An unusual pairing is being watched closely by wildlife experts and enthusiasts alike at the end of a treed lane in Sidney.
A large eaglesB次元官网网址� nest at the end of Third Street overlooking Shoal Harbour, is the home to three eaglets. And while that in itself is somewhat unusual, itB次元官网网址檚 the guest in the nest that has birders all a-twitter.
The eagles have been feeding and taking care of Red-Tailed hawk chicks. At first there were two, but observers are saying now there is only the one left. David Hancock, an eagle specialist who started the Hancock Wildlife Foundation and who operates live-streaming Eagle Cams in some 400 locations, says what is rare, is the eagles are raising so many young.
B次元官网网址淲hat is rare here is the fact the eagles are not only raising three young (of their own) B次元官网网址� this pair is a consistent three-chick pair,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he unusual thing this year is (the nest) had two Red-Tailed hawk chicks in it. But now it only has one.B次元官网网址�
Hancock said the chicks were B次元官网网址減robably stolenB次元官网网址� as a food source for the eagles from a nearby hawkB次元官网网址檚 nest.
B次元官网网址淎nd then the whole behaviour changes,B次元官网网址� he continued. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 now in a nest where you donB次元官网网址檛 kill hooked-beak things that squawk and beg for food. You kill other things to feed the hooked-beak thing.B次元官网网址�
However, the little hawk is apparently living a charmed life. Hancock added the young eagles could turn on the remaining guest.
B次元官网网址淭hey certainly could. One quick jab aggressively, which they often are with each other, could do a little Red-Tail in hawk in. HeB次元官网网址檚 lived a charmed life.B次元官网网址�
He said he is not sure what happened to the second hawk chick that others described as being in the nest earlier.
Hancock added eagles and hawks are normally competitors for food sources and territory in the wild B次元官网网址� but not overly so.
B次元官网网址淎nd good wishes for this little rascal. We all wish him well,B次元官网网址� Hancock said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 got some other, bigger challenges to face coming up B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 grown up with eagles. Is he going to think they are his buddies? The next eagle he encounters if he makes it off the nest isnB次元官网网址檛 likely going to think the same way, unfortunately.B次元官网网址�
There have been a variety of people coming by to see the nest, including VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Sandra Jacobsen.
B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 pass this up,B次元官网网址� she said I really didnB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檇 get the chance to see the little guy. But I thought IB次元官网网址檓 going to wait here until he gets up, and he did. Just a great little guy. Terribly exciting.B次元官网网址�
