Six eaglets fledge during bald eagle nesting season
Since the bald eagle nesting season began in September, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation staff and volunteers monitored 11 nest structures that yielded six eaglets between Sanibel, Captiva and North Captiva. The nesting season for bald eagles in Florida ends on May 15, but it appears the local eagle population has already wrapped it up, officials reported.
On Sanibel, five out of seven nests monitored had nesting attempts — two successfully fledged two eaglets for a total of four, though the three others failed. On North Captiva, a monitored nest successfully produced a fledgling. On Captiva, two of three monitored nests showed active attempts — one succeeded in producing a fledgling, which was treated at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife after falling from its nest. Two eaglets in the other nest died, and one sent to CROW tested positive for rodenticide or rat poison.
The SCCF encourages the following alternatives so poison does not get in the food web and kill animals that feed on rats and mice, such as eagles, barn owls, hawks and bobcats:
– Rodent-proof your home, attic and garage by sealing entry points.
– Encourage rodent predators by landscaping for wildlife and posting owl boxes.
– Ask your pest control professional about physical trapping.
– Keep overhanging branches from roof lines.
– Keep trash secure.
Questions concerning the bald eagles can be directed to eagles@sccf.org.