The Circle of Life….
My dear readers, for those of you following the beautiful, majestic Bald Eagles of SW Florida along with me, ….the news is sad today.
Ozzie has died.
You will remember that Ozzie had been injured and rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
He was spotted at his nest a couple weeks ago, but his mate for life, Harriet’s new found “friend”…named Frequent Visitor…fought Ozzie in an aerial battle. Many thought Ozzie would be okay, but apparently his injuries were more severe as he was found in a North Ft Myers back yard unable to fly.
He was taken back to the agency C.R.O.W., and went through more surgery to repair his broken toes (both feet) and lacerations that had become infected.
At first the prognosis was good….but the lacerations had a bacterial infection and Ozzie died yesterday.
I knew this was “big news” here in SW Florida, but newspapers from around the world talked about Ozzie. USA Today and The Washington Post just to name two.
Ozzie and Harriet had been together for over 20 years, raising many little eaglets.
This picture is of Ozzie feeding “Honor” …one of his babies. Ozzie was such a good father. (Andrew West, News-Press)
The video camera installed in 2012 captured so many real life moments of this pair of eagles as the 24 hour live stream attracted more than 40 million views from all over the world…and Ozzie and Harriet became this region’s most celebrated couple.
Yes, I not only visited the nest site to see them in person, I also sat mesmerized watching the day in and day out happenings of an Eagle’s nest.
As I reported in another post, Harriet didn’t know that Ozzie had been injured and he was gone from the area for several months. When he returned on the 19th of September…I was thrilled that at last these two eagles would be reunited.
However, the young Eagle who Harriet allowed to be around her challenged Ozzie for Harriet’s affections.
I felt at the time that Harriet was just “allowing” FV or Pretty Boy as some nest watchers have named him…to be around while waiting for Ozzie. He was so much younger and very inexperienced. She had to teach him so many things…but on the day that Ozzie returned, all three eagles were in and out of the nest area and tension was high.
The challenge became an aerial battle between the two male eagles and at one point, Harriet flew off after Ozzie and they both disappeared behind the church that is adjacent to the nesting area. The photo above was taken by Desiree Deliz.
I believe that was the last time the two were together and who knows what took place out of the camera’s lens.
I would like to think Harriet sensed that Ozzie was hurt and knew that the circle of life goes on…and perhaps they said their good-byes.
I don’t know, but tears are rolling down my cheeks as I write this.
Some will say he was only a bird, but to me he represented so much of life in this world we live in. The Eagle is our country’s symbol and his representation was amazing. (The above pic by Greg Hill)
Good-bye Ozzie….I will miss you.
Below are links to other posts of Ozzie and Harriet.
Eagle Cam and Ozzie and Harriet
I’ll miss hearing about Ozzie. I’d hoped he and Harriet would be reunited.
I know Sandy…I am still so sad about him. It is good to know that he raised quite a few eaglets and was a very good father to them. But as with all things…life goes on and we will see what new adventures Harriet has in store for us. It was so much fun watching him on the view cam. thanks for stopping by.
Nature is seem as cruel, but you are right, it is just the circle of life and who could blame Harriet for looking at the Pretty Boy when she though Ozzie had left her…
Hugs xx
I still get very sad when I think of Ozzie….and the eagle cam has shown that there is more than one male interested in our Harriet. Hmmm….makes one wonder if somehow she knows! Isn’t nature amazing?
XXX