March 2026
Longboat Key, Sarasota
Days before the eaglets take flight, perched on a branch, taking it all in. The Branching phase last 9 to 10 weeks. After taking flight, the eaglets will be gone by May.
Eaglets,
waiting their turn
— beware, it’s a wild world
Early March 2026
Longboat Key, Sarasota
An eagle nest
high in a tree
on the lee side of the island
overlooking Sarasota Bay.
Two eaglets,
nearly grown,
almost ready to fly.
An Audubon lady
watches the chicks,
camera clicking away.
The parents are off feeding.
Soon one eagle returns
to keep watch.
Soon the day will come
when they teach them
to fish.
Such good parents.
.
Eagle —
keep watching.
Your chicks have not flown.
.
An eagle
keeps a sharp eye out,
wary of the world.
.
How is it
that birds get along
and we can’t?
.
Note
The birds I saw are Bald Eagle chicks. Along the bay they usually fledge (take their first flight) around March or early April, so my timing is spot on. After they fly, the parents still bring them fish for a few weeks while they learn to fish for themselves.
Then they are off on their own.
matsuo-basho-haiku 