Eagle chick finally spotted
One lucky monitor has gotten the first glimpse at the new black eagle chick at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, and she had her camera ready.
The latest addition to the world-famous black eagle family of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden has finally been spotted, albeit momentarily.
The dedicated monitors of the Black Eagle Project Roodekrans (BEPR) have had their camera lenses firmly trained on the nest ever since confirmation was received that the chick hatched late in May.
Unfortunately, the position of the nest this year has made getting a glimpse of the new chick a very challenging endeavour indeed. Monitors had to deduct, based on the behaviour of parents Mahlori and Makatsa, that they were a chick richer.
Undeterred, monitors have spent nearly every daylight hour with their necks strained and their eyes peeled in the hope of being the first one to spot the elusive eagle chick.
Finally on Thursday, June 13, one of the monitors, Naomi Corinaldi, managed to catch a glimpse of the chick and snap a quick photo as proof.
Shortly after, the monitors were asked to leave their lookout position as workers arrived to carry out repairs on the sewerage mains that run through the park, thus snubbing them of further photo opportunities.
“We are wildly excited that the chick has finally been spotted,” says BEPR committee member Dougie Crewe.
“The first of many photographs have been taken. It is a huge relief for our team. Our monitoring activities were unfortunately interrupted, but we are, at the same time, glad that these repairs are finally being done.”
Crewe adds that as of this year, the BEPR has decided not to name the eagle chicks anymore. Thus, the chick will henceforth be known as Juve 24.
“We look forward to documenting the new chick’s journey in great detail as it grows,” concludes Crewe.
