<p>How sad. We have a pair of eagles that hang out by our house every day this time of year, I just love them and the way they talk to each other from tree to tree. Certain times of year we wee a “topgun” style flying lesson with the full grown, but still dark headed juveniles. They are entertaining and majestic. Sometimes I get verklempt watching their activities and feeling privileged to see them up close and personal.</p>
<p>I’ve read about the nesting history of this pair. Their tough times continue. So sad. </p>
<p>It’s clear, some animals do mourn.</p>
<p>They have a clip on the website of them taking Phoenix out of the backpack after the climber made it down, and continued shots of the “empty nest”. We can all relate to that</p>
<p>I saw this post yesterday morning and it made me so sad. I checked the site over the weekend, and Phoenix was flapping her wings and making it onto the camera box. I’m glad that the cause of death will be looked into.</p>
<p>I plan to donate to the organization recommended on the website to help cover expenses for the autopsy. The same organization was set to help Phoenix, but she died before the rescuers could reach her.</p>
<p>I’ve been watching Hornby’s Eagles since it was posted on CC.
Since then, I have discovered five raptors nests along my bike route. The BaldEagle’s, is fledge and today is branch sitting on a branch below nest, with parent calling out encouragement to do some flights. The two Osprey’s nests have chicks who are near fledging- parents are calling and demonstrating the fine art of stationary flight and short dives.</p>
<p>LP- great discovery!</p>
<p>I wanted to get an answer out (haven’t seen one) about the question of the “fish head experiment”.</p>
<p>I’ve been lurking only on the Hornby Eagle cam site since this thread was posted on CC, but have loved it and am so grateful for the privilege of watching these beautiful birds and this year’s eggs. I have been weeping every day since Phoenix died and miss him very much. I didn’t realize how attached I was to him/her although I knew how addicted I was to the site.</p>
<p>From what I gather, the fish head experiment was set up to attempt to find an answer about why Phoenix hadn’t eaten in several days. The Carricks and the eagle experts that monitor this nest were concerned. Fishing hadn’t been good for the eagle parents for a couple of days but the Carricks/experts were concerned there might be more going on than just a lack of food. I believe they were trying to determine if a rescue was going to be needed for Phoenix, a very big decision with huge implications for both the eagle family and the humans involved.</p>
<p>Doug Carrick put out a fish head, which the parents took and brought to Phoenix. There had been a question of whether the parents were withholding food from the eaglet, perhaps in an attempt to encourage him/her to fledge. When the fish head was delivered to Phoenix (I didn’t see this), Phoenix refused to partake. My understanding is that this is when the experts knew something was wrong with Phoenix and began to make arrangements to rescue him.</p>
<p>Phoenix’s health became dramatically worse very quickly at that point, too quickly for any help to arrive.</p>
<p>All this detail is documented in hotspots on the site.</p>
<p>Thank you to the CC’er who was the OP for this thread. Phoenix was a much loved bird.</p>
<p>scirocco, thank you for that post. I too was wondering about the fish head experiment. I have been following the forums and hot spot cams on wildearth. I am totally flabergasted as to how this has affected me. Phoenix was a much loved bird around the world.</p>
<p>Preliminary findings on cause of death:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>^^ I had just read that a few minutes ago. Thanks for posting it here, ignatius.</p>
<p>Thank you all for posting the details. Fungal infections are REALLY hard to treat - there are very few treatment options available, even for humans. My heart aches for Phoenix and her parents.</p>
<p>I wonder if the nest needs to be treated. Fungal pathogens can survive in the environment for a long time…</p>
<p>Is it possible that either the mom or dad are infected because of their time spent in the nest?</p>
<p>Scroll down to find Hornby Eagles - Latest News: [The</a> Eagles of Hornby Island](<a href=“http://www.hornbyeagles.com/]The”>http://www.hornbyeagles.com/)</p>
<p>Newsclip:[YouTube</a> - Why did an Eaglet Die?](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDWnXY3IXdQ&feature=youtu.be]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDWnXY3IXdQ&feature=youtu.be)</p>
<p>I plan to keep watch for the clip of the climb to get Phoenix. I had no idea the difficulty involved.</p>
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</p>
<p>Yesterday I sent donations to the rescue organization mentioned and the Hornby Eagle Project both. The enjoyment and learning provided by this opportunity to watch the eagle family outweighs (for me) the sad ending. Thanks to the OP for sharing the site.</p>
<p>Nice to revisit Phoenix with some great pictures. </p>
<p>Below the Phoenix pictures in the “Hornby Highlights” section come pictures of Mom and Dad and also a flyby by last year’s eaglet Hope. I wondered if Mom and Dad Hornby ever saw previous offspring. Note the comment that Dad Hornby did not seem agitated while on babysitting duty when Hope flew over the nest.</p>
<p>[The</a> Eagles of Hornby Island - 2010 Photo Gallery](<a href=“http://www.hornbyeagles.com/2010season/nestingseason.htm]The”>http://www.hornbyeagles.com/2010season/nestingseason.htm)</p>
<p>Mom and dad eagles are back, tidying up the nest!</p>
<p>[The</a> Eagles of Hornby Island](<a href=“http://www.hornbyeagles.com/webcam.htm]The”>http://www.hornbyeagles.com/webcam.htm)</p>
<p>this makes me so happy</p>
<p>Hurray! :)</p>
<p>Oh great-- another distraction. I LOVED that site last year, despite its sad ending.</p>
<p>Crap, me too! That was another form of internet crack for me. I can’t believe the amount of time I would just sit watching. Sigh, I need a life.</p>
<p>this post has been deleted</p>