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The juvenile eagle spreads its wings.
PHOTO: Supplied by Johann van den Berg
- The juvenile black eagle born at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden in June has taken to the skies.
- The young eagle made its first flight on Monday.
- The public and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to suggest a name for the chick.
There was a lot of excitement on Monday morning when the black eagle chick that was born at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens in Gauteng in June spread its wings and soared into the skies for the first time.
According to the president of the Black Eagle Project Roodekrans, Gerald Draper, the young raptor is the first-born of mother Makatsa and her new father, Mahlori, which means “miracle.”
News24 previously reported that Mahlori had made the gardens his home on July 13 of last year. This after the previous male, Thulani, disappeared in early June, leaving Makatsa alone with a newborn chick.
The chick finally died in early August of last year.
Thulani had been living in the gardens since 1998, while Makatsa has been there since 2016.
“Our juvenile eagle fledged at 07:33 on Monday morning. It is most likely a male, as the fledging was a little earlier than usual. We had predicted that it would fledge the first week of September if it was male and a few days later if it was female, “Draper said. The eagle was 93 days old on Tuesday.
The juvenile eagle took to the skies on Monday.
The juvenile eagle soars into the skies.
The juvenile eagle soars into the skies.
READ | It’s official: Roodekrans black eagles are proud parents
Johann van den Berg, who is part of the Black Eagle Project, ran into the gardens to take some pictures as soon as he heard that the young eagle had fled.
“I ran to the botanical gardens and took some photos with him showing off his newfound freedom. A strong breeze was blowing, but he managed very well and made several flights. He flies well, young man,” Van den Berg wrote on Facebook. .
Draper said members of the public and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to submit their suggested names for Makatsa and Mahlori’s new chick, and they have a chance to win some prizes.
Presentations can be made by email, by clicking here. The closing date is Friday, September 4.
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