I didn't watch it, but I wanted to share what Lady Hawk wrote about this event. This female is not interested in helping, she's all about survival for herself.
SWFL Eagles ~ FIERCE Fight On Nest! M15 FORCIBLY KICKS Intruder Out To Protect His E's! 2.15.23https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA9A8SM3kWo28,316 views Feb 15, 2023
E22 was attempting to self feed on fish when the female Intruder flew in to the attic and was watching the E's alone on the nest. She then drops down to the nest and grabs the leftover fish that M15 had brought in and she starts to eat. E22 who was hungry comes over squeeing to her hoping to get fed but the intruder is not interested in feeding another eagles offspring and she warns, lunges, bites and even kicks E22 who went totally submissive. The intruder does this three times to E22 before it moved away from her. The intruder continued to eat and then E21 heads over attempting to get fed and she also warns and bites at E21 who tries to defend itself and the nest.
M15 will see the commotion going on and come flying in quickly to defend the nest and his E's. The intruder lunges at him first - but M15 is fierce and he fights with the intruder on the nest - both eagles stepping all over the E's - E21 getting the worst of the impact. M15 forcibly kicks her off the nest but she does not go far - she lands on a branch right below the nest (seen from cam 3) . Both E's are lying still on the nest pancaked and scared and do not move right away. Thankfully both E's are okay and E22 will get a feeding by M15 after this is over.
This female eagle has an injured talon and seems to be interested in the food and not on harming the E's however I want to caution everyone watching that injury to one or both of the E's could happen in the future from fights like this indirectly or directly, they could be knocked off the nest or even taken. The eagle is not a surrogate mother and she will not bring in food or feed Harriet & M15's eaglets. She is interested in her own survival and in getting free food that M15 is bringing into the nest. The intruder is not helping M15 in her actions, in fact, she is causing him to shorten his feedings just at a crucial time when he normally feeds E22 after E21 is fed. He has been interrupted several times in the past few days by having to chase her out of the nest tree. The food M15 is bringing is for the survival of himself and for his offspring and her constant staying in the nest tree trying to steal food is taking it away from the E's at this crucial junction of having only a single parent to feed and protect them.
M15 is also not interested in a new mate - his sole focus is on hunting, feeding and protecting his eaglets. Her attempts to inject herself into this family can cause dire consequences at this time, so we hope that M15 can stay safe and not get injured in these fights and be able to evict her from the territory. It is hard for a single parent to accomplish all these things - that is why it takes two eagles to defend, protect, hunt and feed their offspring to bring them to fledge. Our magnificent M15 is doing a great job so far and our hopes are that he will be able to continue to do so. Thank you for watching!
Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk
