UPDATE: Makatsa’s chick has died
The area in proximity to the nest was searched, and the carcass of the chick was recovered approximately 80 metres away at just before 18h00.
The Black Eagle Project Roodekrans (BEPR) is saddened to have to confirm that Makatsa’s chick has died at the age of 53 days.
The last sighting of the live chick was on Saturday, 3 August at 5.36pm, when a video was taken of the female feeding the chick on the nest.
Read yesterday’s article here:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/301987/sad-news-makatsas-chick/
On Sunday morning, 4 August, a resident of Featherbrooke Estate reported that they had seen the chick on the nest from their telescope.
BEPR members on duty at the waterfall on Sunday, 4 August, confirmed in the morning report that they had not seen the chick by the time their shift ended at noon.
This was not regarded as unusual, as it often happens that they only catch a glimpse from the monitoring point a few times a day.
On Monday, 5 August, photographers who had been at the Botanical Gardens in the morning, reported to the project that they had not seen the chick.
The BEPR was then alerted that a member of the public had posted a photograph on Facebook of an adult eagle removing the chick from the nest on Sunday afternoon at 12.30pm.
After carefully examining the photo, it did appear to be the case, and some BEPR members met at the Gardens.
The area in proximity to the nest was searched, and the carcass of the chick was recovered approximately 80 metres away, at just before 6pm.
These remains will be sent for analysis, and a statement will be issued once the results are known.
BEPR asked the public to note that the photograph shows an adult eagle removing a chick from the nest, and does not in any way suggest that it had been killed.
Three scenarios are possible – the chick could have died from disease, or starvation, or it could have been deliberately killed by one of the adults.
BEPR will issue another update once further information surfaces.
