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Eaglets driven from nest on Santa Cruz
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More from Breaking NewsTwo 7-week-old bald eagle chicks were attacked by a young-adult bald eagle in their nest Monday at Pelican Harbor on Santa Cruz Island.
Eagle enthusiasts watching the eaglets via the Channel Islands Live EagleCAM notified biologists of the attack. The chicks were knocked out of the nest, falling 30 feet below.
"This is a rare occurrence, I have never seen anything like this in my career as an eagle biologist," said Peter Sharpe with the Institute for Wildlife Studies.
After being notified by EagleCAM watchers, a team of four IWS biologists hiked to the nest site and found the two bald eagle chicks under brush on the ground. One of the young birds suffered a possible broken wing and the other a cracked bill.
The pair were flown Tuesday to a veterinary facility in Orange County to fully assess the extent of heir injuries, park officials said.
When the biologists arrived at the nest site Monday they saw one of the parent bald eagles in aerial combat with the intruder eagle.
Over the next few days the biologists will be analyzing transmitter data hoping to identify which of the eight to 12 sub-adults that reside on the northern Channel Islands is responsible for the attack to better understand the unusual behavior, park officials said.
The eagle chicks will not be returned to their nest. Once they have recovered from their injuries, they will likely be placed in a "hack tower" on Santa Cruz Island, park officials said. They will be fed by biologists until they fledge in late June.
Today, nearly 40 bald eagles are in Channel Islands National Park as a result of a restoration program that released 61 eagles between 2002 and 2006.
The EagleCAM and associated discussion board can be found at: http://chil.vcoe.org/eagle_cam.htm.
Posted by mikesmason on May 20, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope they find the POS bird and lock it up.
Posted by genndan on May 20, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A million thank you's to IWS and the Cruzers that were able to get help to Spirit and Skye!
IWS, CINP and VCOE are providing a wonderful learning experience and I hope this continues for many more years.
Posted by Nosmo_King on May 20, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've read that lack of pig meat makes bald eagles prey on their own young. Maybe the pig can be introduced to Santa Cruz island.
Posted by mikesmason on May 20, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Today, nearly 40 bald eagles are in Channel Islands National Park as a result of a restoration program that released 61 eagles between 2002 and 2006."
So they are down by over 20 eagles? Must be a government run program.
Posted by sslocal on May 20, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Probably killed them because they were stressed out from all the enviro nuts wandering around the nest.
Posted by ebrockway on May 20, 2008 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sslocal;
The pith helmets and bermuda shorts scare them, justifiably
Posted by venturapagan on May 23, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nosmo- FYI, Bald Eagles eat fish, Golden Eagles eat mostly mammals (the Island Fox), occasionally other birds,carrion. Which is why they swapped Goldens for Bald Eagles. ;)
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