Rare conservation moment with crowned eagle at San Lameer Golf Estate

Serious avian enthusiasts were treated to a rare and memorable experience as a crowned eagle chick was ringed at San Lameer Golf Estate recently.

Ringing a crowned eagle chick is a meticulous process – involving climbing the nest tree, carefully lowering the chick to the ground, recording scientific data, fitting identification rings and safely returning the chick to the nest. The procedure can take several hours and is seldom witnessed by the public.

Although internationally acclaimed crowned eagle expert Dr Shane McPherson was not present on this occasion, the research team led by Varalika Jain guided the assembled onlookers through each step of the ringing and data-collection process.

Sarah Guttenberger from Austria undertook the demanding task of climbing the tree to lower the chick to the ground and later return it safely to the nest. She was assisted by scientists Luca Landolfi from Italy and Peter Surnon from South Africa. All are members of Dr McPherson’s research team and are registered with the University of Vienna in Austria.

Well-known Margate resident Madelein Stopforth, her fiancé and photographer Simon du Plessis were among those who attended the special ringing occasion. Stopforth described the experience as both humbling and unforgettable. “She is absolutely beautiful,” she said.

Wildlife photographer Jacques Sellschop described the ringing as a deeply special ritual, noting that few people worldwide ever get the opportunity to witness such an event. He also expressed gratitude to estate manager Pine Pienaar for accommodating the research team and observers.

“Opportunities like this are invaluable for serious avian minds and for the ongoing conservation of these magnificent raptors,” he said.

Sellschop has been documenting the San Lameer crowned eagles for the past 14 years. In his archive of more than 150 000 images, he has records of 11 crowned eagle ringing events.

Sellschop also closely monitored the resident crowned eagle pair throughout last year, observing their breeding behaviour. He explained that from January the pair steadily added material to their existing nest, although there were initially no clear signs of breeding.

“The nest is now so deep, and the surrounding pine tree branches so intrusive, that it has become extremely difficult to photograph what is happening inside.”

Confirmation of breeding success came on Monday, October 28, when fellow eagle enthusiast Mark McNulty – a Rhodesian-born professional golfer living on the estate – used his drone to confirm the presence of a healthy chick deep within the nest.

The news sparked excitement among the local birding community, and just 75 days later, the chick has grown into a striking young female eagle.

5 facts about the crowned eagle:

1. Africa’s strongest eagle: Despite being smaller than some other African eagles, its incredibly strong legs and huge talons make it the most powerful, capable of killing prey many times its own weight, like small antelope and monkeys.
2. Forest hunters: Their broad wings and long tails are adapted for manoeuvring through dense forests and woodlands, where they perch in the canopy and swoop down on unsuspecting prey.
3. Powerful talons: They possess exceptionally large talons, with a powerful hind toe (hallux) that can deliver a fatal crushing blow, sometimes even to the skull of their victims.
4. Long breeding cycle: Due to the extreme demands of raising young, they typically breed only every other year, with parents providing food for up to nine months after fledging.
5. Distinctive call: They are very vocal, using loud, undulating ‘kewee-kewee-kewee’ calls for communication, especially during breeding season, which often draws attention to them.

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