A house of sticks

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

Ringing at San Lameer

Photo documentary by Jacques Sellschop.  (c)

Setting the scene. The nest is very visible from San Lameer main entrance

While setting up the climbing rope, food was delivered to the nest

She was nervous about all the unusual activity and startled as the rope was pulled over

Arriving at the nest the young eagle is all threat display

Very quickly she goes catatonic with fright. Fortunately it makes collection and descending a safe procedure

First moves at the ringing station

unpacking the equipment and readying the bird

closing the SAFRING

Taking a tarsus measurement and color ring Y8

Taking a head measurement

A part of the gathered crowd

The heat and humidity at 6pm was surprising

A larger perspective of the gathered crowd

Tail feather development

Primary wing feather development

Taking a drop of blood for DNA sexing

Final measurement - mass

Identifying the prey that was delivered earlier - a young hyrax

Beating a hasty retreat after returning Y8 to the nest

Happy with the result!  Within minutes of my descent the nestling was feeding on the young hyrax

San Lameer special

The Crowned Eagle pair at the San Lameer Estate, on the Natal south coast, became quite famous recently after this stunning article was published in Africa Birds & Birding (Vol 17 No.3).

Jacques Sellschop spent over three months very intensively following the birds, often spending six hours a day peering down the lens. Jacques has continued to follow the birds almost daily right up until presently.   I was surprised to receive a call from Jacques a couple of weeks ago, inviting me down to San Lameer, as he had heard of my research.  I was wanting to discover more about this pair - as they are a fine example of the annual breeding that occurs in the area.

For the last four years the birds has successfully raised an eaglet to fledge, and they have over the last six weeks built a nest from scratch in order to lay for their fifth year running.  Because of Jacques keen observations, knowing that the 2011 juvenile is still present within a mere 400 meters from the nest makes it particularly interesting.  That the pair is tolerating its presence despite their new egg(s).

And so the invite to spend a few days with Jacques and Rhona at their idyllic beachside house, and watch the San Lameer birds, well an opportunity not to pass up!  Sadly it rained much of the time so we were limited to a brief opportunity to try and ring the juvenile, which of course failed.  But over the course of the following days much was gained.  Three more nest sites in the immediate Southbroom area were pointed out.  Jacques donated an addled egg and some beautiful prey skulls for my reference.  Not least was obtaining a mortality specimen.  Three weeks ago a juvenile eagle from a nearby nest was horrifically electrocuted, the bird was found very fresh, and wisely, was put in the freezer.  Please keep this in mind if you live in KZN and have the misfortune of finding a dead Crowned Eagle.  These specimens are extremely valuable from a research persective.

Jacques offered an extensive library of incredible images that were captured during his long hours of observations over this last year - unfortunately some of the saturation went awry as I compressed these photos for upload.  All images in this blog post are copyright to Jacques. They shalt not be reproduced without permission!  Enjoy.

San Lameer Estate - earthy toned residences nestled among coastal forest

the 50mm lens shows the setting of the nest from Jacques observation site

and the magnificent quality with the larger lenses

fresh pine needles are added to the nest daily

captures that personality and playful character at this age

the avian equivalent of contemplating ones navel?

so... what happened next?!

one must learn what is possible within the limitations of an oesophagus

as she pulled on the digital flexor, the disembodied hand grasped young birds bill

hyrax are a popular prey item in the region

drama at the nest - its all action when food arrives

the eaglet mantles her prize until both adults have cleared out

no aspect of the birds activities was neglected

growing up around people allows these eagles to be inquisitive and interact on a personal level

that windswept look

on the roadside clutching the hyrax, she watched as dozens of staff drove home via the main estate exit road

meanwhile the adults are busy preparing a new nest

affection at the next prior to egg laying