Eagle drama unfolds on Hornby Island
BC eagles and eaglets are global on-line stars
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Updated: May 16, 2009 1:24 PM
The Hornby Island bald eagles captured the world’s attention in 2006, but despite fans tuning in on webcams the chicks refused to show.
This week was a different story — a true life drama in realtime.
Echo, a fluffy Island chick, delighted web-watching birders by arriving on stage as scheduled.
The new arrival was the darling of schoolchildren in classrooms around the world. Until Monday when disaster struck.
Helplessly eagle biologist, David Hancock, watched as Echo’s mom tried desperately to disentangle her precious charge who had become tangled in her feathers.
After working diligently to free the little one, the adult brooded for sometime, fed the baby and even flew out of the nest and returned in the hope of correcting the situation.
Eventually, Echo died and fell to earth beneath the nest. Doug Carrick retrieved little Echo who was appropriately buried with respect and affection.
Hancock reports that in 57 years he has never heard of such an incident. Many viewers couldn’t bare to watch, and tuned out of the site.
“It was a great educational experience, and one chick remains in the nest. Although we are sad, we have to accept that’s the way nature is,” said Project Researcher, Karen Bills.
“We have found that a love of eagles is bringing much of the world together. Our webcams have made this research and education possible.”
“On a happier note, two eggs have successfully hatched at Delta 1, and triplets are being celebrated in Sydney. Wildlife webcams captured the trio in their Sidney, B.C. nest. The same adult pair also produced three young eaglets,” Bills reported. Most wilderness eagles only produce one offspring.
Bills says, “Eagles fascinate people worldwide — we get calls and emails from as far away as Sydney, Australia and New Zealand. '
Many demands are made on the not-for-profit society, so donations are always appreciated to continue the work of replacing weather damaged webcams, and keep up with constant research and questions from an admiring audience.
“The busiest time is in August and September when the eagles leave to follow the salmon run. Researchers then attempt repair and replace cameras without disturbing the nests.
Hancock Wildlife Foundation webcams broadcast live updates of eagle life straight from nature’s bird houses at www.hancockwildlife.org.
This is a bumper year for producing bald eagles. Doug Carrick, resident Hornby Island eagle champion, and David Hancock continue to monitoring events as they unfold.
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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