My Season 13 Playlist on my channel includes ground videos from my summer visits to the nest pasture. There are also four ground videos from early summer (after the cams went off for Season 12), in my Season 12 Playlist. Here are the playlist links, if interested:
Season 13:    • SWFL Eagles Season 13  
Season 12:    • SWFEC Season 12 2023/2024  

➡ Click through quickly using the time stamps below.
Video opens with the territory Great Horned Owl pair hooting in the nest tree. They are not in cam view to start. The male arrives on the porch branch, and the owls duet (territorial hooting).

The female arrives on the attic branch, and the duet continues. This section is not edited down. The duet continues, then the female will move to the outer branch. The male leaves cam view, then returns, landing on the edge of the nest. He moves to a rail stick, then the nest. While on the nest, the duet continues, and he digs/scratches at the nest material. This is part of the scouting routine, checking out the nest. Watch as he digs/scratches with his feet. The male leaves the nest and cam view. The female remains on the outer attic branch. She leaves fortysix minutes after they first came into view.

What to Expect with the Great Horned Owls visiting: There is no way to know for sure. Owls do not build nests. They take over the nests of other birds (eagles, hawks, osprey, herons), and use a variety of other spots to nest. This is the owl's territory also. Eagles and Owls exclude their own species, but not one another, from territory. The owls are scouting nesting locations while in their courting period. Owls have been here since Season 1 when the cams first went live, so we will probably see the same behaviors as in the past. The owls will visit the nest, and the male will probably bring food gifts for the female. They did this on a regular basis last season.

Will the owls try to take over the nest? That is a possibility, or they may choose a different nesting location. The eagles and owls are aware of each other. We watched M15 last season fly to the nest late at night and stay in it (or the nest tree). We shall see if he does the same this season, and if so, it will likely be closer to egg laying time when he starts. Whoever lays their eggs first will likely keep the nest. The eagles may try to remove the female owl if she lays eggs. It is a dangerous fight for all of them. Eagles are more likely to build another nest if they lose their nest or nest tree. The owls will find another nesting site if F23 starts incubation. F23 was first to lay eggs last season, with the owls starting incubation shortly after in the N2 nest in the W pasture. The N2 nest is no longer there. The owls will not be captured and moved, as some have asked about in previous seasons. The owls are formidable birds; however, an intruder eagle is a far more dangerous bird, IMO. The top reasons eagles go into care or perish are human caused issues: vehicle strikes, power line strikes, poisoning (lead, rodenticide, etc.). Fights with other eagles are far more common than fights with owls. Please try to keep perspective, and try not to worry about things that have not happened. I pray for a safe and successful season for all of the birds nesting on the Pritchett farm.

Time stamps: Provided in DVR time; actual time is on the cam clock.
00:00. Opening.
00:07. No owls in cam view yet. The owl pair are in the nest tree hooting (duet).
00:42. The male owl arrives on the porch, duet continues.
01:45. The female owl arrives on the attic.
06:18. Female grooms her foot.
06:48. Female to the outer branch.
07:09. Male leaves view.
07:16. Male returns to edge of nest, then moves onto a rail stick.
09:08. Male moves onto the nest; he digs/scratches at the nest material.
09:36. Watch the feet as the male digs/scratches.
10:18. Male digs/scratches at the nest material.
11:21. Male digs/scratches at the nest material.
13:04. The male leaves the nest/cam view.
13:10. Female still on the outer branch, preens.
13:57. Female mutes (same as PS, does not shoot it out).
14:18. Female leaves.

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam YouTube Channel:    / @southwestfloridaeaglecam  
Cam1: https://www.youtube.com/live/fMum_nLP...
Cam2: https://www.youtube.com/live/OG1KYnUb...

Official Facebook page for Southwest Florida Eagle Cam:   / southwestfloridaeaglecam  
(This is a public page. You do not need a FB account to view the page.)

Website for Southwest Florida Eagle Cam: https://dickpritchettrealestate.com/s...
Updates and links are posted by the SWFEC Team in the chat box.

Cam video captured & edited by Androcat. Ground video by Androcat.