Watch Live Eagle Cam: Florida's Little E9 Isn't So Little Anymore

FORT MYERS, FL —Fort Myers’ baby eaglet isn’t so little any more. At 66 days old, E9 has begun venturing out from the nest to check out views from a nearby branch.

While still not quite ready for its first flight, E9 is gaining strength and confidence by practicing "branching," the folks at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation reported on Monday. His first successful branching attempt took place at 6:29 a.m. March 6, the foundation said.

Branching, the National Eagle Center explains, involves moving from the nest to a branch, flapping the wings and then jumping back into the nest. "This behavior serves to strengthen their flight muscles and acclimate the eaglet to life outside the nest," the center says.

E9's first branching was caught on the foundation's live stream. That stream provides a continuous look into the lives of Fort Myers' famous eagles Harriet and M15. E9 is the latest addition to the show. The eaglet hatched into the world bright and early New Year's Eve morning.

E9's impending arrival kept eagle lovers across the globe glued to the live stream over the holidays. Since the eaglet made its first appearance, thousands more have tuned in to watch the critter's progress under its parents' watchful eyes.

Harriet is one of two longtime stars of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam’s ongoing show, which debuted a few years back. She and former mate, Ozzie, were made famous as people around the world tuned into the 24/7 live stream to watch the majestic pair in action. M15 is a relative newcomer to stardom. He entered the picture after Ozzie’s death in September 2015, becoming Harriet’s new mate and co-star.

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation was created several years ago by the Pritchett family to keep live streams running of Harriet and Ozzie’s nest. It's now dedicated to following the lives of M15 and Harriet.

The multi-camera live streams are sponsored by Dick Pritchett Real Estate and supported by donations from viewers and philanthropists. The organization’s goal “is to provide a unique educational resource to wildlife officials and individuals all around the world,” the foundation’s website said. “We strive to create awareness for all raptors alike and provide financial incentives to programs who commit themselves for the conservation and education of wildlife.”

For more information about the foundation or to make a donation, visit its website. Updates on activity at the nest can also be found on the foundation's Facebook page. To watch E9's arrival, check out the video below:

To see the live stream in action, check out the video that follows.

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Screenshots from the Southwest Florida Eagle cam