Nature is thriving on our sanctuary islands! The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) has officially wrapped up the Florida bald eagle nesting season, which traditionally spans from October 1 through May 15 [cite: 1]. While some nests across the state may remain active slightly longer if young birds have not yet fully taken flight, our local local population is celebrating an unprecedented milestone [cite: 1].
Following an incredibly strong start, Sanibel and Captiva experienced a historic, record-breaking year, successfully fledging a total of 13 eaglets—the highest count ever recorded in the islands’ history [cite: 1].
At the LeAneSuarezGroup, we know that our vibrant local wildlife is a huge part of what makes living in Southwest Florida so magical. Seeing our national symbol thrive in such historic numbers is a beautiful testament to the resilience of our local ecosystems.
The Numbers: Breakdown by Island
The exceptional success of the Sanibel Bald Eagle Nesting Season 2026 was driven by high success rates across almost all monitored nesting sites on the islands [cite: 1].
Nesting Success Rates
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Sanibel Island: Four out of five monitored nests were successful, with each of those four nests producing two healthy young eaglets (8 total) [cite: 1].
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Captiva Island: Achieved a perfect success rate, with all three monitored nests successfully fledging a total of five eaglets [cite: 1].
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North Captiva Island: Unfortunately, the lone nest on North Captiva did not fare as well this year, ultimately failing following a fierce territorial dispute [cite: 1]. Biologists remain hopeful that this pair will find success in the upcoming cycle [cite: 1].
| Location | Total Nests | Successful Nests | Eaglets Fledged |
| Sanibel | 5 [cite: 1] | 4 [cite: 1] | 8 [cite: 1] |
| Captiva | 3 [cite: 1] | 3 [cite: 1] | 5 [cite: 1] |
| North Captiva | 1 [cite: 1] | 0 [cite: 1] | 0 [cite: 1] |
Captiva Eagle Cam Star: Quinn Takes Flight
For the thousands of enthusiasts who tuned in to follow the live Captiva eagle cam this season, there was plenty of drama and excitement [cite: 1]. The local celebrity eaglet, named “Quinn,” successfully fledged early in the season
In an entertaining display of avian social behavior, Quinn didn’t venture too far from home. Instead, the young eagle spent time visiting an adjacent nest on the island, showing off its newly minted flight skills to younger fledglings who were still mastering the art of takeoffs and landings
“Overall, it was a great year for the islands’ bald eagles, and we look forward to working with our amazing volunteers and partners this fall for the 2026-27 nesting season.”
— Audrey Albrecht, SCCF Shorebird Biologist [cite: 1]
As our local pairs begin to expand their territory over the summer, the SCCF and its dedicated network of volunteer monitors are already preparing for the launch of the 2026-27 nesting season this coming autumn [cite: 1]. To learn more about how you can support local eagle monitoring or report a nesting site, you can visit the SCCF Bald Eagle Program Portal
