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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Family counselling hatched at raptor centre Unique for B.C.? Eaglets believed to be first born in captivity Krista Siefken
News Leader Pictorial
H
ank and Shaya aren’t, admittedly, the world’s best parents. The ¿rst-time mom and dad lost custody of their eaglets after the everyday pressures of raising two kids led to domestic disputes between the pair. “The pressures and frustrations of dealing with their new charges spilled over into squabbles that quickly escalated,” a press release from Paci¿c Northwest Raptors — where the baby bald eagles hatched — explains. “Within a few days Hank — about 30 per cent smaller than partner Shaya — had to be removed for his own safety. Following consultation with specialists around the world, the Raptors staff also removed the two babies, who were considered at high risk, from the aviary and placed into a brooder.” The month-old birds are already back with dad, though, and staff — who monitor the babies constantly in person and via camera — say they’re growing at an exponential rate. They’re believed to be the ¿rst eagles born in captivity in the
province. “After hand-rearing the babies until they were more robust, at two weeks of age staff at the Raptors centre then set up a protected shelf in a pen with dad, Hank, and placed one of the two babies in with him,” staff say. “When things looked settled, the second chick was then added in with his sibling and his dad. Hank feeds alongside the chicks and shows his progeny all his cool bald eagle moves.” The eaglets — believed to be one female and one male — won’t be named until they Àedge at about 12 weeks of age. It’s hoped they’ll join the centre’s “ace Àying team” when they’re older. Centre manager Robyn Radcliffe said that despite a high mortality rate for baby eagles in captivity or in the wild, she’s feeling positive. “They’re thriving,” she said. “We’re feeling proud and excited to share their arrival.” The eaglets are being slowly introduced to visitors to the raptor education centre on Herd Road, mostly during the afternoon. And Radcliffe says those who want to track the eaglets’ progress should check out the Paci¿c Northwest Raptor Facebook page, where PaciÄc Northwest Raptors welcomed two eaglets to the Åock last month. The pair had to be separated from mom for their own safety. updates will be posted.
Krista Siefken
Investigation launched after police car in highway smack-up south of Duncan Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
S
aanich Police are now investigating Sunday’s car crash between a local RCMP cruiser and a local woman’s sedan. The probe could take months, according to Sgt. Dean Jantzen of the Saanich department. A crash analyst, a forensic investigator and two major-crime of¿cers were at the collision site Tuesday south of Duncan, Krista Siefken A woman is taken from the scene of a Sunday evening collision between her vehicle Jantzen said. Those experts were to meet with the and an on-duty police car.
North Cowichan/Duncan of¿cer involved, who’s served 2 1/2 years on the local force, he noted. SPD also investigated the tragic circumstances of a June 2010 wreck involving a local RCMP car that hit and killed local woman Patti Daniels near Somenos Marsh. Sunday’s 7 p.m. incident caused non-life threatening injuries to the male Mountie, and the 23-year-old woman who was driving a Hyundai Accent. The collision happened when the female made a left turn from the northbound lane of the Trans-Canada Highway at Miller Road — across from the Old Farm Market
— and her car collided with the marked cop cruiser headed to a domestic dispute, police have stated. Names of both people involved haven’t been released. However, the woman is believed to be the girlfriend of a pal of Victoria’s Mike Stewart, who said he saw the cruiser speeding through Duncan just before the wreck happened. Stewart, a steam engineer, told the News Leader Pictorial he was gassing his car at the Chevron at the TCH and Trunk Road when he heard and saw the fast-moving cruiser without lights or sirens being used. more on page 10