02-02-2023-14.34.38pm Harriet - Questions/Answers

I received a flurry of emails asking questions about SWFEC late last night, February 8, 2023. In an effect to address most of them I have put together a question and answer Flickr page. Please be sure to read the description below the photo find the information. I hope the information will answer most of the questions. Thank you.

 

 

Will the eaglets be banded?

 

There was a question concerning banding the eaglets at SWFEC. Unless the eaglets have to be removed from the nest for some reason, we don’t believe there is any plan to band them in the nest. Banding requires a permitted licensed bander to place the bands and at this time there are no research projects that we know of that are banding.

 

Even wildlife facilities have to have someone in their organization certified to band birds - or have to know someone who is certified out of their organization who can band the bird for them.

 

Eaglets have to be a certain age in order to be banded. Too young, the band will slip off. The eaglets at SWFEC are of an age where they could be banded if they are removed from the nest.

 

 

Do eagles get hoarse?

 

There was an interesting question asked that related to M15’s voice. People have thought that M15’s voice might be hoarse. from all of the vocalizing to warn intruders away and calling for his mate.

 

Eagles don’t have vocal cords and the sound is produced in the syrinx, which is a bony chamber located in the trachea which divides to go to the lungs. The bird’s syrinx has membranes in its outer walls that vibrate when the bird vocalizes. Birds can vibrate those syringeal membranes both when they breathe in and when they breathe out.

The syrinx in birds is similar in function to our larynx, or voice box, but very different in structure. Our larynx is located just downstream from our throat at the top of our trachea (wind pipe), whereas the bird’s syrinx is located at the bottom of the trachea, where it splits into two branches, the bronchi, each branch going to one of the bird’s two lungs.

 

While it might be possible for a bird’s sound to alter with overuse, it is usually caused by inflammation or infection (bacterial or fungal). Please note that we don’t think either are a concern. M15 has always had a different vocal than Harriet - much more raspy in my opinion. Maybe he has been louder so we are able to hear it better?

 

 

What is Harriet’s Age?

 

One of the questions we are asked frequently is how old the adult eagles are. We can only go by what we know as confirmed when making an estimate of Harriet’s age. None of the adults have been banded, so there is no way of knowing when the eagles hatched - including Harriet’s first mate, Ozzie. We have a better idea of the age of M15 since his plumage and eye color were that of a newly mature eagle (5 years of age).

 

Based on local viewers and the property owners, the Pritchetts, who have watched the pair nesting on the Pritchetts’ property over the years, Harriet is at least 22 years of age. She has been seen nesting at this nest since 2006. We take the number of years she has been nesting at this nest and add five years since it takes approximately five years before an eagle is mature and ready to raise a family. (17 years at SWFEC nest + 5 years = 22 years)

 

However, there was a nest across the street that locals said she and her previous mate, Ozzie, nested and raised young. If she is the same female that nested across the street she could be in her late 20s or even 30s. But we have no hard evidence to make that determination.

 

The information on the nest across the street (and Bald Eagle nests across Florida) was documented by Audubon Florida’s EagleWatch program. There are no records that we know of with FWC stating it was Harriet in the other nest. None of the eagles that nested in this particular nest across the street from the Pritchetts’ property have been banded.

 

With as many eagles in Florida there were most likely locals observing that nest long before it failed. IF photographers had good equipment there may be photos of the eagles nesting in that location that may have IDing marks, but we are not aware of them, nor have we seen them. Without definitive proof there is no way of knowing if the same eagles nested in that location for a period of years.

 

We don’t want to post any information that we can’t substantiate - which is why her age is stated the way it is. We know Harriet has to be at least 22 years old, but she is most likely older - we just don’t know how old. Eagles have been known to raise young in the late 30s, so it is possible she is that old. The oldest known wild eagle died at the age of 38. However, the only reason this is known is because that eagle had been banded - most are not banded.

 

Regarding the nest near Donald Street - interestingly enough the present nest (SWFEC) is now listed as LE026 (it used to be LE-26B). The nest that was located near Donald Street had been listed as LE-26A and the present nest was LE-26B. Now the nest in west pasture is listed as LE026a and the present nest is listed as LEO26.

 

Since the nest tree that did house LE-26A is no longer standing, there is no reference to it on the Bald Eagle nest Locator map (the Audubon recently changed/updated their nest locator site).

 

This is the information that had been listed about the previous nest before the site was updated. Previous Nest History by Year (LE-26A Strap Number: 30-43-25-04-00005.0000 - was located across the street):

 

90-91 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed

91-92 Active, 1 Fledgling confirmed

92-93 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed

93-94 Active, 3 Fledglings confirmed

94-95 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed

95-96 Active, 3 Fledglings confirmed

96-97 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed

97-98 Inactive

 

98-99 Active, 1 Fledgling confirmed

99-00 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed

00-01 Active, 2 Fledglings confirmed

01-02 Active, 1 Fledgling confirmed

02-03 Active, two adults observed at nest tree 4/21/03

03-04 Tree observed dead 9/29/03. ES Staff inspected the tree on 9/29/03 and found the tree had been girdled by machete or hatchet. Birds had been observed in the territory but did not nest this nesting season.

 

04-05 Active, Two adults observed incubating posture in Dec '04. 1 chick fledged about April 6, 2005

05-06 Active, 1 fledgling confirmed

 

06-07 Inactive *Built a new nest north of Bayshore Rd (LEO26B). 2 chicks fledged at LEO26B

07-08 through 11-12 Inactive

 

Please remember that the observations before 2012 are from ground observations only. Members of Audubon Florida’s EagleWatch usually check nests periodically and try to maintain proper distances and make available blinds to prevent disturbance of an active Bald Eagle nest.

 

I would also like to post the exact quote from Dr. Heather Barron concerning Ozzie’s possible age: Quote from Dr. Heather Barron: “For age, I said 20s to 30s to them because eagles get their adult plumage and usually start mating around 5-7 years of age. So, if people have reported him in the area for 20 years, then he was at least 5, possibly older when he showed up, which could mean he is closer to 30. Either way, the average lifespan is 15-20 years, so he certainly was better than average.

 

 

Searching for Harriet.

 

There is concern as to what search parties have been organized to locate Harriet. We can only share what we know. The Pritchetts searched their own extended property the first weekend after Harriet flew off. We also know a few locals who have checked certain areas where Harriet has been known to frequent - with permission from any property owner. Always get permission from the property owner when undertaking any search.

 

There were reports of downed eagles; those areas were checked with no findings. We understand a number of local people have also conducted searches, but we have no information on where they searched.

 

Please remember - this is Florida. There are many areas of Florida with thick, rough vegetation which is hard to maneuver through. There are also wildlife that live in these areas; including snakes, rats, alligators, bobcats and coyote. Extreme caution should be used when undertaking any search in these areas.

 

 

Who named Ozzie and Harriet?

 

Another question that is asked frequently is how did “Harriet” and her first mate, “Ozzie” get their names. We asked the Pritchetts this question when the camera first came online. Their answer was the eagles were named by some local bird enthusiasts who followed the pair from the beginning. Since they were already known by the locals as “Ozzie” and “Harriet” the Pritchetts continued use those names when the cameras began streaming online.

 

Apparently there is still some confusion over who “named” the eagles. We asked the Pritchetts again to make sure we were sharing the correct information. From the Pritchetts: “We did not coin their names. The initial group of watchers did; way before we started even thinking about the cameras. They told us the names whenever we stopped by to talk to them and it stuck.”

 

 

Would another female raise the young at this time?

 

There was a question as to whether another female might be accepted by M15 at this time and help raise the eaglets. This is a question that we really can’t answer. It is totally up to M15 as to whether he might be willing to allow another eagle in the nest. And it is also totally up to a female Bald Eagle as to whether they would be interested in helping to raise young that were not hers.

 

There are many rogue eagles in Florida right now - especially in the areas where Hurricane Ian caused loss of habitat and nests. Each year we have observed a number of visitors/intruders in the territory, but this year there have been a greater number. Both Harriet and M15 have spent quite a bit of time warning intruders away - even giving chase.

 

Someone wanted to know why Harriet left. The day Harriet left the nest tree she had been vocalizing quite a bit and checking the skies. It was thought she may have left to give chase, but this is speculation on my part as to her actions. We have no idea what happened once she was out of view of the cameras. But it did appear she took flight away from the nest tree due to a perceived threat.

 

In nature, we can never say never. While cameras on a number of nests have given biologists more insight on what happens during breeding times, it doesn’t mean what was seen at one nest could happen at another nest. It is highly unlikely that M15 and another female would bond enough to raise E21 and E22 together at this time. Bonding is an important part of choosing a mate. Harriet didn’t accept M15 until closer to breeding season. However, that doesn’t mean it might not happen. We all wait to see how this season plays out and wish M15 continued success as he cares for his two young eaglets.

 

Done