2024-06-07 20:00:00
When arborist Warner Jan de Wilde climbs a poplar tree in a forest close to the IJssel, the expertise is all of the extra exceptional. “I’ve slept in a tree home since I used to be a six-year-old boy,” he says, simply earlier than climbing to the treetops with a rope to the ocean eagles’ nest. Involved mother and father circle within the air. It sounds, cough, cough, cough. De Wilde: “They do not assault, however they do categorical concern for his or her offspring.”
A bit later, a plastic bag with particular contents falls onto a rope: two downy white-tailed eagle chicks. Below the tree, Symen Deuzeman frequently checks the 2 birds of prey. “We measure their weight, the size of their beaks and the thickness of their legs, following which they get a hoop with a singular code. All data helps us defend this particular chicken of prey.”
As a member of the Dutch Sea Eagle Working Group, Duzman ring-breeds younger birds in Overijssel and Flevoland. He talks a couple of profitable breeding season wherein the white-tailed eagles as soon as once more broke data.
These spectacular birds of prey have nested in 40 areas this 12 months. Final 12 months, 32 nests have been efficiently constructed, with 45 chicks fledged. “We cannot know till August what number of chicks will ultimately fledgling this season,” Duzman mentioned. The younger sea eagles keep within the nest for 3 months. In some nests, as much as three chicks have been discovered.
In open water
The enormous birds of prey want to breed in treetops close to open water, together with the Frisian lakes and the sting of the IJsselmeer. Ponds and rivers are their looking grounds. The principle menu consists of coots, geese, fish and sometimes cormorants.
By the top of the nineteenth century, the white-tailed eagle had turn out to be extinct within the Netherlands on account of overhunting. In 2006, a pair of sea eagles took up residence at Oostvaardersplassen for the primary time. This was the start of the profitable return of the white-tailed eagle as a breeding chicken. Specialists initially claimed that the Netherlands may solely help a most of thirty pairs of sea eagles, as there have been few locations with sufficient peace and quiet within the densely populated Netherlands. “It might be good for these birds to have as little human exercise as potential inside a one-kilometre radius across the locations the place they increase their younger,” says Duzman.
Nonetheless, sea eagles appear to be getting an increasing number of used to people of their habitats. Some nests are nearby of mountaineering and biking trails. Farmers make hay within the meadows subsequent to sea eagle nests in order that the eagles don’t get misplaced. Martijn de Jonge – Photographer and writer of this guide Sea eagle within the Netherlands – has additionally seen this occur. “I do know a really shy feminine who has turn out to be an increasing number of used to the hustle and bustle of the water lately. Birds are getting used to folks. I usually joke that sea eagles are getting used to folks sooner than individuals are getting used to sea eagles.”
Individuals additionally come to the forest
De Jonge says nature organisations have a knack for closing public entry to vast areas round sea eagle breeding websites. This occurs in locations like Millingerwaard and Slikken van Flakkee. “Now we have a really excessive demand for cover, and the white-tailed eagles are more and more selecting public forests the place folks come. Sea eagles nest in Dutch cottages between Lelystad and Almere and in different public forests in Flevoland. There are a whole lot of unreasonable fears regarding destruction.”
De Jonge mentioned that alongside the Landmeeren and IJsselmeer areas, sea eagles are most probably to be harassed by anglers and motorboats somewhat than hikers and chicken photographers. “Though in Friesland, I’ve seen birds which might be used to being near waterways with boats.”
Final week’s clicks It’s Frisk Gaia, The Friesland Nature Conservation Society was alarmed by the invention of a nest in Kudum by an unlawful climber. Since then, one of many three younger sea eagles has been lacking. The cub may have been stolen from the nest. Martijn de Jonge does not assume this is smart. “It is particular if there are three cubs in a nest. Normally they do not all make it. So it is very doubtless that one of many chicks fell from the nest.”
Raptor Persecution
In the meantime, de Jonge mentioned the nest disturbances in Friesland have been one more instance of the province’s love-hate relationship with birds of prey. “Birds of prey have historically been severely persecuted in Friesland as a result of they’re thought to drive away meadow birds. In 2016, a younger white-tailed sea eagle was shot at its nest within the Linde Valley. Final 12 months, a Frisian white-tailed eagle was poisoned.”
Within the nest that Symen Deuzeman retains for his kids on the IJssel, he’s helped by his spouse Marjolijn. She helps her husband with the swab check for chicken flu. On the similar time, she provides the younger pigeons soothing speeches. She is aware of the reality. “I used to assist name the crows on the Veluwe,” she says.
As soon as it was decided that each chicks have been feminine, a reputation may very well be chosen. Members of the group proposed naming the 2 birds Marjolijn and Maaike, in honor of sea eagle knowledgeable Deuzeman’s spouse and their daughter. Moments later, Marjolijn proudly posed together with her namesake chicken (leg quantity WN58).
Nature can get well
On the bottom, the younger birds of prey appeared helpless. However, one of many boys scratched Duzman’s chin together with his claws. “The spectacular claws are the primary to mature. That is their instrument for survival,” mentioned Arend Jan Maatkamp from close by Hatem. He appeared on the ring.
Martijn de Jonge expects the ocean eagles to stay profitable as breeding birds for now. “There are many geese and fish right here. It is filled with biomass. The cleaner the water, the extra prey there may be. The delicate winters are additionally good for the ocean eagles.”
He hopes that pairs of sea eagles will fly to the Wadden Islands for his or her weddings. They’ve already been noticed in Rotumeroog feeding on useless seals. “Sea eagles additionally breed within the German Wadden Islands. The forests of Texel or Terschelling provide lovely nesting alternatives for our largest birds of prey.”
Additionally learn:
Koos Dijksterhuis’s Nature Diary:
Seahawks tourism growth
White-tailed sea eagles are uncommon, however their numbers are rising
Generally I take folks on excursions of nature reserves. Once I inform them regarding sea eagles, folks’s ears prick up. If we truly see a sea eagle, the journey is taken into account a hit even when we do not expertise a lot else.
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