Question: If they bond, can Pride and the new female nest later?

Posted by NewMexiKen on
URL: http://bald-eagles-of-broward-county-florida.17.s1.nabble.com/Question-If-they-bond-can-Pride-and-the-new-female-nest-later-tp7573854.html

I received a good question and am not able to give a definite answer.

If it takes more time for Pride and the new female to bond, can they just nest later than normal?  We know time will tell all!

My best respose is:

I know that for many bird species, songbirds in particular, that their reproductive system goes through an annual cycle. The ovaries enlarge as breeding season approaches and regress afterward for the rest of the year.

Raptors' cycles are typically synchronized with availability of prey so that when young are growing fastest prey is most plentiful. Great Horned Owls have greatest need when baby rabbits are most plentiful.

Bald Eagles in the northern part of North America must finish breeding in time to fly south to find open water or, in the case of our South Florida eagles, north, to find fish closer to the surface in the cooler water.

So my guess is that there may be a window of opportunity after which breeding would be unlikely. Make sense?