Nesting eagles, new arrivals first enthrall, now appall some Richmonders | The ...
21.05.12
RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond residents were thrilled this month when two eaglets joined their nesting parents 80 feet up a loblolly pine along the James River. Then the larger eaglet began an unrelenting pecking attack on its smaller sibling, turning wonderment to horror and fears of fratricide as it went on for days, then weeks.
The life-and-death wildlife drama has been playing out in cringing detail because a camera is positioned about 8 feet above the nest, streaming live video of the older sibling's attacks on the cowering smaller eaglet.
The eaglet has opened a wound on its fellow chick's downy back, leaving viewers to wonder: will it live?
The answer: probably.
But the aggression has been tough for viewers and the volunteers who operate the camera for long stretches.
"It's very difficult," admits Barbara Slatcher, who operates the remote camera from her suburban Richmond home. "It's difficult for all the moderators I have. I'm encouraging them to take frequent breaks."
Source: The Republic