SWFL Bald Eagles: 🦅 M15 & F23 🦅 still mating with 2 eggs 🥚🥚 in nest 💕 2023 Nov 28

Having 2 eggs in the nest doesn't stop M15 & F23 being frisky. Seriously, though, this view answers all questions about how eagles (and other raptors) mate.
Courtesy Dick Pritchett Real Estate, SWFL Eagle Cam
Cam 1: • Southwest Florida Eagl...
Cam 2: • Southwest Florida Eagl...
Cam 360: • Southwest Florida Eagl...

[@debh3781]

M15 is such a family man. 🤣

[@gummybearlol]

I'm thinking m15 wants a nestful of babies.He ❤️ fatherhood so much and he adores his new girl.Awe so cute they are.

[@maggiemurdoch5698]

Good grief how many babies do they want? Lol!!! I love F23s soft vocals, so sweet!

[@LeicesterRose]

F23 wants another egg. These 2 are the best, so cute. Thanks SKH, for allowing us to observe, for education purposes, lol

[@ishmyl99]

😂

[@ishmyl99]

@2:13 They even slowed down traffic. 😁

[@lb2229]

😂

[@taffyb4007]

Very committed and strong bond!

[@Katt30]

Think they're trying for a third and forth egg, as I saw a video of them mating before the second egg was laid, lol.

[@ishmyl99]

Beautiful, precious ovals.

[@kerrykestrowl6785]

They are bonding mates for life❤

[@nursejulie]

💞 Sweet..🥰

[@LaurieFloodTeacher]

"Wait, Honey, are you sure?" Flies over to the other side. Gets confirmation. "Okay, then..."

[@parakeet8157]

M15 = crazy eagle😂 Wants all kinds of eaglets❤

[@dianahendricks7325]

Susan thank you so much for that information. It is much appreciated. I will be watching for a possible third egg. From California

[@user-sx2ef8eo3r]

Two beautiful eggs, for two beautiful eagle parents. Thank you Lady Hawk.😊❤🦅

[@skhideaways]

Oh, I’m not Lady Hawk. I’m SK Hideaways! You’re welcome!

[@meetvirginia7023]

I predicted a 3rd egg after the first was laid. I just have a feeling ☺️🦅🐣🐣🐣🙏

[@catherinebreitfeller669]

More than 2 usually means one won’t make it - doesn’t get enough to eat or gets bonked to death. 😢

[@gregthegroove]

I was thinking today that maybe F23 who’s supposedly a new mom I guess? What if she wants to lay 3? Harriett always laid 2, that’s all this nest has known for years. It would be quite interesting to see if that changes.

[@LechLecha893]

They can lay up to four, but that’s unusual, and dangerous. I think we will see three.

[@LechLecha893]

Of course sticks have to be perfect! F23 want the nursery ready for the gender reveal! 💙

[@sharonfrench4299]

OMG 😱 so beautiful just can't wait to see them congratulations for second time yes❤😊

[@gorgeousowl]

And that my friends was a successful mating. Who knows maybe this season and for the first time we will have a clutch of three. I'm just loving and enjoying every bit, after last year hope has returned to the best..❤❤

[@mehmetfirat2005]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kitkat5765]

I bet it's surprisingly hard to line up cloacas correctly while balancing on someone's back😂 Glad they're still feeling the drive, even though I assume a third egg won't be coming. (Two eaglets seems trouble enough with their competition!)

[@mollyk2883]

They are born in haven ❤❤

[@paulettemaldonado862]

Harriet has laid three eggs in the past before wants. I think I’ve been watching this nest for a long time.

[@melissamcclain34]

M15 still bringing in nest material before long he'll have built a fortress around F23 and the eggs lol and all that early morning traffic, they probably didnt have a clue 2 eagles where getting it on 😂😂😂

[@6falconsue]

As far as I know, eagles don't have a bonding ceremony in their repertoire, so good old basic mating will have to do--lol.

[@skhideaways]

Nest building and maintenance as well as chortling are all bonding activities. Only our sophisticated PEFAs have the formal bowing pair-bonding displays, as far as I know.

[@6falconsue]

@@skhideaways Nestoration did occur to me but I wasn't sure it could be considered bonding when eagle couples often disagree on what should be placed where--lol. But they do spend a lot of time on nestoration and building so they must enjoy it.

[@lol4lol993]

I always thought they stop mating once the eggs are laid.

[@TheDoriette]

I saw this live, and when Lady put her head down with M vocalizing, I knew that was coming. 😆❤️🦅🦅

[@hollyann127]

Wild animals are very intuitive and know about the eco system health and from year to year they know what the environment can handle on how many babies to have.

[@kaliopec2736]

Hope to see third egg 🥚🥚🥚

[@pjb12025]

Since there is already a clutch on the nest, the mating they are engaging in is merely to strengthen their bond. Eagles only lay one clutch a year unless a clutch was not viable.

[@paulettemaldonado862]

This is part of bonding as well. They are not humans, so I think they know if they can have more or not. I think it’s part of a bonding situation.

[@nellowynpitman1439]

They are so cute 💕 I think a third egg is very likely ……. ❤️🦅🦅🥚🥚🇦🇺

[@pjb12025]

Mating doesn’t mean a third egg by any means because more than likely F23 isn’t in that two week fertile window but time will tell. She may already have that third egg in her. She mated with M yesterday before having egg 2 so 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️. Raptors do mate all year around to keep their bond strong and growing. We just aren’t used to it.

[@dianahendricks7325]

With all of the mating going on, could there be more eggs.

[@susanrosales7669]

eagles will mate over a 10-month period but the only mating that results in fertilization happens during a two-week period preceding and during the period while the eggs are being laid. She could lay another egg since she is in that time frame of laying eggs. We will know in a day or two.

[@user-iy3qi8ce4o]

They will be good parents either way 2,3, or more

[@user-iy3qi8ce4o]

i think we will know when they stay in nest more and on the eggs

[@gungho1284]

There might be a good chance for a third egg.

[@gstseek]

What will be the approximate date that they might start to hatch?

[@user-xd1gt9if2v]

Hello....I think it's 38 days max

[@skhideaways]

Typical gestation period for bald eagles is 34-36 days.

[@lb2229]

Is there a possibility she can lay more eggs? Or no, all there attention will be on the new egglets and bonkfests! lol

[@skhideaways]

Likely no more eggs this season unless the two currently in the nest are infertile/inviable/don’t hatch. Even then there’s no guarantee she would have a second clutch.

[@ishmyl99]

"educational purposes." We're all just kids on the farm. But I can't see nothun' with all those feathers in the way! Some 'education.' 😉

[@ecalose6785]

Not good, the smallest will suffer. I don’t know why everyone is happy re same!

[@melissamcclain34]

Not necessarily true, depends on several factors.

[@ecalose6785]

It’s most of the time a nightmare for the smallest so please don’t sugar coat it. @@melissamcclain34

[@user-wh4pe7xu2d]

In 2022, the Hayes eagles (Pittsburgh) raised 3 eaglets that fledged.