Riverbend of Naples
OUR COMMUNITY > EAGLES
RIVERBEND'S NESTING EAGLES
Our community has a nesting pair of eagles, which chose one of the neighboring trees to raise their young. Eagles mate for life, and ours have had several broods over the years, with usually 1 or 2 eaglets each year. The parents take turns guarding the nest, and occasionally we can see one of them bringing food (fish or rodents) for their young. The babies grow rapidly, and in just a few weeks are ready to fly on their own.
Some of their story is shown in the photos below. Every spring, our residents enjoy watching the eaglets grow and learn how to fend for themselves. Our nest has been given the number C036, and in 2013, an Audubon volunteer team was assigned to observe the nest, and they have been gracious enough to send us reports each year.
The earliest story we have is from 2010. You can read it here.
Some of their story is shown in the photos below. Every spring, our residents enjoy watching the eaglets grow and learn how to fend for themselves. Our nest has been given the number C036, and in 2013, an Audubon volunteer team was assigned to observe the nest, and they have been gracious enough to send us reports each year.
The earliest story we have is from 2010. You can read it here.
2011 - There was 1 eaglet this year.
2012 - There were 2 eaglets this year, but we lost one to an accident with an electrical line. Unfortunately, we do not have pictures from 2012.
2013 - There was 1 eaglet this year. The Audubon volunteer sent us these pictures with her observations:
4-14-13 Partly cloudy, high 80's, light wind Nest C036 11:25 am to 11:50 am We could not see any eagles in nest but shortly afterward the male flew in perched on branch below nest. President of trailer park, Wayne Donle came by and let us know that it was the male. He showed us the tree where both adults hang out at times. Katherine got his email address and will send photos to him which he will put in the trailer park's news letter. He did let us know that the tree is on property that belongs to the golf course. All the time we were there could not see any movement in the nest. The male was still perched on branch when we left.
2013 - There was 1 eaglet this year. The Audubon volunteer sent us these pictures with her observations:
4-14-13 Partly cloudy, high 80's, light wind Nest C036 11:25 am to 11:50 am We could not see any eagles in nest but shortly afterward the male flew in perched on branch below nest. President of trailer park, Wayne Donle came by and let us know that it was the male. He showed us the tree where both adults hang out at times. Katherine got his email address and will send photos to him which he will put in the trailer park's news letter. He did let us know that the tree is on property that belongs to the golf course. All the time we were there could not see any movement in the nest. The male was still perched on branch when we left.
5-4-13 Partly cloudy, high 80's, very windy Nest C036 2:10 pm to 2:30 pm After about fifteen minutes the eaglet got up in the nest , spread it's wing and then shot a big poop over edge of nest. It then did some wing flapping and raised up in nest, so it should be branching soon. It is a large eaglet. No adults in area. No other activity. The eaglet seems very content.
5-12-13 Happy Mother's Day Sunny, humid, mid 80's, light wind Nest C036 11:25 to 11:50 am. We could see the eaglet's head. It just kept popping its head up and down. No adults in area. Just as we were getting ready to leave, it got up and started flapping its wings. It did lift up from the nest some and continued flapping wings. This is a very large eaglet. It will possibly be branching in a week or so.
2014 - There were 2 eaglets this year, although we all thought there was just one at first! The Audubon volunteers, Katherine Belz and her colleague, sent us the following observations and details:
3-2-14 Sunny, temp mid 70's, light wind 11:00 am to 11:35 am At first we couldn't see the eaglet but after about five minutes it put its head and body up, did some wing stretching. It then put its tail to edge of nest and to a poop which Katherine got photos of. Mari thought she saw adult in Australian pine and went down the street to check. Wayne came out and, also, saw head of adult. Then he said the other morning the male brought in a fish and perched on edge of nest and TWO EAGLETS began being fed. The second one is slightly smaller and has been hiding whenever we were there. The other adult was flying high in sky of the area. Before we left the larger eaglet sat up high on left side of nest and the smaller one sat up in center of nest, stretched its wings some. Katherine got good photos of the TWO EAGLETS.
3-2-14 Sunny, temp mid 70's, light wind 11:00 am to 11:35 am At first we couldn't see the eaglet but after about five minutes it put its head and body up, did some wing stretching. It then put its tail to edge of nest and to a poop which Katherine got photos of. Mari thought she saw adult in Australian pine and went down the street to check. Wayne came out and, also, saw head of adult. Then he said the other morning the male brought in a fish and perched on edge of nest and TWO EAGLETS began being fed. The second one is slightly smaller and has been hiding whenever we were there. The other adult was flying high in sky of the area. Before we left the larger eaglet sat up high on left side of nest and the smaller one sat up in center of nest, stretched its wings some. Katherine got good photos of the TWO EAGLETS.
3/15/2014 Sunny 10:55 AM to 11:05 AM I found 2 eaglets in the nest watching everything going on. The one on the right was watching the birds up in the sky and she turned her head to watch. There was no adult eagles around but both eaglets looked content.
3-30-14 Sunny, temp low 70's, variable wind - 9:50 am to 9:55 am From our viewing area we could see that both eaglets are branching. They appear to be about the same size even though it was a long time before we saw both of them at same time. No adults in area. The eaglets were still on same branches when we left. They look very good and content.
2015 - The Audubon volunteers began watching the nest at the end of December 2014 and reported the following:
12/30/2014 10:00 am to 10:12 am We couldn't see anything until about 10:09 am when one in nest came up from nest and then took off. At 10:10 am the mate came in and went down in the nest. So we saw another changing of guard. Probably still on egg/eggs. Very quiet.
12/30/2014 10:00 am to 10:12 am We couldn't see anything until about 10:09 am when one in nest came up from nest and then took off. At 10:10 am the mate came in and went down in the nest. So we saw another changing of guard. Probably still on egg/eggs. Very quiet.
1-6-15 Happy New Year Sunny, temp mid 60's, variable wind10:15am to 10:34 am We could not see anything in the nest or around area. Neighbors said they could hear them around 6:00 am communicating. At 10:27 am adult put head up and then set up higher in nest looking down into the nest. After a couple of minutes went back down in nest very carefully. Probably eaglet/eaglets in nest.
2-8-15 Sunny, temp low 70's, light wind. 10:25 am to 10:36
am - There was an adult sitting in nest feeding
eaglet/eaglets. One eaglet did put head up for a second (still fuzzy
head). Mate was not around. Quiet and no other activity.
March 2015 - Bill Miller shot this pose at sunset:
April 2015 - Here's a shot of the mother eagle feeding one of the babies (who is almost ready to fly off on its own!) This piece has been titled "777 Walkerbilt Road, Unit #43")
4-12-15 - partly cloudy, temp low 80's, light wind. 10:00 am to 10:10 am There was one fledgling perched on nest tree (not sure if it has fledged yet). The other one has fledged and was perched in a dead tree south of the nest tree. They both look content. Quiet around area. The adults were not around.
2017 - There were two eaglets this year. The Audubon volunteers sent us this report on 4/9/17:
9:43 am to 10:00 am. Clear, temp low 60's, light wind. When we arrived one fledgling was in nest and an adult was perched on branch just above nest. We could hear the other fledgling but could not see it. Then adult took off. Shortly an adult flew into the nest with food (may have been the other adult). The fledgling that we could not see flew in to nest and took the food, then flew off again. Then the adult who brought in food flew off toward the north. The fledgling with food came back to nest tree and perched on branch still with some of the food. Fledgling in nest came to same branch but other fledgling would not let it get any of the food. When we left both fledgling were still on same branch, one protecting the food and other trying to get the food.It was really fun watching them
This pair fledged about two weeks ago.
9:43 am to 10:00 am. Clear, temp low 60's, light wind. When we arrived one fledgling was in nest and an adult was perched on branch just above nest. We could hear the other fledgling but could not see it. Then adult took off. Shortly an adult flew into the nest with food (may have been the other adult). The fledgling that we could not see flew in to nest and took the food, then flew off again. Then the adult who brought in food flew off toward the north. The fledgling with food came back to nest tree and perched on branch still with some of the food. Fledgling in nest came to same branch but other fledgling would not let it get any of the food. When we left both fledgling were still on same branch, one protecting the food and other trying to get the food.It was really fun watching them
This pair fledged about two weeks ago.
2018
2-10-18 11:35 am to 11:55 am - Sunny, temp low 80's, light wind. No adults around but at 11:38 am both adults flew in. Male perched on branch below nest and female with fish went into nest and began feeding. Neighbor has seen one eaglet so far. I did get one picture with the eaglet.
Mari and Katherine
Editorial Note: Rabbits have begun to multiply again. Looks like the eagles have changed their diet!
2-10-18 11:35 am to 11:55 am - Sunny, temp low 80's, light wind. No adults around but at 11:38 am both adults flew in. Male perched on branch below nest and female with fish went into nest and began feeding. Neighbor has seen one eaglet so far. I did get one picture with the eaglet.
Mari and Katherine
Editorial Note: Rabbits have begun to multiply again. Looks like the eagles have changed their diet!
2-25-18 9:15 am to 9:40 am - Sunny, temp High 70's, light wind. There were no adults around. At 9:25 am one eaglet put head up looking around and then at 9:35 the other one put its head up. So there are defiantly TWO EAGLETS in this nest. Surprise Surprise WE HAVE THREE EAGLETS in this nest!
4-11-18 Mari had company and stopped to show them the triplets. We could see two eaglets in nest and adult perched in tree just north of nest tree. Then the other adult came in with a fish and put in nest, them immediately the other FLEDGLING flew in to nest and started eating. The adult then joined the other adult in same tree. So we know at least one eaglet has fledged.
4-15-18 9:15 am to 9:30 am - Partly cloudy, temp high 70's, light wind
There was no one in nest. Then one fledgling flew in and perched in a tree south of nest tree. Then another fledgling flew into nest and after a few minutes went down in nest. We thought we were done and Mari went to car and Katherine stayed for a few minutes when an adult flew in with a fish. The eaglet on the right grab the food and was eating it. Then from behind me the third eaglet flew right next to me going north .I don’t know where it came from but I could almost touch it. It was that close. So all three are flying.
There was no one in nest. Then one fledgling flew in and perched in a tree south of nest tree. Then another fledgling flew into nest and after a few minutes went down in nest. We thought we were done and Mari went to car and Katherine stayed for a few minutes when an adult flew in with a fish. The eaglet on the right grab the food and was eating it. Then from behind me the third eaglet flew right next to me going north .I don’t know where it came from but I could almost touch it. It was that close. So all three are flying.
2023
April 30, 2023: THE NEST HAS LEFT THE EAGLETS. Yes, you read it right. The Eagle nest disappeared before the Eaglets fledged it. I'm not sure what happened but have heard three different theories.
Here are a few photos:
Here are a few photos:
You can see one Adult checking on the Eaglets when the nest was good. Second image was after some unknown event, where most of the nest disappeared. Check out the look of the eaglet on the right ... yikes! They continued to stay near the nest as neither had fledged yet.
The eaglet with more white in the center of its chest was first to fly. The bulge at its neck indicates it just ate. The second eaglet waited 3-4 days before it was ready to fly off. The first is likely a female as it was larger. Females can be 1/3 larger with up to an 8 foot wingspan. Males can have up to a 6 foot wingspan. The third image is a typical over-the-shoulder pose.
The first to fledge is testing out its wings here. It took its first flight later this day. In the second image above, the eaglet on the right has yet to fledge. The eaglet on the left stopped by for several visits. This is the tree where the nest was. In the third image above, the second eaglet is testing its wings and finally flew later this particular day
The first eaglet now launches with gusto (first image above). They both hang out together late in the afternoon when an adult eagle returns with food. The adults come by often with food. Pam, the Audubon Eagle Nest Watcher, says the eaglets will stay near-by for some time. I'm hoping to get out in my kayak or boat to capture them fishing.
I remember the day the adult eagles arrived back at Riverbend to discover their Hurricane ravaged nest. They began rebuilding immediately.
Dennis
Unit #30
I remember the day the adult eagles arrived back at Riverbend to discover their Hurricane ravaged nest. They began rebuilding immediately.
Dennis
Unit #30
2024 Nesting Season
November 24, 2023: The nest has been busy. Both Adults have been putting finishing touches on the new nest which looks much stronger than last year. It appears they are sitting on eggs and we are awaiting signs of a hatching.
One recent and entertaining event was when one of the Eagles discovered some dead sod and decided it would make nice soft nesting material. After checking out some samples and cutting out a patch, the Eagle discovered it was too heavy to fly off with. It took two attempts of trimming back the sod patch before it took to the air and up to the nest.
Here are some photos of this event:
Dennis
#30
One recent and entertaining event was when one of the Eagles discovered some dead sod and decided it would make nice soft nesting material. After checking out some samples and cutting out a patch, the Eagle discovered it was too heavy to fly off with. It took two attempts of trimming back the sod patch before it took to the air and up to the nest.
Here are some photos of this event:
Dennis
#30
