THIS ADVENTURE BEGAN in early February with the excitement of our GIBA Eaglet poking its fuzzy little head out of the nest.
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Pat WrightWe watched the parents providing a good home and healthy meals..and relentlessly guarding and protecting their youngster |
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| photo by Don Miller |
Eaglet stretched and learned to flap its wings.
Then baby learned about hopping AND flapping. And then hopping, flapping, leaping, and finally, Eaglet lift-off!!! We knew that this was the most dangerous part of a young Eaglet's life. Reports say that only 50% of Eaglets survive their first flight.
But then we had the Osprey ( and pesky crows). It was a Battle of the Raptors.
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| Don Miller photo-- baby was able to fly after the 6-Osprey attack |
Our local wildlife expert and heroine, Blanche , was called in after one horrific flight which ended with a downed Eagle.
The Ospreys pestered, harangued, harassed and abused the eaglet in every way possible. An entire Island Community, bridge construction and engineering personnel, GIBA staff, Charlotte County officials, FWC, various environmental friends, and family-- all were rooting for our Eaglet's success . We watched as Eaglet learned to balance on the edge of the nest, cling to branches, and bop the Ospreys right back on the head! Baby did a lot of eating, scratching, grooming and sightseeing along the way. We worried and rallied when there were storms, high winds, Ospreys and other obstacles that came into our Eagles' life.. But our little Eagle family overcame all the odds and made it a true success story on Boca Grande.
November can't come soon enough. (Fair Warning, Ospreys!)
Let's hope we get to do this again!
Good Bye Nest
Good Bye Bridge
Safe Travels, GIBA Eagles
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