Our Planet is a wonderful place. Throughout millions of years, our world has managed to keep a perfect balance. We have had times of abundance, where rains covered our beloved country, filling streams, rivers and dams. We have also had times where the land was parched with not a blade of grass, empty dams, and dying livestock and wild animals. We have lived through these times, and managed to survive.
We are currently experiencing a rejuvenating stage in the cycle of life. It is indeed very sad to see empty dams, rivers that have stopped flowing, and barren land. Whether we like it or not, there is a cleansing process in place where the weak are replaced with the strong. At the end of this process, we will be left with a strong gene pool to ensure the proliferation of healthy and strong birds and animals.
How does this effect our Roodekrans Eagles? Like all other birds, animals, and humans, we have to ride the storm out. It may just have been fortuitous that Emoyeni chose this period to leave our precincts, and that Makatsa was not ready to start a new family.
It would have been a trying time for them to raise a new eaglet in this adverse time.
There is always a new beginning, and we are all confident that the rains will once again fall on our barren land. The rejuvenation process will begin, and life will return in all its glory.
Our latest observations have determined that Makatsa has started building a new nest, but at the same time both eagles are also refurbishing the old nest. It is unusual practise for them to nest build at this time of year, but it may also be part of the bonding process.
There are several months remaining before egg laying is due, so plenty of time for her to decide which nest to choose to raise the new family.
It is our sincerest wishes that the new couple will have a very successful breeding season in the new year, and I am sure you will all raise a glass with us in celebration of the Roodekrans Eagles.
Yours in conservation,
Johann van den Berg
Black Eagle Project Roodekrans
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: March 10th, 2017, 12:11 pm
by Mamicja
Thulane and Makatsa started to build new nest out of camera range this year, so we can rely only on FB information.
Below is the link to the last update with fabulous ( as always) pictures by Ernest Porter. https://www.facebook.com/notes/black-ea ... 8280621298
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: March 17th, 2018, 3:28 pm
by Mamicja
Black Eagle camera is back online.
Ayanda (previous season's eaglet) left the nest area on December 23rd 2017. Makatsa and Thulane started to work on the old nest.
From FB https://www.facebook.com/blackeagleproject
Hi everyone, I hope you are ready for the new breeding season. We have seen the eagle building on the old nest where the Webcam is mounted. So if you want to keep an eye on the progress here is the link to the webcamera: http://africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: March 20th, 2018, 12:01 am
by Mamicja
I know that eagles visited the nest in the morning, but I saw one of them only in the evening on the rock. At 2:11PM peregrine falcon visited the nest.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: October 16th, 2018, 11:26 pm
by Mamicja
This year Thulane and Makatsa started in March the nestorations in the old nest, but after the severe storm it was completely destroyed. So they started to build a new nest.
As the another year their nest is out of the range of the camera, I use to check FB from time to time.
This year's eaglet has fledged on September 20 and got the name Ithemba (Hope in Zulu). Eaglet is just gorgeous. Lot of photos you can find on FB https://www.facebook.com/blackeagleproject (and among them amazing, as usual, photos by Ernest Porter)
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: October 26th, 2019, 9:48 pm
by Mamicja
Another year has passed and the situation has changed again.
The new nest is in a very inaccessible place and observations were difficult.
On April 30, eagles behaviour indicated that the first egg had been laid.
The first egg was due to hatch around the 11th or 12th June, and the second egg approximately 4 days later on 14th or 15th June.
On June 13, it was announced that Thulane was last seen by the Project Members on June 8. An intensive search for signs of a male was carried out, but with no result.
Photographic evidence on Wednesday 12th June confirmed 2 eggs on the nest, Thursday 13th June confirmed the presence of a chick, and Wednesday 19th June confirmed that the second egg as well as a second eaglet were not present. The first chick however looks healthy and very active.
Makatasa was feeding the chick and bringing a prey on a regular basis.
It was reported that a new male had appeared on 13th July, and has not shown any aggression towards the chick.
Everything went well up to the eaglet's 53 day of life
The last confirmed sighting of the chick alive was on 4th August in the morning.
On 5th August a member of the public had posted a photograph on FB of an adult eagle removing the chick from the nest. The carcass of the chick was recovered.
After analyzing and zooming the photos taken, it turned out, that the new male killed the eaglet in the nest and took it away at 12:25 on August 4.
The new male (he got the name Mahlori) still accompanies Makatsa.
More details and photos on FB https://www.facebook.com/blackeagleproject
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: May 13th, 2023, 11:26 pm
by rysx
2023 Season
After a hiatus of this topic, since 2019, Maybe it's time to return to documenting events at this nest. Last year, not knowing about this topic here, I recorded the events at NATURECHAT FORUM .
The Verreaux's Eagle pair are named Makatsa (female) and Mahlori (male).
Currently, they incubate 2 eggs. The first one was laid, reportedly, on April 20; the second one - around April 25. The eggs are not easily visible.
Video recorded on May 10.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: May 14th, 2023, 1:41 am
by rysx
May 13.
Shift change.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: June 7th, 2023, 8:48 am
by rysx
June 6.
There is an eaglet, although it can't be seen. Probably it hatched from the second egg (too late for the first one). Mother's moves suggest feeding.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: June 9th, 2023, 2:20 am
by rysx
June 8.
Unmistakable feeding of an eaglet.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: June 12th, 2023, 4:02 am
by rysx
June 11.
The eaglet is visible and quite active.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: June 14th, 2023, 2:34 am
by rysx
June 13.
Makatsa and the eaglet. Feeding. Little wing flapping.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: June 23rd, 2023, 1:14 am
by rysx
June 22.
Makatsa and her eaglet.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: July 14th, 2023, 9:56 pm
by rysx
July 14.
The eaglet standing (and walking a little) on straight legs.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: July 24th, 2023, 11:37 pm
by rysx
July 24.
Some wingercising.
Re: Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: August 12th, 2023, 2:48 am
by rysx
August 11.
Some wingercising... The eaglet doesn't work particularly hard.
The crowned eagle is one of the largest eagles in Africa and the only extant representative of the genus Stephanoaetus. It inhabits tropical forests and feeds primarily on medium-sized mammals, and in the tropical rainforest it primarily feeds on monkeys.
birdfact:
The Crowned eagle or African crowned eagle is a powerful eagle from the family Accipitridae which includes both eagles and many other birds of prey. Dubbed the ‘most powerful eagle in Africa’, the Crowned eagle is a long-lengthed bird of prey with a large wingspan of around 1.8m. Occupying diverse habitats stretching much of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Crowned eagle is capable of catching prey some 4 to 6 times its weight.