If anyone has seen the eagles, adults or eaglets, since May 27, please post here with dates. Negative observations are just as important as sightings in establishing the departure dates of the birds, so also post here if you did NOT see the eagles during the past few days.
May 27 was the 125th day after the first eaglet hatched, one day short of 18 weeks of age. Last season, Hope (the older of the two chicks) departed on the 126th day, and Justice, her young sibling, lingered 10 days longer, until the 135th day, which was June 1, 2009.
We can expect that the youngsters are now wandering around South Florida, perhaps alone or with other juvenile eagles, or with a flock of vultures, or-- even with one of the adults, sharpening hunting skills or eating roadkill.
Without satellite monitoring, we do not know if the eaglets may be heading up north to Chesapeake Bay, where we know some of those from Central and North Florida spend the remainder of summer.
Last summer one or more adult eagles loafed around the lighthouse island in Sunset Lakes, Miramar. We do not know whether they were the Pembroke Pines pair, but let's keep an eye out for them all summer, and report any sightings here.
In any event, we look forward to the return of the adults in October or November.