There is some sad news for those who have been watching a
pair of nesting British Columbian eagles via the
"Eagle Eye" internet webcam.
Yesterday, CBC News reported that:
There are now serious doubts that any eaglets will hatch from the nest on Hornby Island that has created worldwide "eagle fever" on the internet.
Doug Carrick, who set up a webcam in the nest in his neighbour's backyard, said one of the two eggs has disappeared and the other is overdue to hatch.
Carrick, 73, said he presumes the eaglet in the missing egg is dead, or the egg could have been infertile from the beginning.
He told CBC News Online that the second egg should hatch soon if the chick is to have any chance of survival.
"We'll know in a day or two. There should be some peck holes in the shell now, but I can't see any. There's only a slender chance."
The rest of the article can be found here,
B.C. Eagle Egg Given 'Slender' Chance of Survival.
Like many others, I have become a frequent visitor to the "Eagle Eye Cam". It has been absolutely incredible to watch these two magnificent birds as they go about their daily routines of sitting on the nest, cleaning the nest, and switching duties. Their patience has been unyielding as they wait for their, now overdue, egg to hatch. Although the eagles look peaceful as they sit on the nest and go about their routines, there is always a cautious awareness of the danger that such large birds of prey impose.
I have managed to get the Yank hooked on viewing the webcam as well. It is a rare experience for anyone to get such an intimate look at the nesting habits of the bald eagle, but it holds a greater degree of intrigue for him being that the birds are his national symbol.
Today, we were watching the nesting eagles and talking about how the website had been receiving over 10 million hits per day when we were interrupted by the sound of a chain saw coming from the computer speakers. The eagle that was sitting on the nest looked distressed, as if to query whether it was his tree that was being cut down, but he was not about to abandon his duty. Instead, the other eagle came swooping up towards the nest and landed. The birds then switched places, tenderly passing the egg from one to the other. Then, the eagle that had initially been sitting on the egg took off, flying towards the source of the chainsaw noise. Shortly thereafter, a great deal of screeching could be heard above the roar of the chainsaw followed by an eerie silence and then a victorious screech.
My husband looked at me.
"What do you think just happened?" he asked.
"Oh, I have a bit of an idea," came my reply.
“The foolish think the Eagle weak, and easy to bring to heel.
The Eagle's wings are silken, but its claws are made of steel.”
- Sidney Sheldon 
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