Last Friday, the female bald eagle known to viewers as F23 failed to return to the Bayshore Road nest in North Fort Myers, suddenly leaving longtime mate M15 alone with their nearly fledged chick, E26. Her disappearance has thousands of livestream watchers on edge as the young eagle edges toward its first flights. Nest operators and local wildlife partners say they are closely monitoring the situation and are asking the public to report any injured or dead eagles.
According to WTSP, Southwest Florida Eagle Cam has reported that there has been "no confirmed sighting of F23" on camera since early Friday. The four-camera livestream is operated on the Pritchett property and presented on a site maintained by Dick Pritchett Real Estate. Operators say M15 continues to bring food and stand guard over E26, and they are urging onlookers to give the tiercel plenty of space while officials coordinate with rehabilitators and state biologists in an effort to locate the missing female.
E26 Nears Fledging
E26 hatched in December and is now in the late pre-fledge stage, meaning the chick is working on powerful wing beats and building the strength needed for its first flights, according to WGCU. That timing makes F23’s disappearance especially nerve-wracking for viewers, since young bald eagles still depend on adults for steady food deliveries and protection even as they test their wings. Volunteers and fans have been glued to the cameras, hoping for a glimpse of F23 returning to the nest.
How To Report An Injured Eagle
Officials say anyone who finds an injured or dead bald eagle should contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922, or reach the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) at 239-472-3644 ext. 222, per FWC and CROW. Members of the public are urged not to try to capture, move, or treat an eagle on their own; both organizations emphasize that only trained personnel should handle these protected birds to avoid further harm.
Background And What Comes Next
The Bayshore Road nest has been featured on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam since 2012 and has built a long, emotional history for viewers, with both high points and heartbreak. Ozzie, an earlier male at the nest, died in 2015, and beloved female Harriet vanished in early 2023. Last season, M15 and F23 lost two eaglets to avian influenza, according to the nest operators. The camera team says they will continue to share only verified updates on their website and social channels. For now, the community is left watching M15 carry on solo as E26 approaches the critical milestone of fledging.
