Black Eagles

Last year it rained almost as much as with the great deluge. As a result the cliffs and surroundings let our Black Eagles down and the nest ended up at the bottom of the cliff.









To out dismay, we lost the nest and eggs. We thought that it would be the last of our lovely birds' breeding in the quarry. To our surprise and delight, they started building at the very spot they used last year. They did not let us down and soon they produced the prospects for the new season.



We held thumbs and hoped for a secure nest and hopefully an addition to the family.

Sure enough



At first the baby, after getting rid of the weaker one, acted dead every time we visited.



Later on it was more brave. We christened it and named it Schalk, after the WP, Stormer and SA super flank.



Note the dassie carcass.





It ate like a raven, sorry, eagle and grew bigger by the day.



Looking life in the eye.



Soon he was ready to take to the skies and we couldn't wait.



One glorious morning we came there and no Schalkie. At first we panicked and stormed down the cliff. To our delight this waited for us some way down the cliff.



He took to the skies!

The next day he was back in the nest, waiting for food.



From a distance the proud parents kept a watchful eye.