NEFL Eagle Cam - Legacy Soars Free (and shows off for Mom)

NEFL Eagle Cam 04/28/2021 Following a successful fledge and a couple of very short tours of the neighborhood this week, Legacy is restless and decides that today is the day for an extended flight, going far enough to be just a speck on the horizon. Taking off with confidence, Legacy makes loop-de-loops around the nest and even seems to say "Look Mama, look what I can do!" as Gabby watches serenely. She knows that she and Samson have done their jobs well. As night fell, Samson and Gabby were in their evening perch for a "date night" and Legacy was... somewhere out of sight. Will hunger bring Legacy back tomorrow or the next day or next week, or will our young eagle sail off to the Intracoastal and beyond? Only Legacy knows!
Thanks as always to the wonderful cam-ops!
Images ©2021 American Eagle Foundation
Support the American Eagle Foundation - www.eagles.org / www.nefleaglecam.org

[@evydarling]

I love this bird like no other. She has such a zest for life! Soar high baby & be safe! ❤️

[@juliebirb7162]

Wonderful video. I love this family. I want them to live forever.

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Julie

[@feliciafalade7112]

I’ve been watching that little guy since he was just an egg. Brings a tear to my eye to watch him soar. Beautiful majestic baby..❤️❤️❤️

[@janegardner9538]

Legacy, you are an overcomer and a joy to observe. I watched you go through a lot. I knew you were special when you wiggled your backside out of that nest bowl for food so much...love u much🦅💓

[@lindagsmith3702]

That is the very way she stold my heart as well…when she wiggled out of that egg and then the nest bowl…she started out running for sure. ☺️🦅❤️

[@cheryltavernier9906]

Much happiness to you Legacy ! 😘

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Cheryl

[@fisheye7440]

Mom must be proud

[@MELISSAO2592]

This bird is the biggest diva.... But am glad to see she is flying and soaring high I love to see this. I wish her the best and may you be well Legacy enjoy your flight and in due time you to will begin the cycle anew with your own clutch. Gabby look so happy and confident in herself and her mate you guys did GREAT. E17 e18 and Legacy our Florida Eaglets are now Eagles. Am so proud of em. 🥰😍❤️

[@parakeet8157]

Getting their "Eagle Wings." So proud of Legacy😍

[@ritadifebbo560]

thank you for all you do here, this has brought me so much joy and love to watch these amazing creatures. I feel blessed and nature is Godly for sure!

[@cheryltavernier9906]

GodBless you dear girl!🥰

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Cheryl

[@sallyshipwreck4315]

She'll be back! The empty stomach is a powerful thing! Or maybe she'll just follow Samson to the fishing grounds.

[@edwarddavis6463]

lol

[@evilspacemuffin]

Gabrielle: Everything the light touches is our kingdom. Legacy: What about that shadowy place? Gabrielle: That's Disney World, you must never go there.

[@melmasi5098]

😄

[@16MedicRN]

Lol 😂

[@tschouten1]

Good Luck Legacy! Fly high!!!

[@karson3622]

I never thought this day would come when Legacy came down with the pox. Thanks for the video clip.

[@loriumbarger4238]

❤they all stole my heart! SOAR, LEGACY, SOAR!

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Lori

[@fisheye7440]

Sweet Legacy

[@carmelbailiff3696]

Wow ... brought tears !!

[@kathyzsiros1318]

This is a true moment in history what a awesome sight Legacy soaring ever so high up into the beautiful blue skys yes indeed your Mom & Dad are very proud of you.😘🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Kathy

[@eagle97jd]

Way to go Legacy! Soar where no eagle has gone before!

[@nursejulie]

💞🐥 Thank you Precious Legacy for blessing my life! You’re forever in my heart! 🦅💞 Thank you for making this video so we can all wish our Legacy farewell to soar high and free! 😽😘

[@cmitchell8106]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@edwarddavis6463]

aw both are doing a show for mom ....awesome show i loved it

[@Richard-ev7mc]

Beautiful to see . Stay safe Legacy .

[@netzack]

Thank you for putting this video together. I've been checking in for a few minutes every day since she was an egg. I'm starting to feel empty nest syndrome myself.

[@mariainman3618]

😂😂 Looks like he was dancing..❤️🦅

[@mariaparra7138]

Awesome and fantastic too the beautiful legacy flight she’s have the best parents take care her absolutely gorgeous praying to keep the precious legacy safe and healthy 🙏🦅💖🌹🌸🥀🌹

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Maria

[@Whatnok]

Be safe sweet little Legacy. We miss you. ❤️😌Hope you decide to live close by and learn to hunt quickly🪄. 🦅💛✨

[@asylumofglass]

So happy. My bookmark for Cam 1 still says "2 Eggs!". Been watching for a while. Go Legacy!!!

[@pamw2339]

This is a wonderfully put-together video. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us!

[@cmitchell8106]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jackietucker8942]

To Soar Like an Eagle.

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Jackie

[@patyrod]

We will miss you so much, little girl.

[@perrywilson6180]

Hello Paty

[@kittiepride7772]

I'm gonna need Legacy to come on back to the nest, at least one more time......I'm not ready for her to fledge yet.....It looked like mom and dad were calling her yesterday morning, I hope they know where she is and she has food.

[@Lydia4Jesus_]

same concerns. plus that hawk worries me.

[@cmitchell8106]

I'd bet money they know where she is - remember the nest is like a child's nursery, & the best food sources are away from the nest, where we always see Samson flying in from. There are other eagles and fledglings in the area to meet and hang out with - eagles are very social birds when not defending a nest - and the best way to learn to scavenge and hunt and fish is to be where the "action" is! I have faith in this smart, sassy youngster. :)

[@Lydia4Jesus_]

@@cmitchell8106 I have not watched the nest for very long, so unaware of fledge patterns. Thank you for the reassurance!

[@cmitchell8106]

@@Lydia4Jesus_ You will love this nest - this year's eaglet season is coming to an end but come back in the fall for the new season - and be sure to check out the full nest history at www.nefleaglecam.org - scroll down past the social media links for the history: amazingly, current papa Samson was actually hatched at this nest December 2013!

[@edwarddavis6463]

aw just like a little kid i have wings i can fly im so happy .......i can fly like mom and dad.....

[@sharonwise3433]

💋💋💋

[@brunoneri4557]

Gudbay!!!! ❤️👌🌺♥️

[@kaitlynmcc1590]

if Legacy is gone from the nest for a night or two and then does come back, will the parents still allow her back? 🤔

[@cmitchell8106]

Yes absolutely! They've been observed returning even a few weeks later and still being "family" - remember the parents with their excellent vision likely know where their youngsters are even when we can't see them. Parents may continue to bring fish to the nest "just in case the kid comes home" - and the fledglings are often spending at least some of their time following the parents around hoping for an off-nest or take-home meal. Here's a great example in an AEF video from this nest 3 years ago, both eaglets had fledged but clearly were keeping an eye on Mom while she was out fishing, and Juliet knew that her job as a Mom wasn't quite done for the season: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpvTpqquq5ehY6c

[@kaitlynmcc1590]

@@cmitchell8106 oh cool, thank you for that. I only started watching these nest cams a few months ago so I have been wondering about this sort of thing 💚🧡💙

[@cmitchell8106]

@@kaitlynmcc1590 Glad that helped! Did you know that dad Samson was actually hatched at this nest? You can find much more about this nest's amazing history at nefleaglecam.org - scroll down past the social media links for a narrative of the past few years. And Legacy may have flown by earlier this morning - on rewind you can see a young eagle fly by the tree from upper left to lower left on Cam 3 at 08:41:16 nest-time. :)

[@kaitlynmcc1590]

@@cmitchell8106 wow! no I had no idea about dad Samson being hatched at that nest! I guess he inherited it lol Truly fascinating to watch all this and learn - thank you!! 🧡❤💛💚

[@nonnie2428]

Dang those pesky crows ! Always crashing the party .

[@nancyledis5042]

I watched yesterday and last night. None of them were there. Where did they go? Worried something happened to them.Is this normal?

[@cmitchell8106]

Yes very normal - Legacy may return to the next tree today or next week or not at all, each fledgling behaves in its own way. Samson brought a big fish in yesterday afternoon, maybe to enjoy all for himself of maybe just in case his young one came home hungry. The parents were observed together in one of their favorite perching trees nearby in the evening, maybe enjoying a "date night" after a busy season LOL. There are several neighborhood trees where they spend a lot of time together - think of the nest tree as a child's nursery, and the rest of the neighborhood is the rest of their "house" to enjoy when they're not busy raising an eaglet. You can see the picture taken from the ground last night in the chat box at www.nefleaglecam.org, and an evening "tuck-in" report is posted there almost every day. :)

[@evydarling]

TTE = Trust the Eagles. They know what they're doing 😊

[@nancyledis5042]

Thank you for your response this is new to me and I watch daily. Legacy just started flying so I thought that she would stay around the Nest for meals and to sleep. Is she able to catch her own food at this point? I love your videos and have subscribed🤗

[@cmitchell8106]

@@nancyledis5042 It's unlikely Legacy would catch live prey just yet unless she got really lucky. In the first year after leaving their parents it's believed most of their diet is carrion and any scraps they can find or steal from other eagles/other predators as they acquire their own hunting skills. That first year is their biggest challenge - hence when we've seen Legacy act like what some call a "spoiled brat" she's just showing the fight-to-survive instinct that will serve her well when she's on her own. Legacy certainly has the bloodlines to do well, with Gabby's strong will and Samson's hunting skills. :) Glad you enjoy the videos - eagle season is winding down but with any luck Samson and Gabby will start right up again in the fall!

[@СергейСимонов-ф8с]

Класс

[@lamlap12345]

i dont understand why mom dont talk to legacy?????her mom just sits on her branch looking around....i know legacy is lonely with no siblings to run and talk to....

[@cmitchell8106]

I think Gabby is just supremely confident that her youngster is going to do great - hanging out quietly and chillin' is what eagles do when they are safe and happy. And faithful Samson brought a fish in yesterday just in case Legacy came back hungry. The parents know instinctively that it's time for their kid to leave the nest and start exploring the world, and nature leads them to behave in a way that will encourage Legacy to do just that! :)

[@elias3506]

@@cmitchell8106 Isn´t it too soon to leave the nest? I hope juvenile Legacy stay in the region for a few weeks. Maybe Samson and Gabby feed Legacy somewhere else in the rest of their "house" and we don´t see it, if Legacy didn´t come back? We´ll see. I hope we see smart and strong Legacy again.

[@cmitchell8106]

@@elias3506 Remember the best food sources are actually away from the nest - in the swamps and over by the Intracoastal Waterway where we see Samson flying in from so often. Legacy's best chance at learning to scavenge and hunt and fish is to be where the "action" is, and yes eagle parents do provide food for their young away from the nest. Some fledglings like to come back to the nest a lot, and some are ready to go hang out at the "grocery store" right away - I have faith in our smart, sassy Legacy! :)

[@elias3506]

@@cmitchell8106 👍 You are right! Thank you for answer. There is much more to learn where the "action" is, for our smart, sassy Legacy :)