The three little pigs’ second attempt was a house of sticks, and the big bad wolf had no trouble blowing that house down. The wind of the wolf is the nemesis of many crowned eagle nests. As we move into the second spring it is clear just how necessary it is for crowned eagles to pile a large bulk of sticks onto whatever nest or fork they hope to use in the coming season. Sticks decompose and decay quickly, and the nest structure all too often slump or collapses entirely from its accumulated weight.
The last two stick-based homes that the San Lameer crowned eagles built have been blown down by the big bad wolf of autumn. The nest that collapsed at the end of the 2011 season had held strong for at least five years. It sat atop a two pronged fork of lateral branches and provided a wonderfully clear profile view for a season of intensive observation and photography be Jacques Sellschop. Last year the eagles had to start again – tabula rasa – and they chose a different fork in their same nest tree. The fork was more secure, with a three-way fork of more vertical stems. Unfortunately though, this site had more obstructions for the spectators.
 |
| the natural-eye view to the nest from the San Lameer management office. Photo credit Jacques Sellschop |
 |
| The 2011 (and prior) nest site - great aspect |
 |
| The 2012 nest - well concealed. Photo credit Jacques Sellschop |
This year we have hoped to get a jump on the nest building attempt by providing a sturdy foundation for the stick-house version three. This foundation is intentionally compact and tidy, but very solid. Built of treated timber planks and secured to the pine with 6” galvanised nails, it should hold for several years. The hope now is that these unnaturally smooth and boxy shapes are more attractive than the site of last year’s nest, and they build atop this platform.
Lets hope so, because if they do then Jacques Sellschop, and all other interested visitors who come to photograph or view the nest, will be able to get a wonderfully clear profile view of the inner happenings of the pair and their future offspring.
 |
| Photo credit Jacques Sellschop |
 |
| Photo credit Jacques Sellschop |
 |
| completed platform from the entrance road. Photo credit Jacques Sellschop |
 |
| a room with a view |
 |
| spot young Y8, still not far from the old nest site |
 |
| Y8 being cryptic |
 |
| wildlife aplenty at San Lameer. Photo credit Jacques Sellschop |
No comments:
Post a Comment