➡️ Note: For ID purposes, I will be referring to the female eagle as F1 (Female, #1). This is the same female eagle that has occupied the territory/appeared in my ground videos since 5-30-23. If/when she is given a name or number from the Pritchett's/SWFEC, I will switch and use that. This video starts Season 12 for my playlist purposes. The official start of Florida Bald Eagle breeding season is October 1st, which is probably the start date for the SWFEC Season 12. While the eagles are not officially in breeding season, today I observed bonding behavior: perching together, preening, vocalizing, working in the nest together, hunting together. Time will tell if M15 and F1 will become a mated pair. We are still in August, and things can change between now and the official start of nesting season here, as well as after the start. The eagles spent the morning at the nest tree, and hunted at the retention pond next to the car wash construction site. No sign of disturbance was seen.
Video opens with M15 working in the nest, and F1 perched above on the inner limb/outer branch. F1 casts twice, and the pellet is seen at 02:56. M15 and F1 work in the nest together. There are vocals between M15 and F1 several times throughout the video. F1 perches on an upper branch, and both eagles watch something over by the little retention pond across the street. F1 takes flight first, and M15 follows. Together, they hunt the pond area, unsuccessfully, sharing a pine tree perch. The pond is directly next to the car wash construction site (see it on the map in my Community section on my channel). M15 leaves my view, then returns to the nest while F1 is perched in a front pine in the nest pasture. F1 flies to the retention pond pine, then returns to the nest. M15 joins her in the nest for a little nest work. Both eagles move up to the attic branch, and F1 vocalizes at what she sees (I could not see what it was). M15 flies to the pond oak area to gather a stick for the nest. He returns and places his stick in the nest, the first stick I have seen added. The female perches on an upper branch, then leaves my view heading S. M15 perches and relaxes on the attic branch. Time stamps below, if interested. Click on any time stamp to advance to that part.
Time stamps: Provided in DVR time; actual time is on the cam clock.
00:00. Opening.
00:07. M15 is working in the nest, F1 is perched above.
01:46. M15/right on attic, F1/left on inner limb/outer branch.
02:04. F1 casts (small pellet perhaps at the start of the casting/mucous).
02:27. M15 vocalizes, F1 responds.
02:44. F1 casts again, pellet at 02:56, difficult to see in the lighting.
03:20. M15 works in the nest, F1 joins him.
07:42. M15 on the inner limb/outer branch.
08:00. F1 rouses, then move to the attic.
08:16. Vocals between the two.
08:27. M15 on the inner limb/outer branch.
08:49. F1 vocalizes.
09:01. M15 vocalizes, F1 responds.
09:11. M15
09:29. F1 to upper branch, preening session 09:46.
11:10. M15 rouses.
11:33. F1 rouses.
11:49. M15 with a wing stretch.
12:12. M15 with a crop drop.
12:21. M15 with a wing stretch, warble, feaks to remove down.
12:50. F1 & M15 to the little retention pond, hunt together (unsuccessfully).
16:52. The car was construction site.
17:50. M15 returns to the nest tree.
18:12. F1 on a front pine, returns to the retention pond pine.
18:44. M15 on the attic.
19:20. F1 returns to the nest tree.
19:38. M15 joins F1 in the nest for nest work.
20:21. F1 to the attic.
20:36. M15 joins F1 on the attic.
20:52. F1 rouses.
21:05. F1 vocalizes at what she sees (I could not what she was watching).
22:37. M15 to the pond oak, chooses a stick, returns, places it in the nest.
24:38. F1 on upper branch.
25:36. F1 takes flight, leaves my view to the S.
25:46. M15 on the attic, relaxing a foot.
26:11. M15 watches something.
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