Makatsa impresses BEPR with her drive and tenacity
One can only speculate what could have occurred, as Thulane was highly experienced at the age of between 25 and 27 years.
An update from the Black Eagle Project Roodkrans (BEPR) chairperson, Gerald Draper, confirms that the male eagle (Thulane) has still not returned to the nest, and the BEPR feel that it is highly unlikely that he will do so in the future.
One can only speculate what could have occurred, as Thulane was highly experienced at the age of between 25 and 27 years.
Photographic evidence on Wednesday, 12 June confirmed that there were two eggs in the nest, On Thursday, 13 June, the presence of one chick was confirmed, but sadly on Wednesday, 19 June, it was confirmed that the second egg was no longer in the nest, nor was a second eaglet present.
Also Read:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/297748/makatsa-and-chick-coping-after-thulanes-disappearance/
Gerald said, “The initial chick however looks healthy and very active as the female eagle (Makatsa) has been feeding it since it hatched seven days ago, and has impressed all of us with her drive and tenacity.”
Prey has been brought into the nest on a regular basis this week, and she has also been bringing in green ‘sprays’ to sanitise the nest.
The efforts of the Sugarbush Ridge Coalition and Volunteer Rangers in destroying hundreds of snares in the area over the past few months has led to the habitat being more stable than it has been in many years. Consequently, there is sufficient prey around, and Makatsa will hopefully not have to venture too far in pursuit of food.
Read more:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/297253/thulane-has-gone-awol/
Gerald said, “As Black Eagle pairs will normally not leave a chick unattended on the nest before the age of five to six weeks, we are in a critical stage right now. Besides the obvious threat of predation, we are also approaching a particularly cold week which will leave the chick exposed to the elements if the female is off the nest for lengthy periods.”
Black Eagles have been breeding in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden since the 1940s, and since the official formation of the Black Eagle Project in 1992, two adult birds have been replaced. Quatele disappeared in 1998 and was replaced by Thulane, and Emonyeni, who disappeared in 2016, was replaced by Makatsa.
The BEPR monitors will continue to keep an eye on the situation and communicate as and when any developments occur.
