Since 2016, we’ve been able to look in on the lives of a pair of American bald eagles nesting at Brownie Wise Park thanks to the “Osceola County Nature Camera" — our own homegrown little reality show.
A total of eight chicks have been born over the last four seasons – and there are currently two eggs in the nest.
Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, the inspiration for the camera, is giving residents the chance to name the newest pair of endangered majestic birds-to-be that symbolize America.
For the potential name choices, Commissioner Grieb reached out to the families of Sergeant Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter, two Kissimmee police officers shot in the line of duty in August 2017.
Names in consideration are “Starlight” and “Legend” for the female eagle and “Skyler” and “Unity” for the male.
You can go to www.osceola.org/go/eagles through Sunday, Dec. 12 to vote on the name. The winning names will be announced later that week.
“I love that we’re able to bring these magnificent birds into homes and classrooms around the world,” said Grieb. “People are really excited about being able to see them as they add to the nest and go about their daily activities. Naming the eagles with the help of Sergeant Howard and Officer Baxter’s families is a small way to pay tribute to their sacrifice and a fitting way to honor their memory.”
If you need to see the eagles to name the eagles, the county’s camera can be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8p_2fIq9fU.
Brownie Wise Park, located on the east side of Lake Tohopekaliga, is a popular birding location, including eagles like the two currently nesting there. Osceola County, blessed with the two large lakes and numerous other smaller lakes, is an ideal location for bald eagles to hunt, nest and raise young. State wildlife officials say Osceola County has one of the largest concentrations of bald eagle nests in the entire state; they estimate over 115 pairs of Southern bald eagles nest in Osceola County any given year.
