Baldheaded eagle webcam

[badger]

gone as in dead?! god, that's awful he was still there a couple of hours ago. How did it go so wrong? he was doing so well!

[salsabike]

This is what they posted:

Doug and Sheila Carrick, the Hornby Eagle Group and friends, are shocked and saddened to report the sudden collapse and death of our beloved Phoenix. A rescue effort was underway, but his decline was sudden and swift. We ask that you remember him by supporting the work of the Mounainnaire Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (http://wingbeats.info/), who would have moved heaven and earth to help. We love you Phoenix, and we mourn with Mom and Dad Hornby.

[badger]

that is just so awful, I hope Phoenix didn't suffer for very long. I guess this is the cruel fact of nature, but it's all the more distressing when you've been following the progress all along. As much as I wonder what will happen to the body, or if the video would still be running, or how the parents are reacting, I think I will just have to close this chapter. I hope the parents have better luck next year.

[Bike Chick]

I got the same post on FB. Does anyone know what happened? I was shocked! Phoenix was doing so well.

[PamNY]

Putting together what I saw and what's in the discussion group: Phoenix had little appetite yesterday, and last night was panting and lethargic. From what I saw, I'd say she didn't suffer for very long. The Wildearth site has a statement saying they'd been concerned about her condition for several days.

Someone mentioned necropsy in the discussion group, so perhaps we will find out what happened. I hope Mom and Dad are okay.

[badger]

I made the mistake of seeing the webcam, and I see that he's still there :*( I wonder if the parents will keep coming back until they realize he's gone?

I remember this one time when in my neighbourhood a crow had fledged. But he was on the road, so risking being mauled by the parents, I moved him to off the road. When I came back home later that day, I noticed that he had moved back onto the road and that he had been run over. The parents were squawking at him for over a day and they finally gave up

[badger]

I'm surprised they have the webcam still running, and more surprised that there isn't a blurb on there saying that he's died. I don't have facebook, so if I hadn't seen it here, I wouldn't have known any different looking at the webcam this morning.

[badger]

I notice that Phoenix's body is gone now. Would you please update me if you find anything out on the necropsy (if they're doing one)?

the nest looks so empty now

[PamNY]

The death of Phoenix was reported in a local newspaper.

Phoenix was so big -- I saw video of the recovery of his body, and was just amazed to realize how much he'd grown in so short a time. I do miss the baby.

[badger]

yeah, I saw that article. I guess it's not so surprising as I'm super sensitive, anyways, but his death's been weighing so heavily in my mind today.

I know this is nature and that animals die every day, but I guess because we've been watching him thrive it's that much more devastating. Do you know if the parents have been seen back at the nest at all?

[PamNY]

According to observers, the parents are nearby. Mom was in the "babysitting tree" while the body was removed, and Dad was flying with another adult and an immature.

I haven't seen any mention of them being on the nest (but they discuss a lot in chat, so I may have missed it).

The death of a wild animal is truly a loss if you have grown to know and love them.

[badger]

my friend, who followed Phoenix's development daily and took his death very hard, forwarded me this very inspirational and uplifting eagle rehab story

[badger]

my friend forwarded me this. It was an infection, and it was rapid-onset. And Phoenix was a girl. I'm glad at least that it wasn't anything like rat poison or other human-caused death.

First report on Phoenix from the pathologists

Today at 3:20pm

This morning we received the preliminary findings from the necropsy
performed on Phoenix.

Phoenix was a female. She died from acute bilateral mycotic pneumonia.

Other tests results will become available over the next week, and will
confirm the causative agent.

Because Phoenix's death was caused by an infectious disease, sadly,
she cannot be returned to Hornby Island for interment.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Maj Birch (Mountainaire Avian Rescue),
Dr. Schwantje (wildlife veterinarian, British Columbia Ministry of
Environment) and Dr. Bowes (avian pathologist for the British Columbia
Animal Health Laboratory) for their dedication and determination to
learn as much from Phoenix as they could.

A.J.L., on behalf of Doug Carrick and the Hornby Eagle Group.

Terms:
Acute: rapid onset
Bilateral: both lungs
Mycotic: fungal
Pneumonia: inflammatory lung condition

[Norse]

I just returned from a 4-day bike tour - AIDs fundraiser - and learned of Phoenix' passing. Damn ............... this saddens me deeply.

[PamNY]

Final report on Phoenix.

Doesn't provide much new information, but it's interesting that such care was taken with her case.