I started to watch these lesser spotted eagles (in latvian – „mazais ērglis” the little eagle) on April’s end. There are many people who are watching online eagles’ reality show on news’ site tvnet.lv and we have already 3.500 comments about eagles, so my observations and maybe some conclusions will be extract from these comments.Jo UK wrote:Hello, and welcome, Grieta and LAT Eagle.
Great to have you here, to help us with information.
Which day are you starting to watch for signs of hatching?
Do you think the eggs will have suffered at all, from that period when they were exposed during adults' absence?
But I start with answer of our ornithologist and leader of the videoproject Uģis Bergmanis to us (Latvian watchers), so forgive my translating mistakes:
„Goodday dear fans! I read your comments every day, and it is very helpful to know what is going on. I’m watching the saved videomaterials at first chance. I’m worried about events in nest too. In my opinion, Grieta’s continuously abscence from 13-16th May is explainable with food deficiency. In these days Gints didn’t feed Grieta, therefore Grieta instinctively saved herself to be mother in future but not this lay. It’s clear, that eggs became cold. There is a weak hope that eggs becoming cold doesn’t leave negative effect on embrion developing. BUT if Grieta continues to hatch, we can’t say, that eggs are dead. Without fear we can say - eggshell is intact, because Grieta is rolling the eggs. It is unlikely that she would hatch „juice/sap exuded” (?) eggs.
The superior of Riga’s Zoo incubator said - there has been situations in our country when wild bird eggs were hatched successfully after becaming even under zero degrees cold (a capercaillie). Will lesser spotted eagle’s eggs be survived? –We will see in futher weeks.
In scientific literature are only 3 cases (1991.-1993.) about full lesser spotted eagles breeding cycle (Scheller & Meyburg 1996). Unfortunately, in 1992 in Germany female behaved similar like Grieta – left nest on few hours, sometimes didn’t stay in the nest in the night, and in the end left the nest completely.
It is known, that eggs are hatched for 38-43 days, so in 7-16th June we will see, would Grieta and Gints become parents. If eggs will not be alive, Grieta will left eggs till moment of hatching out or eggs will split because of heath and rotting.
In all cases – this is very useful scientifical information what will increase our knowledge about species breeding biollogy. I want believe in miracle, and I wish you to hope for success together!”
19.05.2009.