Black Eagles Nest in South Africa

[Janne+Ais]

Thank you Felis!
I ask myself, why do these eagles produce two eggs at all? Maybe to be sure, that at least one egg is fertilized? Could it happen, that one egg doesn't hatch?

[Mamicja]

.... Could it happen, that one egg doesn't hatch?

It happened last year

[Janne+Ais]

It happened last year

Ok, thanks, then I understand the nature.
Cruel and wise at the same time.

[Black swan]

A few small corrections will be necessary for the data in this statement.

And here is the new Star in the Black Eagle Nest:

Pic fr today, 4:51pm NT

Yes, Observation is now safe again...

[Felis silvestris]

Thank you Felis!
I ask myself, why do these eagles produce two eggs at all? Maybe to be sure, that at least one egg is fertilized? Could it happen, that one egg doesn't hatch?

Last year when we had the cainism on the LSE nest here in Estonia (Eha and Koit), I collected a number of articles dealing with cainism and siblicide. Maybe you find a few answers there
viewtopic.php?f=53&t=590


A book I can recommend, if you are able to read English fluently and can get it (I think Amazon has it in stock or get it for you) is:
Douglas Mock: More than kin and less than kind : the evolution of family conflict

It deals with the topic in a quite general way, but I found it did answer some of my questions or at least made me understand some of the processes linked to cainism/siblicide/brood reduction and why evolution has chosen some ways over others.

[Janne+Ais]

Thank you very much, Felis!
Much to read! I will see, whether I will find the time. But it would be very interesting to learn more about this part of evolution.

[Black swan]

I have a question, not like in this thread because a little off topic.

The terms Cainism and Siblicide I find somewhat confusing.

I think in the case of the Black Eagles, we have an obligatory Cainism.
The wiki "Siblicide" says, quote: "Siblicide gene rally only the occurs when resources, specifically food sources, are scarce...."

In contrast, in the wiki "Cainism": Quote: "... act of killing regardless of the food situation in species with obligatory Cainism."

Are there different terms, as I also previously understood?
However, they are often mentioned in one breath.
Similarly, the phrase "survival of the fittest".
Again and again, also used at the Black Eagels.

Quote: Janne+Ais "I ask myself, why do these eagles produce two eggs at all? "
That were also my thoughts. I think, the 2.egg is just an insurance, (simply said) for the case that an egg is not hatched, not viable.
Thus a higher probability for an fledging Eaglet in the breeding season.

edit: In the above Link-list of Felis silvestris I found good and interesting to read (much in German) http://www.raptor-research.de/pdfs/a_rp700p/a_rp702.pdf

[Mamicja]

June 26th
Feeding



I was very surprised to see Emoyeni feeding both- chick and Thulane (or vice versa, I do can't tell the difference between them)

[Black swan]

A nice Video from this "Feeding" (with Sound ) by eaglewhisperer18: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI0mnhVi ... e=youtu.be

Thul on left (cliff wall)

[Mamicja]

A new prey was brought and Emoyeni fed chick.

[Mamicja]

June 28th
Feeding and Thulane's visit. Emoyeni protected the prey.

[Mamicja]

June 29th
Family lunch: Emoyeni(?) again fed Thulane.

Emoyeni shadowed eaglet.

[Mamicja]

July 1st
Eaglet is growing fast.

Full crop after feeding.

[Mamicja]

July 7th
Eaglet is 24 days old today.

[Mamicja]

July 10th
Eaglet is well fed and grows fast. Now it looks like white downy toy.

Even Thulane feeds the eaglet - vids by sunflowerAB321
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Uj8CRM ... e=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ72-ciu ... e=youtu.be
Emoyeni preens eaglet before night.

[Mamicja]

July 13th
Feeding and food coma.





Eaglet tries to stand, but it's impossible to catch balance with so huge crop.



Eaglet got first dark pin feathers.

[Felis silvestris]

The eaglet got a name: Jono

Jon Oliver, CEO of Africam.com sadly passed away just a few days before Emoyeni's chick was born in June, 2014. Therefore, we think it only fitting that this eaglet should be named "Jono", which is what he was always called by his friends and family. Jon's work with the Black Eaglet Project over the past five years was truly cutting edge. He worked tirelessly to make sure each and every year the project, and the live camera used to monitor it, would be a success. His contributions to the Black Eagle Project will be sorely missed, but we know his memory will live on through Emoyeni's baby eaglet, "Jono"

And:

NOTE: The solar system on the cliff face has been damaged, so the camera will sometimes run out of power during the night.

[Mamicja]

July 18th
Jono has more and more dark feathers.



Jono's attempts to self-feeding; video by Asleepnomore Birdwatching
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiuTwxv9 ... e=youtu.be

[Mamicja]

July 22nd and 23rd
Jono grows fast and becomes a beautiful eaglet

Emoyeni and Jono were waiting for food yesterday, but without success



Today they both called for food, Jono was very hungry (I still remember Nessi without food for five days)



Finaly at 10:52 Thulane flew in with prey

Jono was impatient and tried self-feeding

At 15:12 next delivery and Emoyeni fed Jono



Before night Jono's crop was nicely filled

Videos by sunflowerAB321
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pgwn6Et ... e=youtu.be
and Juanita Owensby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrhQXhBLlRQ

[Mamicja]

July 24th
Thulane fed today both, Emoyeni and Jono. What a change since last year!



Video by Asleepnomore Birdwatching
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hOplrAT ... e=youtu.be