Season 6 Review: Nest Life at Eagle Country
Season Beginnings: Abby and Blaze, Nest Building
Season #6 was a great season! After the loss of equipment in Hurricane Ian in Season 5, we were able to successfully refurbish, repair, and replace the necessary equipment to begin the new season.
With the loss of the nest tree and accompanying equipment in the previous season, we were certainly all ready to watch and see if #1 – the eagles would return and #2 – where they would rebuild if they did return. That is the beauty of watching wildlife unscripted — an unpredictable adventure as these birds navigate their lives in the wild.
For behind-the-scenes context, during the off-season we kept our “eyes on the sky” to watch and wait for the eagles. After all—where were we to relocate the nest cam and remote cams? Where were we supposed to relocate our equipment box? How would we know where to re-run all of the wiring? These are no small decisions! Installation of all this equipment = commitment!
Well, Abby and Blaze must have known we would be watching! They gave small clues that they were returning and through continuous watching and learning, we took a (big) leap of faith and completed the whole now camera set up for what we anticipated – and hoped – would be the nest tree.
Much to our delight – and relief – Abby and Blaze did return and began to build in the tree that we had anticipated to be the nest tree! Wow!
Our minds and hearts went back to Job’s words: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you…”
So, Season 6 commenced with new beginnings once again. These birds exhibit such resilience and we have learned much from the eagles we have been privileged to watch over the years.
Abby and Blaze rebuilt and were established and settled in their new tree, new nest and new season.
Hatching and Eaglets: Swampy and Meadow
To add to the new beginnings of this particular season, Abby laid two eggs. After the normal incubation time, the two eaglets, Swampy and Meadow hatched. Life in the nest was again full of feedings and rest periods, clown feet sightings, rapid growth, and all the in-between incidentals of raising young eaglets.
Swampy (R), Meadow (L)
Swampy
Meadow’s Rescue and Passing
Unfortunately on 4-3-24, Meadow was unexpectedly blown out of the nest by a strong gust of wind and landed on the branch below the nest. After being on the branch for about two days and then falling to the ground, Meadow was rescued. Sadly, after complications, Meadow passed on 4-15-24. This was a tough day for all of us at Eagle Country. We took the day to pause chat and to truly watch and reflect quietly.
We were so grateful for the wonderful volunteers and workers at Raptor Center of Tampa Bay and Audubon Center for Birds Of Prey who gave such wonderful care.
Swampy’s Fledging
Swampy, after the initial adjustments of being alone in nest, continued wingercizing and continued getting stronger and stronger. Swampy fledged on 4-24-24, and it didn’t take long for him/her to head off on their own adventures.
Season 6 Conclusion
Always eager and anticipating, yet not knowing how events may unfold, it turned out to be a great season! We are always in awe of the eagles and all that we learn from them each year.
You can see many videos and pictures of this season on EC YouTube and across our socials. To read about past seasons and the current season, you can visit Season Updates. Also, our annual season stats are listed on our live cams page.
