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On May 19, 2008, the two eagle chicks on Santa Cruz Island's Pelican Harbor nest — part of The Nature Conservancy's preserve on the island — were attacked by another eagle. A viewer of the live nest cam alerted biologists on the island, who raced to the site and were able to rescue the eaglets.
While both eaglets suffered injuries, biologists expect them to recover. Nature.org spoke with Peter Sharpe from the Institute for Wildlife Studies (which conducts bald eagle restoration on the island) about what happened out at the nest and how the young eagles are doing now.
Nature.org: What happened?
Peter Sharpe: Another bald eagle found the nest on Monday afternoon and, for some unknown reason, grabbed or knocked the eaglets out of the nest, about 20-30 minutes apart.
Nature.org: How were the eaglets found and recovered?
Peter Sharpe: Our research facilities are about 75 minutes away from the nest and nobody was at the nest site that day. But many viewers of the live web cam saw the first chick taken from the nest.
Viewer "Harpo," who heard that the chick was out of the nest via phone from viewer "Eagle Duo," is the one who notified our staff. She called Dave Rempel, project restoration manager on Santa Cruz Island for the Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS).
The IWS crew then rushed out to the nesting area and searched below the nest for the eaglets.
(Read a full account of their rescue efforts at the online discussion board.)
Nature.org: What do you know about the bird that attacked the nest?
Peter Sharpe: It had blue wing markers, but didn't appear to have a GPS transmitter, so we know it was a sub-adult (young adult) bird from Santa Cruz Island — either one that we released or was hatched there.
Nature.org: Is this normal behavior for eagles?
Peter Sharpe: No, this is not normal behavior — we haven't heard of this kind of attack before. But I don't think the eagle was actually trying to prey on the eaglets.
Nature.org: Where are the eaglets now?
Peter Sharpe: They are at the Serrano Animal Clinic in Orange County.
Nature.org: What injuries do they have?
Peter Sharpe: One bird has a puncture in its beak. Most likely it was grabbed by the eagle and dragged out of the nest. The other eagle has a broken right humerus (upper wing).
Nature.org: Will they survive?
Peter Sharpe: They should both survive. The one with the beak injury could be back on the island in our hacking tower on Santa Cruz Island by early June. The second needs surgery and will hopefully be back on the island by early July.
("Hack towers" are large nesting boxes about ten feet off the ground where the birds can test their wings and adjust to the island's breezes.)
Nature.org: How are they being cared for and who is treating them?
Peter Sharpe: They are getting antibiotics and the one with the wing injury will have surgery by a specialist on May 22nd.
Nature.org: Are the parents OK? How does this affect them?
Peter Sharpe: The parents are fine. They should breed again next year and maybe they will be more attentive at the nest.
Nature.org: What happens next? Will the eaglets be placed back in their nest?
Peter Sharpe: They will be placed in a hack tower. After a day or two out of the nest it would be too risky to put them back because the adults likely will not be visiting the nest much anymore.
Nature.org: How can people help the eaglets recover?
Peter Sharpe: In addition to paying for the unexpected expense of the emergency flight off the island and the veterinary care, IWS will also need to hire biologists to feed, monitor and track these eaglets for several months longer than planned. Information on making contributions can be found at www.iws.org and you can designate that the contribution to go towards the care of the eaglets.
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Harold E Malde (Santa Cruz Island); Photo © Courtesy of Peter Sharpe (Peter Sharpe); Photo © Institute for Wildlife Studies (eaglets in nest); Photo © Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital (x-ray of broken wing).
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