We are living in a dangerous age. Human beings dominate nature, before they have learned to control themselves. -Albert Schweitzer I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the so-called "lower animals" versus the traits and dispositions of man. The result humiliates me. - Mark Twain
Apparently the problem with the wing was not as serious as thought. The people from project see him flying without difficulty and Ernest Porter shared a short film
The Black Eagle Project posted an update
Black Eagle Project Roodekrans
Update Oct 2014
Herewith another delivery to your computer by “Bo’s Eagle Express”...enjoy
The juvenile has fledged a month ago already...and during this first month off the nest he will hone his flight, landing, perching and take off skills. From what I have heard, he has certainly found himself in some precarious positions and on a number of occasions were seen hanging upside down, which is typical in youngsters that haven’t yet mastered the fine art of landing on a branch perch and managing to remain upright!
I can only imagine: “Oh my gosh...I am flying for the first time and oh yeah...ma and pa never told me how I should fly...let alone land...and I thought my feet were only used to grapple with a prey carcass... and before I am able to count to three...the densely treed forest below approaches at break-neck speed and I crash into the branches and foliage...holding on for dear life...I’m upside down looking at the nest and waterfall from a ridiculous angle...and I don’t know if this is supposed to be an upside down world??!”
One can relate to this as it sounds all too familiar and I would guess that by now the juvenile is by far a more “relaxed” eagle than what he was on the his maiden flight-day on 10th September, by now he is able to fly...land...take off with the greatest of ease and polished skills. A month is all he requires to practice and get it right as during the following two months there is a different set of skills that await him. Everything is taught extremely rapid and if the juvenile is to survive his first year, he has to pass all his subjects – Cum Laude – in other words, he has to have every aspect of survival under control, however, the only aspect he may not have any experience in is having to hunt his own prey...this is his greatest test of all!
Reports have been received of the juvenile roosting (sleeping) on the nest, which is deemed normal behaviour during his first month after fledging. This has also been observed at our Klipriviersberg Verreaux’s (Black) Eagle project near Alberton where the fledged juvenile prefers to roost and be fed on the nest...makes them feel secure. Not a scenario that is practised by all juveniles, it varies from area to area and the mood of the young eagle.
The sporadic nest refurbishment that was noted during the three-month nesting period of the juvenile, has ceased and we are extremely grateful for small mercies! Unlike 1996 when the eagle pair had two breeding seasons in one year – both seasons failed dismally – nobody on the BEPR was in the mood for a repetitive and prolonged breeding season.
Of interest, the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden have gained another breeding pair of raptors in the form of Peregrine Falcon, aptly named “Scruffy & Speedy” by Ernest Porter and myself. Scruffy is currently moulting and has a few primaries disarranged and Speedy is just incredibly fast...too fast to get a decent photo! Usually these little birds of prey migrate before the onset of our winter to breed elsewhere, but this pair have decided to remain within the garden. A number of people have seen them mating, which is positive news, but also a nuisance to the adult and juvenile eagles alike as they are continuously harassed by the fastest flying birds in the world...they are capable of achieving flight speeds in excess of 300km/h, which is phenomenal and indicative that the larger eagles will never be able to catch them
Kind Regards,
Boudewijn van der Lecq
Black Eagle Project Roodekrans
“One can measure the greatness and the moral progress of a nation by looking at how it treats its animals”(Mahatma Gandhi) "You can judge a man's true character by the way he treats his fellow animals"(Paul McCartney)
October 10th
In the morning camera couldn't find Jono.
He/she flew to the nest at 16:30 before the storm. It was first rain storm for Jono and at the beginning he/she was scared of lightnings.
But rain didn't last too long, Jono dried wings up (BTW the left wing is really much better) and fell asleep.
October 27th
Jono flew to the nest at 16:28 and stayed for the night.
Video by eaglewhisperer18 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qcK0C7y ... e=youtu.be Information from http://www.blackeagles.co.za/?page_id=43
"For approximately three months the adult birds will teach the juvenile it’s survival skills, bringing food for it to the nesting gorge. Towards the end of the three months the male eagle will initiate aggression towards the youngster especially when there is prey in the area. The juvenile will fly further and further afield, no longer returning to the nesting gorge and ultimately it will depart from the territory altogether."
So Jono does not have too much time left...
