Widower Florida Bald Eagle Spending Nights With New Female, Away From Eaglets

M15’s longtime mate, Harriet, disappeared a month and a half ago.

There’s never a dull moment for Florida’s most famous bald eagle family.

From Harriet’s heartbreaking disappearance to the tense weeks that followed as newly single dad M15 struggled to care for their two young eaglets alone, Southwest Florida Eagle Cam has provided enough drama to fuel a Netflix series.

Now, as eaglets E21 and E22 grow nearer to fledging, the feathered family’s story is evolving from one of against-all-odds survival to an inspiring example of perseverance. And just maybe, of love after loss.

Fans have watched as various female suitors have attempted, with varying levels of success, to woo M15 since Harriet’s death. R23-3, the female that managed to assist with feeding time, came the closest to winning his heart. But, recent behavior suggests that M15 recently made his deepest connection yet—one strong enough to pull him away from his fiercely guarded nest.

“Well it’s official! March 15, 2023 the first night M15 stayed at a nearby tree instead of his usual spot at the nest,” Southwest Florida Eagle Cam announced on Twitter. “He followed a female to the spot. Could it be a new interest?!”

This development, while promising in some respects, has created a new cause of stress for viewers. M15’s absence from the nest leaves E21 and E22 unprotected from opportunistic scavengers.