Martin County EagleWatchers reported a new nest with two young eaglets in January, but this wasn’t just any normal eagle family. One of the parents was banded, indicating it had been part of a research study or rehabilitation program. Bird banding is a powerful tool used by scientists to study bird population dynamics, behavior, and movement. After reporting the unique band code, Audubon learned this eagle was banded by Brian Millsap with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of a study in Central Florida. Brian shared that the male eagle was banded as a nestling in Polk County at nest PO125 in 2000. Audubon’s recent report was the first resighting of this bird in 18 years!

This story was featured in the EagleWatch 2017-2018 Annual Report. Click here to read the entire report.