Beloved bald eagle presumed dead after going missing from Florida nest
Beloved bald eagle presumed dead after going missing from Florida nest
Julia Gomez and Tayeba Hussein, USA TODAYWed, March 4, 2026 at 2:44 PM UTC
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After missing for several days, a famous Florida eagle is presumed dead, leaving thousands of birdwatching fans heartbroken. And the sad news comes days after the eagle mom welcomed an eaglet with her mate.
The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, based in Fort Myers, Florida, around 158 miles northwest of Miami, which broadcasts the mated pair of bald eagles, announced on Tuesday, March 3, that a female eagle, called F23, is likely dead after the body of an eagle was found two miles away from the nest. She was the mate of an eagle known as "M15."
"This is a deeply sad day for our community," Southwest Florida Eagle Cam stated in a post on Facebook. "We were blessed to observe F23 for just two and a half seasons, but in that short time, her eagerness to learn, her devotion to M, and her care for her eaglets were unmistakable."
The livestream is awaiting confirmation that the deceased eagle is in fact F23, but are presuming she is dead due to the proximity to the nest and the timing of when the eagle was found. A cause of death has not been released.
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When did F23 go missing?
The livestream announced on its social media on Sunday, March 1, that F23 had not been seen in camera view since 8:12 a.m. Friday, Feb 27.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) were notified of F23's disappearance, according to a social media post.
It was F23's third season being mated with M15. The year before was particularly difficult for the avian couple, after they both came down with the bird flu, which killed both their eaglets in January 2025. Mom and dad recovered.
In December, they welcomed E26.
One of the new eaglets at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam was fed by a parent on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.Not the first mate M15 lost
Since F23 disappeared, her mate, M15, has been caring for the eaglet on his own, but solo parenting isn't new to him.
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In 2023, Harriet, M15's mate of eight years, disappeared, leaving M15 to raise their two eaglets until they could fly on their own.
Fans grieve the loss of F23
In the comment section of the livestream's announcement, fans shared their grief.
"Oh, this is so sad and devastating," commented one fan.
"My heart can just not take this a third time," said another. "I just get too attached."
Some commenters remembered F23 as a good mom, while others commended M15 for being devoted to his eaglets.
Watch the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam livestream
The eagle livestream, which captures the birds from four separate cameras, has attracted more than 233 million viewers worldwide.
The livestream can be watched on its website or on YouTube.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
Tayeba Hussein is a breaking news reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her at thussein@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest Florida Eagle Cam's F23 presumed dead after going missing
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