Preserving Paradise

Eagle cam duo rebuild in Hurricane Ian’s wake

By CHUCK BALLARO

news@breezenewspapers.com

Southwest Florida’s most famous eagle pair have rebuilt their nest in the wake of the worst storm to ever hit Southwest Florida.

Harriet and M15 had their nest destroyed by Hurricane Ian.

But, as they have in the past, the duo quickly put to rest the question of whether the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam would end if the adults decided to rebuild off the Pritchett property on Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers.

Within just a few days of their rebuilding process, Harriet and M15 had the foundation of their new nest completed. As of two weeks ago, the entire nest was nearly finished, with only the soft downy part to be placed in the nest for the anticipated eggs.

If the past egg layings hold true, that should come in the next couple weeks, opening up a whole new 24/7 eggs-to-flight season for the viewing of nature-lovers worldwide.

“Within a few days of rebuilding, they had a substantial nest that they are going to use in the same tree in the same spot, ” Andrew Pritchett, founder of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, said. “It’s amazing and it’s a testament to the eagles. ”

Also amazing is that the cam is gearing up for the new season.

At first, there was not a camera to allow viewing and the typical egg-watch discussion in the chatroom, but the website has come alive once again. Not only is the “nestcam” functioning, but videos have been posted on YouTube of Harriet’s and M15’s daily happenings. The Eagle Cam is ready to broadcast its 11th season of covering the eagles, which has attracted millions of views.

The cam launched in 2012; last year’s brood of two were dubbed E-19 and E-20 for eaglets 19 and 20.

“The cameras are actually working, but not fully operational. We’re fortunate the cameras survived the storm. The connections were still usable, ” Pritchett

See EAGLE CAM, page 13

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

SCCF, partners sample local waters for red tide

Recently, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Laboratory scientists partnered with Captains for Clean Water and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to sample 26 sites offshore Sanibel and Captiva for the presence of Karenia brevis, the micro algae that causes red tide.

On Nov. 18, the SCCF reported that the team found K. brevis in every water sample. Most sites had low to medium concentrations of K. brevis, while several had high concentrations. The highest concentrations were located off of eastern Sanibel and northern Captiva.

“Fish kills and respiratory irritation are almost certain at these high levels, ” SCCF Marine Lab Director Dr. Eric Milbrandt said. “We also found areas on the higher end of medium near South Seas resort. ”

The SCCF reported that the results provide missing red tide counts in the region and will help inform government partners on the scope and intensity of the red

See RED TIDE, page 13

Shell museum presents virtual program

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel presented a free virtual program on Nov. 10. Museum curator and Science Director Dr. José H. Leal discussed the kinds of impacts that can be experienced by mollusks during and after major storms, such as Hurricane Ian. Executive Director Sam Ankerson introduced the program, as well as provided a post-storm update on the museum. To watch the free program, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=Bltoq4MfobM&feature=youtu.be.

CALUSA WATERKEEPER

Monthly water sample results

The Calusa Waterkeeper recently released it and the Florida Department of Health's water sample results for fecal indicator bacteria for the month of November. For more information and an interactive map, visit https://calusawaterkeeper.org/.

Red tide From page 12 tide bloom, which extends from Manatee County to Collier County. The bloom was likely intensified by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, which washed in nutrients and pollution, as well as elevated the Lake Okeechobee water table.

“After the storm, a lot of the resources were taxed, so we’ve had a huge data gap in the sampling effort, ” SCCF Chief Executive Officer James Evans said. “We’re trying to fill that gap so that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has the data that they need to make management decisions on how they release water from Lake Okeechobee. ”

Although nutrients from Lake Okeechobee water releases have been found to contribute to feeding red tide, lake releases during the period have been minimal. No releases had been made since Nicole hit, and flows were in the optimal flow envelope (750-2,100 cubic feet per second) for 22 days. The SCCF and Captains for Clean Water also recently partnered in a joint letter urging the Corps to refrain from authorizing additional releases into the Caloosahatchee Estuary while red tide is at such levels.

The SCCF reported that dead fish and other wildlife, including turtles and birds, have been washing ashore on Sanibel, Captiva and other impacted areas due to high concentrations of brevetoxins, which are produced by red tide and can also cause respiratory irritation in humans. Red tide can also contribute to fish kills by depleting the water of dissolved oxygen.

“A lot of red tide blooms are transported by ocean currents, and those are dictated by the climate, so there’s not really much intervention we can do other than trying to reduce flows (from Lake Okeechobee) if possible, or man-

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

age the flows and allow for discharges at a later time when there aren’t as many harmful effects seen on the coast, ” Milbrandt said.

In addition to K. brevis, water samples collected on the research trip will be tested for nitrogen, phosphorous and dissolved oxygen concentrations.

Despite poor conditions, Milbrandt said that there are ways to mitigate future blooms.

“Hurricane Ian has really changed the water quality in a negative way, but over time — through dilution, through seasonal changes — we hope that nature will be able to absorb this blow, along with the communities on our barrier islands in Southwest Florida, ” he said. “But we do have to continue to reduce our nutrient footprint. We need to try and convert septic to sewer in more places. We need to reduce the use of fertilizers where possible, and try to build more treatment wetlands in the watershed to slow down the water before it gets to the Gulf of Mexico. ”

To send an email asking Corps Jacksonville District Commander Col. James Booth to hold off on releasing water from Lake Okeechobee until the threat of red tide has passed, visit https://p2a.co/wVMwhRp.

Eagle cam From page 12 said. “Right now, we have one camera (Cam 1) that’s live and it’s the one over the nest. ”

Pritchett said the other cameras are OK, but there have been connection issues that have made Cam 2 inoperable. The “Pondcam” is working. As for the eagles, Pritchett said he expects Harriet to lay her eggs soon. The two have been actively working on the nest and getting it ready for eggs. “Time will tell if the schedule is off due to the storm, but we’re expecting them to lay their eggs as they normally would, within the next two weeks, ” Pritchett said. “Harriet is up there in age, but she’s working on the nest and showing signs that she’s still healthy.

“We’re excited for the year and the eagles rebuilding their nest is a testament to them and the area. We’re going to rebuild together, ” he said.

For more on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, visit dickpritchettrealestate.com.