That's right, our nation's mascot, icon and endangered species lives right here. About 20 bald eagle nests are known to exist around Naples Bay.
"They generally nest within a mile of a water body where they can fish for food," said Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Wildlife Biologist Karen Whitney. "I'm the eagle girl."
Some may be surprised that bald eagles primarily eat fish. Small mammals like mice and rabbits might seem more like eagle fare, but the raptors prefer a seafood diet.
Whitney and her team collect data about the eagles and their nests and report to the U.S. Fish even if bald eagles are taken off of the endangered species list, they will still be protected.
Other groups, like Audubon Eagle Watch, help with observation and tracking. Initiated in 1992 with 22 volunteers, Eagle Watch now has over 250 volunteers in Florida, monitoring 265 bald eagle nests.
Eagle Watch locates about six new nests per year. All the data is forwarded to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, where Whitney and her team compile it for their annual aerial eagle nesting survey, and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to record nesting activities of Florida eagles, particularly those in urban areas like Naples Bay.
The news of bald eagle activity in Naples could be exciting to Neapolitans concerned with the rapid development of their town. Wildlife is still thriving here.
For more information about bald eagles in Naples, Florida and the U.S. visit www.myfwc.com for Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at www.fws.gov or Audubon Eagle Watch at www.audubon.org.