Re: Has Eaglet left the nest? Not seen March 23 and 26

Posted by NewMexiKen on Mar 26, 2012; 6:43pm
URL: http://bald-eagles-of-broward-county-florida.17.s1.nabble.com/Has-Eaglet-left-the-nest-Not-seen-March-23-and-26-tp7406651p7407087.html

Thanks, David, for contributing your observations.I have updated the Eagle Milestone Spreadsheet Report.

On March 23, the first day the nest appeared to be empty, the eaglet was 86 days old, assuming it was the first egg hatched, on January 15. Over the past three seasons, the oldest chick fledged when it was (respectively) 77. 81, and 68 days, an average of 75 (mean 74.5) days of age. The youngest chick fledged (respectively) 79, 91 and 70 days, an average of 80 (mean 80.5) days after the first egg hatched. If we hypothesize that this year's eaglet was not the first hatched, its age of 86 days, while above average,  is not outside the range of dates observed for youngest nest-mates in past broods. (See the SUMMARY OF KEY OBSERVATIONS DURING EACH BALD EAGLE BREEDING SEASON (2007-Present))

It is now important to determine the welfare of the eaglet. It should be capable of flight and may have relocated some distance away. This could account for the absence of adults at the nest site. In past years, adults were present most of the time during the period when eaglets left the nest. There is the possibility that it was injured or killed, not uncommon during the first days of free flight.

Since we do not hear the eaglet calling or see adults peering down under the nest or in nearby trees, I believe it would be futile to initiate a search for a downed eaglet in the vicinity of the nest. I am asking volunteer eagle watchers to keep an eye out for the return of the eaglet, and to report observations about the behavior of any adult eagles that may be sighted.