I saw this juvenile Bald Eagle circling for a long time over Haney Creek in Stuart yesterday morning.

Eagle wingspan: 6 to 7.5 feet!

It’s not unusual to see an eagle in this Stuart and Jensen Beach area north of the St. Lucie River, but I think this is the first juvenile I’ve spotted.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission…

The bald eagle, our national bird and a symbol of the United States, is a conservation success story. Today, Florida, has one of the densest concentrations of nesting bald eagles in the lower 48 states. While no longer listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act or the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species rules, bald eagles remain protected by both the state eagle rule (68A-16.002, F.A.C.) and federal law.

Florida has an Eagle Watch program coordinated through Florida Audubon.