Mahlori and Makatsa’s baby takes first flight from the WSNBG nest
BEPR monitors, members of the public, photographers and supporters have been out at the Garden every day for the past two weeks hoping to catch the moment when the bird leaves the nest.
The Black Eagle Project Roodekrans (BEPR) has confirmed that the juvenile eagle at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (WSNBG) nest finally fledged.
Mahlori and Makatsa’s offspring finally fledged 101 days after hatching, which according to BEPR indicates that it is likely to be a female.
“Fledging usually takes place between 90 and 100 days with males being earlier, and females a little later as they are the bigger of the sexes,” said BEPR Chairman, Gerald Draper.
BEPR monitors, members of the public, photographers and supporters have been out at the Garden every day for the past two weeks hoping to catch the moment when the bird leaves the nest. “As the eaglet wasn’t in the nest at first light this morning, it most likely had its maiden flight late yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 12 September),” explained Gerald.
BEPR has been monitoring the eagles every day, hoping to witness that first flight of the eaglet.
The Northsider has receives suggestions for a name for the eaglet, which will be passed on to BEPR by Thursday, September 16. The name should be announced just before the long weekend.
The name the chick process is as follows:
• Each person can submit three names (choices 1, 2 and 3) and then email them to northside@caxton.co.za on or before Thursday, September 16.
• In keeping with tradition, it should preferably be an African name that has some meaning or link to the garden, or to what is happening at the time.
• We ask the person submitting the names also to tell us what each name means.
• As we don’t know the gender of the bird we would like you to suggest something that is not gender-specific.
• On the closing date for the submission of names, Thursday, September 16, the names will be sent to BEPR, and BEPR Chairman Gerald Draper will submit them to his eight-men committee, and they give their choices by independent vote, which he does not disclose to any of the other committee members.
• The BEPR committee will then meet the Northsider at the Garden restaurant for coffee and announce the name, and why it was chosen.
• The winner will be contacted and receive the prize of WSNBG entry vouchers.
