Through the lens of a live streaming camera the world has watched over the past five months as the adult eagles, nicknamed Harriet and Ozzie, lay, hatch and raise their young.
From the time the eaglets were hatched in the first few days of the live stream has averaged over , views a day. Dick Pritchett Real Estate launched the camera that observes the eagles in their natural habitat in hopes of providing an educational and learning experience. Now five months into existence, the camera has had dozens of schools contact them to utilize the cam in classroom learning.
These classroom visits, videos and photos seen on websites, have all been made possible thanks to the many volunteers who moderate and manage the chat rooms. Viewers can have their questions answered by knowledgeable resources thanks to all of them. The eaglets, which normally spend 80 days in the nest after hatching, will grow quickly over the first 30 days, gaining about half their full body weight. Then, as they begin to build strength and stability, their coordination and balance advances allowing them to stand on their feet and take small steps.
After another 30 days, while developing their juvenile feathers, they will start to use their wing muscles by jumping and flapping around in the nest. Finally, after a total of almost three months on the nest, the eaglets will be able fly and hunt by observing their parents and then fledge, or leave the nest.
Harriet and Ozzie have been calling North Fort Myers their winter home for over 20 years and reside in the nest between the months of October and April. This active pair of birds have been laying eggs and raising fledgling eagles for the past several years.
