“Rita & Ron” Bald Eagle Update!
In our last issue of Keepin’ it Wild, we highlighted a bald eagle chick that had been rescued, rehabilitated, and successfully released back into the wild. We also spoke about that eagle’s parents, whose nest was destroyed in a storm and how Zoo Miami, in collaboration with Wildlife Rescue of Dade County, was able to construct an artificial platform for the eagles to rebuild their nest – which they began doing in September. Well, a lot has happened since then! The pair of eagles, named “Ron” and “Rita,” after Zoo Miami’s Communications Director and his wife, have not only successfully rebuilt their nest on the platform, but they laid three eggs! All three of these eggs have since hatched. Unfortunately, the last chick did not survive through it’s first day. While sad, it was not unexpected as bald eagles are only around 50% successful in fledging chicks due to the many challenges they face. However, the first two chicks - referred to as “R1” and “R2” - appear to be doing well. They hatched just in time for the New Year, with R1 emerging from its egg around 10 PM on January 1st, and the R2 following at approximately 8:30 AM on January 2nd! Even more exciting, this was all streamed live from state-of-the-art, high-definition cameras for the world to see. As we have seen, this natural journey has been both thrilling and difficult. R1 and R2 still have many challenges ahead and we are reminded that nature is not a fastasy story, but a “survival of the fittest” journey. Whatever happens, we must let nature take its course and will not interfere with any natural process. However, we hope that the unique opportunity provided by the work of Wildlife Rescue of Dade County and the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment will help connect people to nature in a meaningful and memorable way. * Please note that these eagles are nesting in the wild, not at Zoo Miami. We encourage our fellow wildlife enthusiasts to tune in to the Live Cam to witness nature at its purest, without being intrusive! 12
