Eaglets are returned to nest after health scare
After a week of rehabilitation, eaglets E-17 and E-18 were given a clean bill of health and returned to the nest on the Pritchett Farm in North Fort Myers on Friday where their mom, Harriet, soon discovered the nestlings.
The eaglets were given food and a third dose of antibiotics at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel before the trip back to the bald eagle nest off Bayshore Road, where they were re-nested at around 9:40 a.m.
Alison Charney Hussey, CROW’s executive director, said the re-nesting went smoothly as the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam was busy with people watching the babies wait patiently for their parents to return home.
“The process of putting them back in the nest went well and now we’re awaiting the return of Harriet and M15 to the nest and see their babies are back,” Hussey said, shortly after the re-nesting. “We ultimately want to release these animals back into the wild where they belong. We were thrilled to be able to do that.”
Harriet and M15 were not present at the nest when the eaglets were put back in the nest, however, Harriet returned to the nest about five hours after her chicks were returned. She could be seen using her beck and talons to re-configure the floor of the nest a bit to make the bowl a little deeper. She could later be seen brooding both eaglets, according to the Southwest Florida Eagle cam.
M15 also is bringing food to the nest for the babies, which can be seen vying for food.
There was some question as to whether the parents, Harriet and mate M15, would take the chicks back. Although the pair has accepted eaglets re-nested in the past, this brood was gone for a week, so there is some fear they might be abandoned.
Hussey said there are several scenarios under which, with the state and federal authority, the eaglets could again be removed. Hussey declined to speculate on what might happen.
Last Thursday, the eaglets were observed with eye issues on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam. Their eyes were closed and the area around the eye appeared to be crusty and swollen and irritated, which is a symptom of Avian Pox.
The Pritchetts called CROW, which worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Commission, which determined the eaglets needed care. They were removed from the nest Friday afternoon with the use of a bucket truck.
The reunion, and ongoing action in and around the nest, may be viewed at https://dickpritchettrealestate.com/.