I live in central Florida. Our nesting female was killed this morning between 6:30 and 7:20 am. I found her on my bank with her head torn from her body. Feathers wervhe around her but nowhere else. Whatever took her from her nest did not kill her until getting her from the nest at the base of the lake seawall up 6-8 ft and up onto my bank under 2 sago palms. Other than her head appearing to have been torn from her body she was not otherwise mutilated. Her eggs were days away from hatching and were undisturbed. They have been transported to a local high school Ag Dept incubator. We have owls, raccoons, osprey, 1 great blue heron, & possibly coyote & fox, but they have not been seen lately.

1. What might have killed her?

2. What are the chances of the eggs hatching since the male did not go sit on the nest? They were unprotected/unincubated for 8-10 hrs.

Thanks for your help.
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