I was sort of concerned too but didn’t feel like commenting. There is a difference between the parents leaving the nest (for a short time because of any number
of reasons) and surely young of this age aren’t normally attended all the time, and deserting which (to me) suggests a permanent state of affairs. By that stage the chick is able to thermoregulate and eat and there is usually lots of food left in the nest.
Has there been any instances of death of about ready to fledge, eagle chicks, because parents have left the nest for a few hours? I suggest the question would be more relevant if the chick was very young.
Philip
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Monday, 4 January 2016 8:18 AM To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Wedge-tailed Eagle
Agree Denis - a quick visit by a single person can be OK but a group is not good. Worst of all is spending time at a nest or a succession of people as,
apart from deserting, the adults will not approach with humans in the vicinity.
From: Denis Wilson [
Sent: Sunday, 3 January 2016 11:34 PM
To: COG bird discussions
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Wedge-tailed Eagle
Am I the only person who is surprised that COG members are going quite close to a
Wedgie nest, especially one with a chick close to fledging?
It used be said that Wedgies were very susceptible to deserting a nest if disturbed.
Maybe this chick or the parents are past the point of being disturbed?
I don't know, but I feel compelled to raise the question.
