Horrific Vulture Poisoning

THE INDEPENDENT   27 July 2013

WEEKEND WITNESS   27 July 2013

!!! Like This !!!

It has taken over a year, and despite all resistance and reluctance - even the crowned eagle research has been sucked into facebook...

But maybe facebook has a niche to offer. And while the blog has been an amazing window, and a great way to share the stories of life and the research - despite my efforts it hasnt been particularly interactive.  I hope the facebook page will encourage others to like, and particularly share : photos, sightings, stories, thoughts and comments

In the first few weeks I have been motivated by a 'photo a day'.  So come, like this and see what might come in the second year of this research

The Witness. April 16, 2013

More popular press

Main page of the UKZN website - 7th November

Highway Mail 19 October 2012

A note of critical importance is that journalists can often get it wrong... So wrong.

It should be an embarrassing realization to the Highway mail journalist, who spent some two hours with Mia during the morning, yet in the articles' captions describes "Zoologist Colleen Downs..."  Oh dear!

Human-Wildlife Conflict

The research is towards an MSc, and is an urban ecology project of which Crowned Eagles are used as a model species. One of the dominant topics regarding predators (carnivora and accipitriformes) in areas of high human density is the Human-Wildlife conflicts.  Sources of negative perceptions and conflicts towards wildlife exists in many forms including:

• biodiversity threats: semi-feral cats and monkeys can become superabundant with the help of supplementary food and absence of natural predators. Their impact on birds and nesting success may be high.
• nuisance animals: racoons spread garbage while it waits for collection on the kerb
• disease risks: stray dogs and urban foxes are a potential source and vector of rabies
• health and safety: coyotes and eagles can threaten the safety of household pets - cats and small dogs that their owners have a emotional attachment to.

This last point is the topic of the day.  Below is some information regarding a particular eagle that I have been following.  It was infact the very first eagle captured and ringed for this project.   The community is becoming polarized, some wanting to give the eagle full protection and let it live and disperse naturally, others (most of those impacted by attacks on pets) want it gone immediately. 

Footnote:  since sending this response I have had three different responses that the juvenile eagle was indeed offered food (viennas even- full of nitrates and additives).  Those particular tenants have since moved on - and in their wake have left a legacy of a 'problem eagle'.

DO NOT FEED WILD ANIMALS