Video shows bald eagle brave Hurricane Milton in Southwest Florida

CAPTIVA ISLAND, Fla. – Hurricane Milton may have sent Florida residents running for cover, but on Captiva Island, one brave bald eagle had other plans.

Clive, the bold and stoic resident eagle, was ready to face the Oct. 9 tempest head-on, and he did so from the comfort of his nest — high above the storm-tossed landscape below.

Thanks to the dedication of Window To Wildlife, a U.S.-based organization that specializes in installing and operating wildlife cameras, we have riveting footage of Clive’s fearless stand.

This organization has a mission as wild as the animals it tracks: to bring us right into the heart of Florida’s vibrant wildlife world, even in the face of hurricanes. And for those watching the live feed, it was a nail-biter as Clive’s tree swayed and shook, seemingly on the verge of taking flight itself. Yet, there Clive remained, resolute and practically unflappable!

Window To Wildlife has long been dedicated to sharing Florida’s wildlife stories, from osprey cams to glimpses of majestic eagles like Clive. Their cameras, like the one capturing Clive’s stormy ordeal, offer a rare and wondrous window into the lives of Florida’s feathered icons.

For Clive, Hurricane Milton may have been a wild ride, but he came through without a scratch. Remarkably, his nest held firm, a far cry from the disaster of Hurricane Ian just two years ago. Ian’s relentless winds toppled Clive’s original nest, leaving him and his longtime mate, Connie, without a home.

Window To Wildlife, rebuilt and reinforced the nest in the very same tree and the pair quickly reclaimed it and raised a new hatchling in early 2023.

With Clive and Connie still making use of their hurricane-proof home, Window To Wildlife offers a 24/7 eagle cam where fans can follow their day-to-day lives along with views of a nearby Osprey nest.