Touch Down!

 

The eagle has landed! I visited the eagle nest in N. Fort Myers over the weekend to see if I could catch a glimpse of the two little eaglets in the nest. They're less than a month old, and while they're growing fast, they're probably still too little to be able to peer over their nest.  The past several years, a few traumatic changes have occurred at the nest: Ozzie (the male) died and Harriet was courted by a new suitor (M-15). The  couple has produced several eaglets, but, unfortunately, they haven't all survived, which has been tough for some people around the world who get very attached to these creatures as they watch them via a live webcam. The Eagle Cam is still tracking every movement in the nest...from an adult landing with a fish for lunch, to feeding the little ones, to taking off for a little quiet time away from the nest.  A word of warning: Watching these creatures is addicting!  By the way, Jack from Naples & Hartford in Season also visited the nest a few weeks ago and captured some amazing photos.

Takeoff

Look at that form...and concentration during takeoff!  Clearly, he's rapidly calculating how best to maneuver around several palm trees just feet in front of him.  (And, of course, those horses we saw yesterday. ) I think this may be the male, M15.  He was getting a drink from a pond near the nest when he spotted me 40 yards away...gave me the side eye....and whoosh!....took off.  Who knew there was so much activity in a horse paddock?

Flyby

When horses share their pasture with a bald eagle who thinks he's Maverick.  ZOOM!

Eagle Watch

This is one proud mama or papa bald eagle!  (I still cannot tell them apart.)  This is the first time I've visited the world famous eagle nest in Ft. Myers for quite awhile.  Over the past year and a half, there was lots of drama with the eagles.  Long story short, Ozzie passed away (tragically) and Harriet was courted by a new suitor, M15. (Excellent recap story in the Washington Post here.) The couple produced two eggs this year.  With the world watching via the live Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, one fuzzy little eaglet hatched on New Year's Eve. Everyone is anxiously waiting, watching and hoping the second one enters the world soon. 

One of the adult eagles is always at the nest, tending to the new eaglet and unhatched egg. When I arrived at the nest last yesterday afternoon, I was just in time for the changing of the guard.  This one flew to a tree within close proximity and direct sight of the nest.

Moments later -- without a sound -- its mate materialized...soaring by, racing to the nest.

The eagle landed safely....taking over duties watching the family.  As I'm writing, 37,000 people are watching the live video stream.  Pretty cool I can see them in person!  For a closeup look at all the nest activity check out the live web cam.  (A word of warning:  Watching the eagle cam can be very addictive!)  Fingers crossed for a healthy season for the eagles!  

Scratch That Itch

 

I mentioned yesterday that in addition to the regal eagle statues, something else is new at Ozzie and Harriet's domain.  It's… ((drum roll))…that small wooden fence next to the horse.  It surrounds what appears to be an electrical box, which I believe runs cables, power, internet connectivity etc. to the web camera mounted above Ozzie and Harriet's nest.  So, why would this need to be penned in?  Keep in mind, this is a horse pasture where dozens of large animals roam.  And, what's a horse to do if it has an itch that it just can't reach?  Well, last spring, I witnessed firsthand what happens.  Enjoy!

Welcome!

Two new statues are now placed at the entrance to Dick Pritchett Real Estate in North Ft. Myers, signifying you're entering the domain of Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles who have nested here for the past 8 years. This is a nice addition to the property and a rather fitting tribute, don't you think?  There's no question this is where you'll find Ozzie and Harriet!

 

Like clockwork, the two return here each fall. I've been observing them for a few years and it's a rare treat to see them soaring together.  I think this is the first time I actually captured them flying together . They're so majestic.  

Although the nest is located within a horse paddock on private property, the public is welcome to visit and watch Ozzie and Harriet. The Pritchett family also continues to provide a 2-camera live web feed of the nest, so you can get…well…a bird's eye view of what's going on up there, like this:

To watch the live feed just click here.  (I usually check in to see if anyone's home before setting out with my camera.)  This is the third season the cameras have been up and running.  The first year, a whopping 16 million viewers around the world tuned in to watch Ozzie and Harriet .  Wow!

Besides the new eagle statues there's another addition on the property this year which the casual observer might not pick up on.  That's coming up!

Horsing Around

 

The tree where Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles, call home is actually located within a horse paddock in North Ft. Myers.  At any given time, you can see 2 to 24 horses standing around grazing.  Usually, they don't exhibit too much energy and just meander from one spot to another.  Well, last night was a different story. With the mercury dipping below 60, the chilly air must have made the horses frisky, because they were running around.  Half a dozen were galloping around the paddock chasing each other.  Dirt was flying!  Then they headed straight for me.  I was tucked safely on the other side of the fence, but -- wow -- to see these large, speedy animals racing right at you is something else.  They turned at the last second, hugged the fence line, and continued roaring around the pasture. While I was still in awe of that unexpected show, Ozzie suddenly soared onto the scene and tucked into the nest.  What a fun evening!  I'll catch you up on Ozzie and Harriet and the live camera feed soon.  

Air Traffic Control

 

Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles, have returned to their nest in North Ft. Myers, which is good news. It's nice to see them again. I couldn't help but think yesterday as I watched one of them land on this tree, that the sky was so active with birds, an air traffic controller could have been helpful. (Although, they appeared to have everything under control in their own way.)   I believe the two birds behind the eagle are ibises.  Two other birds (lower right) were preparing to fly by the tree, and half a dozen crows and songbirds were roosting on the branches, ready to take off at a moment's notice.  How do they know where everyone is flying...and when?  

Returning Home

I think I spotted Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles, returning home last weekend from wherever they spend their summer vacation. I was driving along U.S. 41 in Ft. Myers and noticed two beautiful bald eagles soaring together and heading in the direction of Ozzie and Harriet's nest. Yes...I think it was them!   (The humidity is starting to taper off and the temperatures are cooler in the morning and evening -- telltale signs that seasonal residents -- feathered and human -- will soon be returning.)  Ozzie and Harriet may very well be inspecting their home right now and doing some renovations before nesting season gets underway. Very exciting! Last year, their two babies were born in January and the webcam documenting their every move became an international hit. This photo was taken just before Ozzie and Harriet left for the summer -- and just before my computer crashed.

By the way, we have good news on the computer front:  this photo was posted using the new SDP computer and Lightroom 5. (Thank goodness the Procurement Department came through.)  There will be a learning curve using Lightroom, but the entire SDP staff is looking forward to it. (We're particularly pleased we were able to figure out how to crop, watermark and export this picture in a rather short period of time.)  My entire photo library is still somewhat MIA.   The files are on my hard drive, but my photo software isn't able to open and display them in albums with dates, names etc.  We're diligently working to have them fully restored soon.   In the meantime, the Editor-in-Chief is hesitant to resume shooting fresh photos without having the SDP library restored.  So, you may see some old pics posted...or you never know...a staff member could be dispatched to pick up a fresh photo.  I hope everyone is doing well!

Soaring Again (Sort of)

Like the bald eagle, SDP shall soar again!  That's right...we're BACK!  Okay, that was a bit dramatic. We're actually limping along; however, it seems all our digital photo files have been recovered. Hip-hip-hooray!   I lost the corresponding data (names, dates, places etc.), but I have the files and that's what's important, right?

I think have a good course of action going forward: (1) never, ever, ever use iPhoto again for so many files (2) invest in a new computer and photo software (3) set up a raid backup system.   I have a lot of work to do...transferring tens of thousands of files, doing more research etc.  In the meantime, the Editor-in-Chief has given the order to resume posting whenever possible.

Thanks everyone for your kind words, thoughts and input about your computer systems. If you haven't chimed in, I'm still gathering information, so please let me know what works for you.

Regarding this photo, I snapped it just over two weeks ago in N. Ft. Myers.  (Rumor has it the SDP Editor-in-Chief had an uncanny resemblance to Harriet screeching when she learned about the computer crash.  WHAT?!)  So happy to see these guys on my computer again!

Wingercise

Hope and Honor, the eaglets in North Ft.. Myers turned two months old last weekend when I was there.  It's hard to believe they're that young, yet so big.  I had to laugh because they did what human youngsters do when the parents are away: play, test their boundaries and be rambunctious.  This is Honor valiantly exercising her wings.  She's the older of the two by just two days and when she spreads her wings like this and flaps them, she smacks her sibling in the head. (The nest just isn't big enough for all those wings.)  So, Hope was bouncing up and down and flapping and flapping and wouldn't you know it...she actually got airborne a few inches.  Right after that happened, Harriet appeared quite literally out of the clear blue sky, silently swooped by the nest and left.  That was one heck of a flyby communication because both Honor and Hope sat down in the nest immediately!  Yesterday, I heard that Honor hopped onto a branch for the first time. You can check out the video from the webcam here .  It's pretty cool, especially if you've been following them closely. It's hard to believe they're going to be flying within a few weeks.  We've had quite a few bird pics this week, so I'll see if I can scare up something different for you tomorrow.  (No promises, though.)

Where Ya Goin'?

This was another 'I can't believe it' moment with Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles in North Ft. Myers. I visited the nest last weekend and it went from being absolutely quiet with nary a winged soul to be found to suddenly bustling with activity. In this shot, Ozzie had arrived a few minutes prior. Harriet was minding her own business up on a higher branch with her back to me and the two eaglets were tucked below in the nest.  With most birds, you can sense when they're getting ready to take flight. They twitch their feet, wobble a bit, ruffle their feathers...give some kind of indication they're about to do something.  But, not the American bald eagle.  Almost always, they catch me off guard because they take off without warning.  Well, this time I was staring through my viewfinder hoping to take a family portrait when Ozzie took off unexpectedly, prompting Harriet to look that way along with one of the eaglets.   I held my breath and pressed the shutter.  **click**  **click**  **click**   What are the odds the eagle family was just as interested in what Ozzie was doing as I was?  (Look closely at the bottom of the pic and you can see one of the eaglets watching Dad take off.)  The little ones were quite active before their parents got home.  More on that this weekend.  In the meantime, I'm linking to Skywatch Friday and I hope everyone has a terrific day!

Kestrel

While I'm waiting for Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles in North Ft. Myers, to fly in or out of the nest there's quite a bit of down time just standing around.  So, I end up looking for other possible photo opps.  The last time I was at the nest I got really lucky and saw this kestrel.  Isn't she beautiful?  The elements were working against me that day.  It was windy and shadowy, plus the kestrel was a good 40 yards away in a tree.  Yet, I'm still pleased to have captured my first ever sighting of a kestrel.  They're quite small -- only 10-12 inches. (They seem really tiny when you compare them to an eagle.)  Because of their size they're also known as the sparrow hawk.  Locating and identifying this kestrel was a team effort. The SDP Junior Editor spotted it with her incredible vision and a freelance photog waiting around killing time was happy to identify it (which I confirmed in my trusty 'Birds of Florida Field Guide'.)   I hope to see another one soon at a closer distance.  As for Ozzie and Harriet, my fingers are crossed to catch up  with them this weekend.

Eagles & Elephants

Time for an update on Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles nesting in North Ft. Myers. I visited the nest last Saturday and was pleased to see Honor (the first born) sitting up and looking inquisitive while papa Ozzie stood guard. Honor is just 1.5 months old and is nearly the size of his/her parents. Remarkable. I was told by other photogs on scene that Harriet had been away from the nest for hours and she was expected back any time. After well over an hour, Ozzie grew weary of waiting...

 ...and noiselessly took off for a nearby pond. The pursuit was on! Quiety, I walked as quickly as my feet would carry me, and another photog stealthily joined me. Ozzie was sitting at the edge of the pond resting, preparing to enjoy a drink or perhaps take a bath. But, we'll never know because after I snapped just a couple of photos, another photographer ran up making so much racket she could have been mistaken for a herd of elephants...and Ozzie flew away. (Nature Photography Etiquette 101: Do not scare the wildlife.)

He went to one of his favorite perches: A tree 35-40 yards away from the nest. There, he basked in the late afternoon sun, no doubt wondering when his other half would return.

When Harriet arrived, it was at sunset and without fanfare. She quietly flapped her way into the nest with most of us noticing just as she landed.  So, the pack of photogs packed up their gear and left.  But, I had a feeling I would miss something if I left, and I always go with my gut.  So, I stayed for another 10-15 minutes...the only photographer set up.  And, that's when I saw Harriet move something large and dark.  She had delivered something to the nest!  A shirt? (Well, it could be a shirt, I thought, since a plastic bag was in the nest recently.)  No...it was a mystery dinner!  Turns out those watching the live webcam lit up Facebook trying to identify the mystery meat.   It's difficult to discern through this photo, but I'm fairly certain it was a river otter.  Those eagles sure do have a diverse if not disgusting menu. 

Sushi Flight

Spending time at the eagle nest in North Ft. Myers, I've learned you constantly have to look up and around for Ozzie and Harriet.  When they arrive on the scene, it's usually out of the clear blue sky and with little or no warning.  That was the case in this photo.  I just happened to look in the right direction as Ozzie appeared nest-bound.  If you look closely, you can see the fresh catch of the day dangling from his talons.   It must have been a sizeable fish to see it that well from such a distance.  What a sight!  I'm linking to Skywatch Friday.  To see other submissions click here.  Happy Friday everyone!

Feeding Time

While visiting Ft. Myers last weekend, I stopped by to check on Ozzie and Harriet and the little ones. Gosh, they're getting big!  And, based on what I'm seeing via the live webcam, they've grown substanially just in the seven days since I took this photo. Their growth spurts are amazing. The two eaglets now have names: Hope and Honor, based on a poll conducted on Facebook.  Each time I visit the nest, there's something interesting to watch. This time I got more than a sneak peek at Hope (the slightly older and larger baby).  Just before sunset, one of the parents (I believe Ozzie) started feeding Hope.  Ever so gently, he encouraged her to open her beak, then he dropped a bit of unidentifiable food down the hatch.  At one point, he offered a bite way too big for the little one to handle. He seemed to contemplate the situation for a moment, then gently exchanged that chunk for a smaller, more manageable one.  What a captivating sight.  If the sun hadn't gone down, I would have stayed a lot longer enjoying the dinner show.

'B' is for Bald Eagle

For those following SDP regularly, you had to see this one coming.   The letter 'B' was a bit too easy for me since I've been following a pair of bald eagles nesting in North Ft. Myers, about 75 minutes south of Sarasota.  This is the happy couple, Ozzie and Harriet.  I was thrilled to get this shot because they don't spend a lot of time together in the nest.  They seem to be doing well and their two little ones (born at the start of 2013) are growing rapidly.

Most of the time, one of the parents stays in the nest protecting the eaglets (although after they were just one week old they were left home alone for short periods of time, presumably while Ozzie and/or Harriet were watching from nearby.)  If you look closely to the left of the adult in this shot, you can just barely make out one of the babies standing up.  This was taken 9 days ago, and they've grown tremendously since then.  The little ones sleep and flop around the nest.  And they all wait for the next meal to arrive.

This is Ozzie (I believe) delivering a fish.  The nest is close to the Caloosahatchee River, so it's presumed that's where they do most of their fishing.  Recently, they've expanded their menu and I've been told they've had a rabbit and even a pigeon (which created a feathery mess in the nest).  Between seeing them in person and watching the live webcam periodically, I've noticed they're on a very strict time schedule. How a bald eagle tells time so well is beyond me...but, one arrives to the nest around 2:15-2:30 p.m. and again at 5:15-5:30 p.m. The two adults sit together for a few minutes, then one departs...

soaring high into the sky with one or two quick wing flaps, leaving the other adult to watch the babies. Many times they're not far apart...just roosting on a nearby tree enjoying some alone time, but close even to help provide protection in case there's an intruder and potential threat to the babies.

It's all very fascinating, and I'm not the only one intrigued. I've met lots of nice people visiting the nest. Some are locals, while others have been visiting from Nova Scotia, Atlanta and New York. The common denominator: they're in awe that they can see our national bird nesting in the wild near a fairly busy road and they're all rooting for the two little ones to grow up and become regal adults. If you're not familar with the nest webcam, it provides a live video stream 24/7.  Click here to check it out.  And, to see other submissions for the letter 'B' from around the world visit ABC Wednesday.

Eagle Drama

I checked on Ozzie and Harriet again at sunset yesterday. (That's Harriet in the photo.) It was rather dark and I was collapsing my tripod when an eagle drama unfolded right before my eyes. A third bald eagle appeared and swooped by very close to the nest and landed in a nearby tree.  Apparently, this guy was too close for comfort because Harriet immediately returned to the nest (she was roosting in a nearby tree) to provide reinforcements for Ozzie who was protecting the two little ones by himself.  Ozzie and Harriet were very upset, on high alert, screeching and screeching.  After a couple of minutes, Ozzie went on the offensive and buzzed by the intruder, scaring him away without incident. It was high bald eagle drama! Just a couple of us were there at the time and we couldn't believe it.  I'm so happy everyone is safe. Watching this eagle family is much more entertaining than watching TV.

I'm Free!

I believe this was Ozzie who was calling at sunset shortly after leaving the nest. He had tended to the two little ones for a good portion of the day and he was getting some alone time. I couldn't help but think he was yelping, 'I'm free!'. The sun was just starting to set and it was during those golden moments when he flew to this branch. What fun! For those unfamiliar with the nest, Ozzie and his mate, Harriet, have nested in North Ft. Myers for five years. Their latest eaglets arrived on Jan. 1st and 3rd and a live webcam is showing them 24/7. To say it's gone viral would be an understatement.   A word of warning, though: it can be rather addictive watching them and could cause sleepless nights and a drop in productivity.   Click here to check it out.

Proud Parent

Ozzie and Harriet, the bald eagles in North Fort Myers, are parents!  Eaglet #1 hatched on New Year's Day and #2 hatched two days later.   They look like little fuzzy bobblehead dolls.  So cute!  You can take a peek by visiting the live eagle cam 24/7:  http://dickpritchettrealestate.com/eagle-feed.html  The website has had more than 2 million hits and Ozzie & Harriet were featured on Fox News Channel yesterday morning.  It's all very exciting!  I captured this shot last weekend before the little ones were born.   I'm not sure if this is Ozzie or Harriet sitting in a tree about 40 yards from the nest.  The females are supposed to be bigger, but I can't discern the difference yet.  Hope everyone is having a good weekend!