Bald eagle

Officials said it's not likely that the bald eagle found hurt along a North Fort Myers road Sunday, that had to be euthanized due to the severe injury, was one of the eagles from the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam nest.

This time last year the area was embroiled in a mystery of sorts — the vanishing of Harriet the eagle from the nest she shared with partner M15."WHERE'S HARRIET?" was the comment of the day at the start of February 2023. The question — never answered — left eagle nest watchers flummoxed, worried, and upset.

The first pip was seen late Friday night followed on Saturday by a pip in the other egg. As of Sunday morning video from nest showed one fuzzy little eaglet being tended to by the eagle parents. The remaining egg was considered unviable.

Shortly before 2 p.m. Monday a second egg was produced by F23, the second mate of M15 in the Bayshore Road nest in North Fort Myers.

A new year at the nest of M15 and his new mate, F23, brought all manner of conjecture. But all the worry and concern were erased Friday night when an egg was confirmed at the nest.

Florida's bald eagle season underway now through May 15.

Eagle lovers got one of their favorite websites back on Friday when the cameras at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam returned online after a summer hiatus.

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam and other observers have spotted M15's return and it looks like he may have a potential new mate.

The theme of this year’s Bald Eagle nesting season is resilience, according to Audubon Florida’s EagleWatch Report. We discover how bald eagles are able to endure Florida’s ever-changing landscape and discuss our fascination with the iconic birds of prey.

EagleWatch Report volunteers across the state determined that Hurricane Ian destroyed 148 bald eagle nests last September.