I have the saddest news to share with you all and it broke my heart so badly I still fill up with tears. This past winter I posted a few shots from an eagles nest here at Tierra Verde with the new eaglet. Yesterday the juvenille died mysteriously as it was landing on a nearby pole on it's way back to the nest. It just fell to the ground and died and I was there ten minutes after. I'll never forget the look of that precious thing eyes still open yet it's spirit was gone. This eagle had just taken it's first flight the week before and seemed to be doing so well. Life is so precious in our wildlife world and it has made me aware how important it is to stop and appreciate every new gift nature offers us one day at a time.
Cheryl, I'm so sorry to hear this - it's especially tough to have an animal we were connected to die, and without an explanation. You got some great pictures to keep his memory alive, though, and I hope that provides some comfort.
Sandy.
Posted by Bill Chambers on April 20, 2011 at 8:06 AM
That's very sad news indeed Cheryl. Sandy said it very well - hard to lose something you've seen grow and have become attached to. From the sudden nature of the death, it sounds like it might be heart related, but I guess we'll never know.
They are supposed to do a full investigation so I hope to find out the cause. I can't believe how much emotion I have felt thru out this. Even as we speak. Thanks you two for commenting
Posted by Suzanne Huot on April 20, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Cheryl
I know just how you feel .5 years ago i had spent several weeks following a pair of nesting eagles ,watching the parents bring in the food for them and at 4 weeks of age they were really doing well .as i stood close to the tree with my camera ready , one of the parents flew in and landed on the edge of the nest .We had had unusually strong winds for a few days ,plus this was a nest which had been used for several years and was very large .well the adult eagle landed on the edge and dislodged some of the loosend nesting material and then half the nest broke away fell about 75 to with ground, both the eaglets in it landed close to me.They were unfortunatly killed .
I was shocked and heartbroken to see these two little Eaglets which I had got to know so well Dead beside me .We had had a few unfortunate incidents with some local people on the mainland killing around 40 Eeagles for their feathers for variouse purposes .So I took the risk of taking both the Eaglets to my car and hiding them in the trunk and praying that the RCMP did not stop me on the way home .Put them in my freezer and then called a biologist friend from our Birding club.I did not want these little ones to be desecrated .The end of the story is , That one is now sitting in an exibition for educational purposes at a local wildlife and educational park here on the Island and the second little one went to the Natural history museum for display there .so in the end their short lives were not totally wasted .Even though it is a very sad story.
Needless to say the parents moved on and started a nest in a nother tree a little further away from the beach front and succesfully reared more broods of young eaglets
Suzanne
Well suzanne that is really sad story. it just leave you feeling so empty inside. I can't help but feel for the parents in wonder what they're going through
Discussion
5 repliesSandy.
I know just how you feel .5 years ago i had spent several weeks following a pair of nesting eagles ,watching the parents bring in the food for them and at 4 weeks of age they were really doing well .as i stood close to the tree with my camera ready , one of the parents flew in and landed on the edge of the nest .We had had unusually strong winds for a few days ,plus this was a nest which had been used for several years and was very large .well the adult eagle landed on the edge and dislodged some of the loosend nesting material and then half the nest broke away fell about 75 to with ground, both the eaglets in it landed close to me.They were unfortunatly killed .
I was shocked and heartbroken to see these two little Eaglets which I had got to know so well Dead beside me .We had had a few unfortunate incidents with some local people on the mainland killing around 40 Eeagles for their feathers for variouse purposes .So I took the risk of taking both the Eaglets to my car and hiding them in the trunk and praying that the RCMP did not stop me on the way home .Put them in my freezer and then called a biologist friend from our Birding club.I did not want these little ones to be desecrated .The end of the story is , That one is now sitting in an exibition for educational purposes at a local wildlife and educational park here on the Island and the second little one went to the Natural history museum for display there .so in the end their short lives were not totally wasted .Even though it is a very sad story.
Needless to say the parents moved on and started a nest in a nother tree a little further away from the beach front and succesfully reared more broods of young eaglets
Suzanne