NEFL home of Samson & GabbyAs you know Samson has been missing for a few weeks now... I still have hope he will make it home. Meanwhile Gabby has had 11 visitors trying to take over the male figure... here is the latest info below...
Prayers needed for Gabby... this just breaks my heart knowing she is fighting to survive like Romeo & Juliet did that year... Prayers for you Gabby and Samson. ((Gabby & Samson)) please watch over them. Christmas Eve blessings to you sweet girl 💜
Here's our beautiful Gabby in October...2022-10-09_7-38-50 Gabby by
AEF Mods, on Flickr
Gabby todayAEF NEFL ~ Gabby Returns w/ Blood On Her Face! New Suitor V11 Brings Sticks & Works On Nest 12.24.22 https://youtu.be/5n7hP68mv_Q via ladyhawk
Today was an action packed day and we now have a new visitor to add to the growing list - V11. Early in the morning, Gabby flies in to the nest carrying some nesting material/fluff. We see that she has blood stains on her feathers above her left eye and around her gape. It is unknown how this happened to her but she did not come to the nest all day yesterday. The blood stains could be caused by a minor injury or could be result of eating messy prey. I did get a very good look at Gabby's talons and they were spotless - no blood or dirt on them at all which indicates to me that this was probably some type of injury or skirmish. If it was prey, her talons would have blood on them from eating it. AEF noted Gabby had a minor injury to her beak as well. Gabby appears to be fine and is otherwise healthy!
V11 flies in to LOP early and exchanges vocals with Gabby before he drops to the nest and does some nestorations and moves some sticks and fresh pine sprigs. V11 is the eleventh visitor to come to the Hamlet after Samson went missing on Nov 25th 2022. V11 is an adult male and Gabby seems to have accepted his being at the nest in and out all day today (and he is roosting overnight with her too!).
V11 has a distinct mark of dark feathers located at the base of his neck where the white feathers are meeting the brown feathers. This is a great ID for him! V11 also has different tail markings and gapes which distinguishes him from the other eagles. The coolest part of V11 is he started to bring in sticks right away to the nest! His first move was to fly off LOP and grab a branch going upside down and bring to the nest (included in slomo!) Then a couple minutes later he arrives with a stick in his beak!
Gabby and V11 both worked on the nest together and Gabby even gives him a tiny nip to let him know she is boss!
Nice closeups of the dark feathers on V11 are included at the end of the video. Just as a side note, these dark feathers are most likely permanent. Harriet at SWFL has very similar dark feathers at the base of her neck like this that we refer to as "Harriet's heart" and is a permanent ID for her. Her feathers are in the shape of a heart! I hope that V11 will be the LAST eagle and that he and Gabby can form a relationship but that is up to V11 and Gabby ♥ Thank you for watching! I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas! May the magic of the Christmas season fill your home with love, joy and peace! ♥ Lady Hawk