Watch the SWFL Eagle Cam live from Southwest Florida and follow beloved bald eagle pair M15 & F23 through nest building, egg-laying, hatch, and fledge. Below you’ll find the live stream, today’s highlights, season timeline, and FAQs to help you get the most from the cams.
Season Timeline
- Nestoration: late Oct–Nov — sticks, rails, soft grass & moss
- Egg window: early–mid Nov (watch for increased food deliveries & nest time)
- Hatch window: ~35 days after laying
- Fledge window: ~10–12 weeks after hatch
- Post-fledge: parental feeding & flight training near the nest
Read more
Meet M15 & F23
- M15: Veteran provider & nest engineer; known for multiple fish deliveries/day in pre-lay.
- F23: First egg of 2024 laid Nov 8; 2025 Nov 12th; in pre-lay periods she often eats on the nest and increases time in the nest tree.
How to Watch (Cam Tips)
- Playback: Use the DVR bar to rewind ~12 hours.
- Audio: Wind can mask vocalizations; try the 4K cam for clearer sound.
- Behavior cues: Mantling over food, aerating, rolling eggs, “chortle” vocalizations.
- Tip: For the best audio of chortles and wingbeats, use the 4K cam.
- Local time: The nest operates on Eastern Time (ET).
Nest History & Notable Moments
- Stick engineering: Watch M15 test & wedge branches to raise rails.
- Food log: Tilapia, catfish heads, mullet—varies by season and water levels.
- Visitor notes: Loggerhead shrike, anhinga, and the occasional raven fly-by.
FAQs
Q: When do SWFL eagles usually lay eggs?
A: Typically early–mid November, with hatch roughly 35 days later.
Q: Why is F23 eating on the nest?
A: In pre-lay, females often conserve energy and stay close to the bowl, so on-nest feeding increases.
Q: How can I tell who’s on the nest?
A: F23 is larger with a rounder head; M15 shows a slightly slimmer frame and often arrives with sticks or fish.
Q: Do you intervene?
A: No. These cams document wild eagles for education and research; intervention is not part of this project.
Q: Best times to watch?
A: Sunrise and late afternoon for deliveries and nest work; overnight for incubation shifts.
Support & Alerts
- Get email alerts for eggs, hatches, & first flights
- spo-newsletter
- Support these cams & conservation: dickpritchettrealestate.com
Cam 3
main cam
4k cam
Community Discussions
Questions and topics started by viewers.
SHHH Baby sleeping 😑
Haven’t seen a feeding in quite a while and the baby has been left alone a lot.
baby just had brunch now it’s peeking over the edge watching the world go by. a lot of new fluff was brought in too for comfort😄
At 15:37, E26 tried to stand and flap
“I can do this”
Nope, plopped back down
It was a good first effort
Wings just about span the nest.
Yes, 26 is getting big.
So cute. Thanks and good capture.
You’re welcome, Debbie
Good one! Thanks.
Watching everything happening down below
Great picture Mary!
Thank you, Vicki.
Where does mommy go, when she is out of nest for awhile???
I worry about the little baby all alone.
Is mom looking for food??? I hate seeing the baby alone in the nest.
In the day time, the parent on duty can be up in the nest tree out of cam view, or in a tree very close by where they can see the nest. Eagles have excellent vision in daylight. At 18:23 on Cam 3 (distant view), she flew up to the branch just above the nest in the nest tree (circled in blue). At 1:00 am, she flew back down into the nest. When the eaglet is getting bigger, the mom starts sleeping more on a branch instead of in the nest. Both parents can be sleeping next to each other… Read more »
Thank you for the information Mary!!!!
You’re welcome, Lisa.
So cute with the egg tucked under her wing.
sleeping
So sweet!