Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to CHIL EagleCAM. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Question For Dr. Sharpe - Re: Channel Island Eagle
Topic Started: Aug 11 2006, 07:51 PM (232 Views)
ostrich2
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
Dr Sharpe,

We had a discussion today concerning the differences between the behaviour and habits of the Catalina and Santa Cruz eagles vs those some of us have been watching in BC, and several people were interested in any comments you might have on this subject. So I thought I'd post this here. Have you noted any other aspects in which the eagles on the Channel Islands might differ from the "standard" bald eagle pattern?

ostrich2
 

cdn-cdn,Aug 11 2006
06:25 AM
Lil was really having a hissy fit with his parent. I love his peeps! He is still peeping and mantling. The parent is up on a branch. It is interesting to compare A49"s behaviour and activities with this more urban nest in Saanich. I think the eaglets were born at about the same time. Jeepers, peepers, Lil!!


David Hancock, who has been observing the urban Vancouver eagle population for some years, feels that the urban eagles have likely adapted their behaviours to some degree from the typical "wilderness" eagle as a result of living in proximity to human activity.

In his studies of wilderness BC eagle populations, he reported that parents typically kept supporting the newly fledged eaglets for a week or two after they left the nest, but almost never brought food back to the nest after fledging. Usually they would bring the eaglets food in perch trees, rocks, or other feeding areas considered safe.

In the urban setting, where there is constant human presence and activity, it seems like the eagles perceive the nest itself as the safest place to be, and as a result it is much more a focus of activity even after fledging. Big seems to have gone her separate way, but Lil and the parents are still spending quite a bit of time on the nest and it's been quite a while now since Lil fledged.

A49's nest seems to be a bit in between these two extremes - it seems probably that A49 is scavenging or is being supported by the parents off the nest, but we've also seen occasionally the parents bringing food back to the nest for A49 to eat.

There seem to be other differences between Santa Cruz and the BC eagles as well - Dr. Sharpe mentioned in another thread that K10 and K26 will probably spend the year round in their territory. That's different from what most BC eagles do apparently, which is head north for the salmon runs. Perhaps if Dr. Sharpe happens to read this thread he'd have some other comments on the differences between the eagles on Catalina and Santa Cruz and those in other areas. It's an interesting subject.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Eagle Guy
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
I think differences in behavior are going to be driven largely by where eagles live. Most southern eagles don't need to migrate and therefore don't have to get their offspring to independence by a certain time to migrate. Northern eagles can be under some pretty tight constraints because of the onset of cold weather. Therefore, the feeding of fledglings may go on longer in southern populations.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cdn-cdn
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
Thank you very much for the explanation, Dr. Sharpe.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · What are your questions? · Next Topic »
Add Reply