Our Adventure with Eagles

Our Adventure with Eagles

By Gail (Jackson) Kruetzman

The desperate phone call came from Eagle Watch. Someone had found two juvenile eagles on the ground in a state park near our home. They were possible victims of failed attempts at flying or maybe victims of predators. After being rehabilitated at Audubon’s Bird Sanctuary in Maitland, the birds were ready to be released. But to where? Eagle Watch asked us to try and find the nest. After several days tramping though the 1000+ acre park, my husband found the nest. It was located in a dish platform on a huge utility tower. There was one parent sitting nearby. We thought he might be wondering about his lost fledglings. With TV cameras and newspaper reporter in tow, the birds were released soon thereafter. Great PR for Audubon and Eagle Watch. We let two days pass by before checking to see if the “kids” had been allowed back home by the parents. Much to our joy all four eagles were spotted near the nest and appeared to doing just fine.

We didn’t think much about the family after that. Instead we had focused our attention on the 100 acre orange grove across the street. Much to our dismay it had been sold for development. and we so hoped something could be done to prevent this. Then one day we noticed an adult eagle roosting on a power tower near the grove. It sat there for two weeks before another eagle appeared. And then a nest appeared right in the middle of the grove. With great delight we notified Eagle Watch, who notified the “powers that be” and they notified the developers .Building in the grove would have to be delayed for awhile. Perhaps years we could hope? As an after thought we wondered if the adult eagles weren’t also the pair whose young we had saved. Who knows? Perhaps they had decided to pay us back by building their new nest next to our home? Whatever the reason, we will be rewarded by watching them raise their new family and we hope this time the young will have a safe journey.