Southwest Florida Eagle Cam is back! What to know as the hit livestream starts 12th season (2024)

Southwest Florida's favorite eagles have returned!

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam is back up and running, with livestream beginning its latest season that started on Sunday, Oct. 1.

During the previous season, viewers got a front-row seat to the ultimate show as the beloved bird family experienced challenges and tragedy, as well as triumph and perseverance. From missing matriarchs to humongous hurricanes, it was a chaotic season for the history books.

Here's what to know about the popular livestream as it starts up again, as well as who has returned to the nest so far.

More:A look back at Harriet the Eagle's final, chaotic season in Southwest Florida

What is the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam?

The Pritchett McSpadden family cofounded the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam in 2012.The livestream, made available by Dick Pritchett Real Estate in North Fort Myers, provides a sneak peek into the eagles' lives.

The camera has brought in 150 million viewers regularly to watch the daily activities of the two adult eagles as they repair their nest, fly in to feed two hungry youngsters and keep a watchful eye on what's happening.

Where is the SWFL Eagle Cam?

The nest is located at 6601 Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers. Operators advise those who visit not to interfere or intervene with any natural events in the nest.

How many eagle seasons are there?

The camera feed is on its 12th season since first livestreaming the eagles in 2012.

What technology do they use to film the eagles?

Operators use primarilyAxis PTZs to power two of the cameras.They also have an additional AXIS 360 camera, which gives an enhanced 360-degree view. All cameras are powered using Power over Ethernet technology.

Who was Harriet the Eagle?

Harriet was a beloved Southwest Florida eagle who rose to fame through the SFEC Livestream. Viewers quickly latched onto the matriarch as they witnessed her triumphs and challenges each season, making her a fixture in both the local community and the animal world.

Brush up on Harriet's lore:Harriet's History: Timeline of beloved eagle and her family's life in North Fort Myers

Harriet first landed on the Pritchett McSpaddenproperty back in the 1990swith former mate Ozzie. After hatching several eaglets and even moving on to another partner, the female eagle secured her status as anadored animal icon.

What happened to Harriet?

Everything changed on Feb. 2when Harriet did not return to the nest after she was last seen flying northwest to chase off intruders, alerting both SFCE officials and viewers.

Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officialsjumped in to search for the eagle. Locals also conducted their own search parties, sending in tips and photos to officials and Facebook groups.

Unfortunately, Harriet never returned to the nest. SFEC officials have said they have not found any trace of her and do not have any concrete theories on what happened.

Many online assumed that Harriet was hurt or had died. She was at least 25 years old, and according to theNational Wildlife Federation, eagles in the wild live between 20 and 30 years.

What happened during the remainder of the 11th season?

In the wake of Harriet's disappearance, M-15 stepped up to solely care for the nest — a feat that many viewers celebrated yet were nervous to watch play out.

The two eaglets, E21 and E22, thrived under M-15's care. Over the span of four months, cameras caught the eaglets as they grew larger each day, escaped the clutches of predators, learned new skills from dad and took their first leaps out of the nest.

Around April, three female eagles caught fans' attention as they attempted to join newly single father M-15, recreating the "Bachelor." Eventually, only one of the female eagles stayed around until the end.

Finally, the tiny family all departed from the nest around the end of May and early June.

Has M-15 returned back to the nest this season?

M-15 has returned for another year at the North Fort Myers nest.

Who else is in the nest? Has M-15 found a new mate?

This season will have another eagle for fans to support. A female eagle has joined M-15 in the tree and has already started to make herself at home by helping with the build.

Nicknamed "Lady E," it is unclear if she is one of the females who hung around the nest after Harriet disappeared.

When do eagles lay their eggs?

As of Oct. 2, the two eagles have already mated and are set to be a confirmed pair.

When it comes to laying eggs, eagles usually lay one to three eggs beginningas early as January. Once they have been laid, the parents take turns incubating the eggs which hatch in roughly 35 days.

How long is a typical eagle season?

Bald eagle nesting seasonbegins Oct. 1 and runs through May 15, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam is back! What to know as the hit livestream starts 12th season (2024)

FAQs

What happened to the Swfl Eagle Cam? ›

The cameras, calledthe SWFL Eagle Cam and installed by Dick Pritchett Real Estate at the Bayshore Road nest, documented the lives of the breeding eagle pair and were taken off-line after the 2022-2023 season for maintenance and repair.

What is the best cam for the bald eagle? ›

Welaka Nest Cam

The Welaka Eagle Cam features the wild nest of two wild Bald Eagles living at the Welaka National Fish Hatchery in north central Florida. Records have been kept since 2016, and the pair has raised and successfully fledged eaglets each season since then.

Did Harriet the eagle return to her nest? ›

Everything changed on Feb. 2 when Harriet did not return to the nest after she was last seen flying northwest to chase off intruders, alerting both SFCE officials and viewers.

Are there bald eagles in Naples, Florida? ›

Most bald eagle pairs will return to the same nest and/or territory each year to build or repair a nest. For more detailed information on eagles, check out the life history and habitat HERE. The City of Naples currently has one known bald eagle nest within the Seagate neighborhood.

What happened to Don Felder and the Eagles? ›

Felder was fired from the Eagles in 2001, after which he filed various lawsuits alleging wrongful termination, breach of implied-in-fact contract, and breach of fiduciary duty. He published an autobiography detailing his tenure with Eagles, Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001), in 2008.

What happened to the second egg in the southwest Florida eagle nest? ›

According to livestream operators, the second egg's hatch has stalled and they no longer have seen movement. The following day, they posted that they would both "celebrate E23 and mourn the future life of Egg 2 and all that could have been." The second egg was laid on Nov. 27 at 1:44 p.m.

Will Jackie and Shadow's eggs hatch in 2024? ›

It's unlikely that the offspring of beloved bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow will hatch. The expecting parents are still tending to the nest, not ready to give up as their fans hope for a miracle.

Where is Jackie and Shadow's nest? ›

BACKGROUND An undeveloped parcel of land located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake and partially bordered by the San Bernardino National Forest is a critical habitat area for Big Bear's only year-round resident Bald Eagles, Jackie and Shadow.

What happened to E21 and E22? ›

Editor's update: The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam website reported that E21 fledged Thursday morning at 84 days old, flying off and returning to a nest tree outer branch. E22 fledged Saturday morning, also at 84 days old, flying to a front pine tree. The kids are growing up.

How many babies did Harriet the Eagle have? ›

Harriet the bald eagle had laid 22 eggs over the course of 11 seasons. While not much is known about all the fledglings prior to the live streams establishment, Harriet had laid nearly a dozen eggs over 11 years. In those seasons, 19 had hatched and fully fledged into adulthood.

Is Harriet the Bald Eagle still missing? ›

Harriet, who went missing in February 2023, is presumed dead, the SWFEC said. M15 and Harriet had two eaglets that hatched in January, E22 and its sibling E21. The eagles can be seen on the popular Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, which livestreams the nest 24/7. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc.

Who is M15's new mate? ›

After the loss of Harriet in February, M15 successfully raised their last two offsprings, E21 & E22. Now he has a new mate in his life, F23. They are a bonded pair, and welcomed their first eaglet, E23 on December 31, 2023. Their second chick couldn't complete hatching.

Where are the most bald eagles in Florida? ›

Their nesting territories are concentrated around inland lake and river systems in peninsular Florida, such as the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, and along the Gulf coast. Bald eagles use forested habitats for nesting and roosting, and expanses of shallow fresh or salt water for foraging.

In which US state do the most bald eagles live? ›

Florida has one of the highest concentrations of nesting Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states. Alaska holds the first place followed by Minnesota.

What do bald eagles eat in the Everglades? ›

Their signature white feathers on their head and tail do not grow in till they're about five years old, making them easier to spot on a Florida airboat tour. Bald eagles are opportunistic feeders and eat anything from a variety of fish, mammals, and even other birds.

What happened to Fletcher Cox of the eagles? ›

After much reflection, I have made the decision to retire from the game of football. I gave everything I had to this team and to this city. I don't know what's next for me, but I do know that I'm forever grateful for my time here in Philadelphia and with the Eagles organization. Go Birds!

What happened to eagle the Archer in the Boys show? ›

Eagle flew into the air but was accidentally shredded by a friendly plane, and its remains fell to the ground, where the German tank crushed them. The second Eagle the Archer, was a member of Payback and was unseen.

What happened to the eagles offensive coordinator? ›

The Philadelphia Eagles have fired offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the move.

What happened to Ozzie the Eagle in Florida? ›

Ozzie returned to find his mate with another eagle and reportedly got into another fight with M-15 — this time fatal. Ozzie succumbed to his injuries and died on Sept. 29.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6581

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.