San Lameer Newsflash/Nuusflits Aug / Sept 2017 | Page 12

CROWN EAGLES / KROONARENDE
The end of winter signals the start of the new
breeding season for our Crowned Eagles.
For the past 8 weeks our resident pair has been
refurbishing their nest. As has been the custom
in the past, it is principally the male that ferries
in the larger materials while the female
arranges the branches in accordance with her
architectural preferences. She also collects
softer leaves to line the nest. This year the bowl
of the nest is deeper than it has been in the past
six years.
While the 2016 juvenile with the ring G5 was
observed to be in Ramsgate two weeks ago,
Mark McNulty reported seeing it back on the
estate this week (20 August). This is apparently
not uncommon behaviour when the juvenile
starts exploring areas further from home in its
progress towards total independence.
breeding for a number of years and are
probably not young any more.
If all goes according to historical performance,
there should be a new chick in the nest by the
first week of November.
World renowned Crowned Eagle expert, Dr Shane
McPherson, who has ringed our eagle chicks for
the past five years, was delighted to receive a
donation of R5000.00 from San Lameer for
extending his research program dedicated to
these rare and threatened birds. Like so many
dedicated scientific researchers, he survives on a
very restricted income.
Die einde van die winter dui die begin van die
nuwe broeiseisoen vir ons Kroonarende aan.
Vir die afgelope 8 weke het ons inwoningspaar
hul nes opgerig. Soos die gewoonte in die verlede
was, is dit hoofsaaklik die mannetjie wat die
groter materiaal aandra, terwyl die wyfie die
Right now it is not clear whether the adult
female has started laying the two eggs she has takke rangskik volgens haar argitektoniese
voorkeure. Sy versamel ook sagter blare om die
produced each year for the past six years of
observation. We expect that she is at that stage nes voering te gee. Hierdie jaar is die nes se bak
now and should start incubating within the next dieper as in die afgelope ses jaar.
two weeks if patterns follow their normal course.
Terwyl die 2016 jong kroonarend met die ring G5
Factors that could affect the situation are:
Ÿ The presence of the juvenile still in the area. twee weke gelede in Ramsgate gesien is, het
Mark McNulty hierdie week (20 Augustus) haar op
Ÿ The unusually cold weather.
die landgoed gewaar. Dit is blykbaar nie
Ÿ The infrequency of sittings of the male
ongewone gedrag wanneer die jong kroonarend
bringing food to the nest.
gebiede verder van die huis begin verken in haar
Ÿ The apparent and rather strange decline of
the numbers of monkeys and dassies on the vordering na totale onafhanklikheid nie.
estate at present.
Op die oomblik is dit nie duidelik of die volwasse
Ÿ The fact that the eagle pair have been
Being the most powerful eagle in the world, the male is able to pick and
carry to the nest, enormous branches.
Photos by / Foto’s deur
Jacques Sellschop
wyfie begin het om die twee eiers te broei wat sy elke
jaar vir die afgelope ses jaar van waarneming,
geproduseer het nie. Ons verwag dat sy nou op op die
inkubasiestadium is, waar sy binne die volgende twee
weke moet begin broei, as sy soos in die verlede haar
normale patroon gaan volg.
Faktore wat die situasie kan beïnvloed, is:
Ÿ Die teenwoordigheid van die jong kroonarend nog in
die omgewing.
Ÿ Die buitengewoon koue weer.
Ÿ Die feit dat die mannetjie seldsaam kos na die nes
bring.
Ÿ Die skynbare en nogal vreemde afname van die
aantal ape en dassies wat op die oomblik op die
landgoed te vinde is.
Ÿ Die feit dat die arendspaar al vir 'n aantal jare broei
en waarskynlik nie meer jonk is nie.
As alles volgens die verlede se gebeure gaan verloop,
behoort ons in die eerste week van November 'n nuwe
kuiken in die nes te gewaar.
Die wêreldbekende kroonarend deskundige, Dr Shane
McPherson, wat vir die afgelope vyf jaar ons
arendkuikens gering het, was verheug om 'n skenking
van R5000.00 van die HEV vir die uitbreiding van sy
navorsingsprogram wat toegewy is aan hierdie skaars
en bedreigde voëls, te ontvang.
Soos baie toegewyde wetenskaplike navorsers, oorleef
hy op 'n baie beperkte inkomste.
Written by / Geskryf deur
Jacques Sellschop
Because of the apparent shortage this year of monkeys
and dassies on the estate, the male eagle has been
forced to raid a chicken from to feed the female.