A Question about Eagles

Hi, I heard a story recently about a species of Eagle that puts sharp sticks in the middle of the nest to encourage the young birds to leave the nest. Apparently the parent bird starts off by putting the sticks in the middle of the nest slowly working more towards the edges until the young birds have no where left to go and they are forced to leave the nest. Does anyone know if this is true or not? Regards, Mark Sent from Surface Pro2


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3 comments to A Question about Eagles

  • Thanks to Phil, Greg and Val and Shirley for replying. Shirley, thanks for passing that onto Steve, and can you pass on my thanks to Steve for his reply? I’ve read the article he referenced, and seems that given the context of where I heard what I heard, that it mostly likely comes from the book that he has reviewed. I will pass this information onto my friend as well. Thanks again, Mark Sent from Surface Pro2 Sent: ‎Monday‎, ‎15‎ ‎September‎ ‎2014 ‎08‎:‎30 A note from Steve Debus Regards Shirley Cook —– Original Message —– Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2014 6:04 PM Hi Shirley, Oh dear, where do these myths come from? Whimsical baloney, of course (no offence intended to Mark or others). I think one secondary source of this myth was a religious book ‘on Eagles Wings’, reviewed in Boobook 24(1), May 2006. That review scotched many such myths, and that issue of Boobook is available as free download from the BirdLife website via Special Interest Groups/Australasian Raptor Association (as are all issues 2004 to 2 years past, were readers might find much of interest about raptors). Cheers, Steve —–Original Message—– Sent: Sunday, 14 September 2014 4:31 PM Philip Veerman and Greg Clancy have responded with “it is unlikely” so I am guessing you would have the same answer. Regards Shirley —– Original Message —– Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2014 10:28 AM


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  • gclancy

    Like Philip I am inclined to think that this is very unlikely. Philip’s suggestion that the provision of food, or lack of it, would be a more likely method of encouraging nestlings to fledge, if they indeed need encouragement. Regards Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/ —–Original Message—– Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2014 11:58 AM That is a new one on me. Although there are always surprises in nature. Eagles bring branches of fresh leaves to the nest but that story, the engineering involved and the suggested motivation sound absurd to me. The young of most birds want to leave the nest generally as soon as they can and will walk around and exercise their wings until they are ready. Provision and placement of food would be a far bigger inducement to fledging than this method. Philip —–Original Message—– youngsfamilymail@gmail.com Sent: Sunday, 14 September 2014 10:28 AM Hi, I heard a story recently about a species of Eagle that puts sharp sticks in the middle of the nest to encourage the young birds to leave the nest. Apparently the parent bird starts off by putting the sticks in the middle of the nest slowly working more towards the edges until the young birds have no where left to go and they are forced to leave the nest. Does anyone know if this is true or not? Regards, Mark Sent from Surface Pro2


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  • pveerman

    That is a new one on me. Although there are always surprises in nature. Eagles bring branches of fresh leaves to the nest but that story, the engineering involved and the suggested motivation sound absurd to me. The young of most birds want to leave the nest generally as soon as they can and will walk around and exercise their wings until they are ready. Provision and placement of food would be a far bigger inducement to fledging than this method. Philip —–Original Message—– youngsfamilymail@gmail.com Sent: Sunday, 14 September 2014 10:28 AM Hi, I heard a story recently about a species of Eagle that puts sharp sticks in the middle of the nest to encourage the young birds to leave the nest. Apparently the parent bird starts off by putting the sticks in the middle of the nest slowly working more towards the edges until the young birds have no where left to go and they are forced to leave the nest. Does anyone know if this is true or not? Regards, Mark Sent from Surface Pro2


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