Black eagles doing well after heavy rains
During the late afternoon of Friday, 7 February the West Rand experienced a torrential downpour, which left many people worried about the Verreaux residents of WSBG.
Black Eagle Project Roodekrans (BEPR) has confirmed that the Verreaux’s eagles at Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden (WSBG) are fine and that the nest is intact.
During the late afternoon of Friday, 7 February the West Rand experienced a torrential downpour, which left many people worried about the Verreaux residents of WSBG.
Read the initial article here:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/314884/watch-heavy-rains-create-magnificent-scene-walter-sisulu-botanical-gardens/
“BEPR monitors went to check on the eagles in the morning after the previous evening’s heavy rain. We soon found both Makatsa and Mahlori looking a bit scraggly and wet, but they soon took to the skies, and proceeded to take some sticks to the nest,” said BEPR monitor, Dougie Crewe.
For the first time Makatsa and Mahlori were also spotted mating, but according to Dougie one should remember that the eagles mate throughout the year.
The eagles are expected to lay eggs in the middle of April as the behaviour and activities observed by BEPR point in that particular direction.
The eagles have been busy refurbishing the nest by collecting sticks and bringing sprays of green leaves to it.
According to photographer, Shane Wilken, the eagles use the green leaves to kill off parasites and sanitise the nest.
“I haven’t seen any leaves taken to the nest since Makatsa lost her chick last year. I am officially calling this the beginning of the breeding season as the other morning I saw Mahlori and Makatsa mating. We are looking forward to new beginnings and a new family,” concluded Shane.
