As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Parksville eagles engage in unusual method for setting up a 'household'

Neil Dawe / Special To The Daily News 
June 12, 2014 12:00 AM

There's an unusual ménage à trois within Parksville city limits. A trio of Bald eagles has set up its household and is in the midst of rearing two young.

I first noticed this arrangement while keeping an eye on a pair of Bald eagles at their nest. On one occasion, a third adult eagle flew in and perched on a snag, about 250 metres away from the nest. The nesting pair made no fuss.

This was quite unusual because Bald eagles are normally monogamous and defend their territories vigorously.

Over the next few days, I saw all three eagles chase and evict other eagles from the territory.

As an intruder got too close, the nesting trio would begin their alarm calls, which have been described as "a discordant series of metallic chitters and squeaks that sound like a rotating clothesline pulley needing oil."


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