ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The pair of American bald eagles nesting at Brownie Wise Park in Osceola County have been named, thanks to help from the community.
The pair, which are currently watching over two eggs in their nest, are now named Skyler and Starlight.
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The name options were chosen by the families of Sgt. Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter, two Kissimmee police officers killed in the line of duty in 2017.
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Voters could chose between Starlight and Legend for the female eagle, and between Skyler and Unity for the male eagle.
The county said more than 500 people participated in the poll, and Starlight won with 70% opting for that name and Skyler receiving 61% of the votes for the male name.
“It has been exciting to see people voting to name these fantastic birds - and I’m pleased with the results,” Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb said in a statement. “I’d like to thank the families of Sergeant Howard and Officer Baxter for helping. This pair are now a small tribute that honors their sacrifice.”
The first egg in the pair’s nest is scheduled to hatch just before Christmas, and the second in a window about four days after the first, the county said.
Since 2016, a total of eight chicks have fledged at Brownie Wise.
Click here to watch the “bird’s eye view” cam of the nest.
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