23 appears to float through the sky, soaring… Read More »swfec nest notes: E23 at 120 days old is ready and able

M15 and F23 are fulfilling their purpose and have prepared E23 exceptionally well for life in the wild. E23 has become a fierce competitor for food, which will be the biggest challenge. E23 aggressively fended off F23 to keep the prey, just what she wanted to see E23 do. E23 protects and commands the nest tree and pasture even though the small birds disagree. Bluejays, mockingbirds, and shrikes pester and annoy E23. When E23 has had enough, a flight to another tree provides cover for a while. M15 and F23… Read More »SWFEC Nest Notes: M15, F23, and E23 Spend Family Time Together

M15 and F23 must take great pride in E23’s progression into becoming a forceful young raptor coming into their own. M15 and F23 nurtured and helped enrich their sensational offspring over the past 15 weeks. E23 has been a fast study and has surpassed many milestones. E23 has become a striking and formidable force in the area. M15 and F23 use food as a motivator by taking prey to other places in the area to encourage E23 to follow. E23 has rarely known hunger since hatching. The absence of food… Read More »swfec nest notes: e23-a formidable young raptor

M15 and F23 make themselves scarce much of the time as E23 becomes more independent and assured. They drop by to check on savvy E23, who keeps an Eagle eye out for their arrival. E23 anticipates food coming in when Dad or Momma approach the nest tree and expresses vocal disappointment if no food is delivered. They are encouraging E23 to follow them to their favorite hunting areas. E23 takes longer and farther flights throughout the area in search of them. M15 and F23 continue to supply meals for E23.… Read More »swfec nest notes: E23-practicing and perfecting skills

M15 and F23 impart the best of their abilities to E23, who readily absorbs them all. E23 experiences many situations, masters milestones, and gains skill and confidence. E23 has been free-flying for just over two weeks and has roamed the bounds of the territory. E23 has imprinted well by watching Dad and Momma and storing all the lessons to carry along the way. E23’s accomplishments include flying with strength and purpose to evade the bothersome birds. E23 skimmed over the ducks on the pond either in hunting mode or protecting… Read More »swfec nest notes: e23-mastering milestones

M15 and F23 enjoy E23’s adventures as much as E23 seems to. F23 was perched in the nest tree when E23 fledged, and M15 rewarded E23 with a fish. Since that eventful day, E23 has not missed a beat or tree in the pasture. E23 is a fabulous flyer and has ventured to places near and far. Each day is a new journey, and E23 is finding interesting and exciting places to explore. E23 discovered the pond, hesitated at the edge, dipped a talon in the water, and then got… Read More »swfec nest notes: e23-finding new adventures every day

M15 and F23 observe and encourage E23’s progress through the stages of Eaglet life. E23 has been an exceptional learner and breezes through with honors. E23 sprouted from a tiny fuzzy Hatchling to a curious, active Eaglet to a brave Fledgling in 76 days. E23 branched at 62 days old and has been on the move since. E23 flap and fly hopped to most of the nest tree branches, high-hovered above the nest, and made it to the treetop. E23 jumped, overshot a lower branch, hung upside down briefly, and… Read More »swfec nest notes: e23- a hop, skip, and jump from hatchling to fledgling