Interesting Facts About Victoria & Nicholas
They have nested in the area for at least 18 years.
Their nest is located on private property in SW Florida surrounded by swamp and marsh as well as large cattle ranches. There is a state park very close by with excellent water and hunting resources which make this area highly adaptable for the eagles.
They inhabited their original nest on the property from 2001 – 2017. It was downed when the pine tree toppled during Hurricane Irma – summer of 2017.
Immediately after Hurricane Irma, they began to build a new nest in a pine tree adjacent to the one downed. Unfortunately, that nest was blown out of the tree on December 21, 2018. The video footage is below.
No strangers to a challenge, Victoria & Nicholas IMMEDIATELY began to rebuild in the exact same spot! They were determined and rebuilt in short order!
Their progress was amazing! The image on the left was taken 12.22.18, the day after the nest blew down. The image on the right is of 1.28.19, an hour after Vic laid her first egg!
Your best view of the eagles is from the comfort of your own device. Whether at Starbucks, at home or on the road, you’ll be viewing within feet of the nest.
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Generalized Bald Eagle Facts
Scientific Name of Bald eagle: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Haliaeetus = member of the sea or fish eagle group
leucocephalus = leuco=white, cephalus = head
Formally adopted as national emblem on June 20, 1782
Eagle Size
What is their wingspan and how much do they weigh?Northern = Larger
Migration
Do eagles migrate? Do their young migrate with them?Migration Patterns Vary
Nesting Habits
When does an eagle nest and mate?November - December
Feeding Patterns
What do bald eagles eat?Primarily Fish And Scavenging
Being able to carry 4-5 lbs of weight, bald eagles will often take their food back to their nest and eat. However, they sometimes eat on the ground, a nearby perch, near their water source or if the fish is small enough, they’ll eat while flying!
Eagle Eyes
How far can the eagles see and are they color blind?Eagles see in color!
Nest Facts
Who builds and where? How big is the nest? What's it made of?Strong Nest Fidelity & Territorial
Eagles have strong nest site fidelity, meaning they return to the same nest and nesting territory each year. If they successfully produce young at a nest, they are likely to return to that nest year after year.
Male and female eagles build the nest together. Both eagles will bring sticks to add to the nest structure and arrange them within the nest. The nest building activity is part of their pair bonding. Bald eagles typically choose to nest in a forested area close to their water source and usually choose the tallest living tree. The nest is usually at the highest point in the tree that can support the nest and overlook the area in which they are nesting. In some areas where there are few tall trees, bald eagles will nest on the ground or in crags or cliffsides.
The average bald eagle nest is 4 to 5 feet in diameter and 2 to 4 feet deep. Each year the adult pair will add 1-2 feet of new material to the nest. The largest recorded bald eagle nest, located in St. Petersburg, FL, Florida, was 9.5 feet in diameter, 20 feet deep and weighed almost 3 tons! It’s in the Guinness Book of World Records!
A bald eagle nest is constructed of interwoven sticks. The interior is lined with grass, corn stalks, stubble or other softer material indigenous to the area. The bowl, or nest cavity, is filled with the softest materials including moss (which may serve as an insect repellent), grass and downy feathers from adults.
Facts About Eggs & Incubation
What do the eggs look like? How many are there? How long before they hatch?1 - 3 Eggs in a Clutch
Eagles in Flight
How high and fast can they fly?35 MPH!
Fledging
How long before the eaglets fledge?10 - 12 Weeks of Age
*Many resources were used to gather these interesting facts. They include but are not limited to: American Eagle Foundation, Nature Eagle Foundation, National Eagle Center, www.livescience.com, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Who is Eagle Country?
Eagle Country is made up of a small group of people who love God, love people and love eagles. The eagles’ nest is located on our small cattle ranch in southwest Florida. The ranch has been in the family for generations and the nest has been on the property for around 20 years. We wanted to offer this nest for viewing in hopes that you may enjoy the eagles as much as we do. We also wanted to share with you some of our Florida wildlife friends in the area, “Friends of Eagle Country.” So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, sit back and enjoy!
P.S. Also, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended that we not disclose the location of the nest to avoid the potential disturbance to the eagles. We would ask that if you do know the location, please do not disclose it. Thanks for understanding!