The younger eaglet on the Hornby nest, named Echo by Doug Carrick, died on May 11, 2009, as the result of a tragic accident. Skipper was recording the nest at 5:55 am (before the archived files start), and got a nice video of Hope and Echo, ending with the arrival of Mom, coming in to brood the chicks (Skipper's Video - Rest in Peace, Little Echo).

Somehow, during the two or so hours that Mom brooded the eaglets, Echo became entangled in the feathers on the underside of Mom's body. There are several theories as to how this happened - it's possible that one of the eaglets pooped while under Mom, or that she got into some tree sap or other sticky substance. Or possibly Echo's wing got wedged in among some of Mom's feathers in some way. However it happened, when Mom stood up at 7:55 am, Echo caught in Mom's feathers. Mom hopped around the nest, perhaps trying to shake Echo loose, and even took a brief flight, but Echo remained firmly attached. It looked as if some of the strands from Mom's feathers were wrapped around Echo's neck, though we have no way of knowing if they contributed to his death. Beans made a video of this as part of the record of the nest - please be aware that it is a very hard video to watch (Tragedy in the Hornby Nest).

Mom then fed Hope, and resumed brooding both eaglets. At about 10:00, she stood up again. Echo was still attached. It was not clear at that point if Echo was still alive. At 10:10, Mom flew away from the nest a second time, and Echo fell to the ground below.

~~~~~

Doug Carrick posted the following at 10:35:

IN MEMORY OF LITTLE "ECHO"

At 10:30 this morning I looked under the eagle tree and found Echo lying on the ground. I picked him up. He was soft and warm but absolutely still - no signs of life.

Just when we realized that Echo was managing very well in dealing with his big sister and was getting his share of the food, this totally unexpected tragedy occurred.

We are all upset. It reminds us how tenuous life is, especially in the wild. We will miss little Echo but still have Hope.

~~~~~

Doug and Boonibarb examined Echo, and reported that there was no apparent physical damage, and no sticky areas, so we may never know how or why he got entangled. Rest in Peace, little Echo.

David Hancock's comments, posted at 12:14:

Hi all :

What a sad day. Our followers and Doug have really said it all. The few calls I have just had were tear laced and provoked the same in me. Sure hard -- bloody impossible actually -- to be an un-compassionate and objective scientist under these circumstances.

This is of course a very unusual accident. In fact this is such an unusual twist of fate that I have never heard of it happening just like this before. Here where we have so many viewers, such good opportunity for observation and analysis by replaying the archival cams, and yet no clear answers.

How in fact did this accident occur? In the past there are examples of adults bringing string (binder twine left in the fields kills hundreds of raptors annually this way), small fish net pieces attached to a fish entangle the young, and there is even suspicion of a broken egg in the nest acting as a binder or glue to fix feathers to chicks and cause a similar tragedy. But none of this seems to be at play here. So what is a logical explanation?

My best guess at this point or suspicion is that either chick excavated (pooped!) while it was under mom. This excrement stuck her underbelly and possibly underwing covets -- a few long trailing feathers -- together and poor Echo had the misfortune of getting entangled in them.

Certainly the excrement can be a strong binding agent. I have seen captive reared chicks stuck firmly to the nest with excrement. However, to have seen her fly off with the chick and then return safely with the chick still attached seemed a miracle in the making. The downside was of course that the timing for the chick or mom still did not permit the separation.

Life in the wild is not easy and we are constantly reminded in our viewing opportunities of this. The miracle seems more that some survive. I hope for some heavy rains so mom gets her belly feathers cleaned.

Maybe others examining the footage will detect something I have missed in my quick replay and we will have a slightly more complete explanation.

Best regards
David

Doug Carrick posted the following on May 12, 2009:

LITTLE ECHO'S FINAL RESTING PLACE

At 12:30 today I buried our little Echo. He is now, and always will be, in a beautiful corner of our garden. A "forest flame" shrub is on one side of him and a scented azalea on the other side. He is surrounded by blue bells, hyacinth and bleeding hearts. A deep red rose and a white rose grow up the fence behind him.

The beach can be seen from here, the deep blue water and the distant mountains - lovely surroundings for our lovely little eaglet. He is now resting in peace.

This thread is intended to be a summary of events at the nest on May 11, not a discussion, so it is a locked thread. If there's something you think should be added, please PM me. And if you'd like to comment on the events at the nest, please feel free to do so in the discussion thread. We will also be setting up a Tributes thread in the next day or so for those who wish to post their memories of Echo or say goodbye.

Skipper's report:

5:27 a.m.
The eaglets are vocalizing that type of rapid-fire peeping; an eagle is calling softly closeby; Mom does not reply

5:29 a.m.
I think there are three eagles calling--one on the nest, one in the distance, one close-by

Chipmunk's report:

I heard all that racket from mom and dad, wonder if it was an intruder

5.44 - Almost continuous calling from both and mom is watching the sky, chicks are flatlets. I'm sure its got to be other eagles, maybe the ones that didn't lay eggs.

5.52 - mom got up and stood facing the ocean calling and shreiking and took off. A lot of calling from both parents prior to mom taking off. Chicks are still with the occasional peep.

5.55 - all quiet now and Hope is preening close to echo.

Skipper reports:

There sure is a lot of calling going on And it's sort of of odd and hard to describe.

5:51 a.m.
Parent up and calling. There is definitely three eagles calling I'm recording it so I'll post later.

5:52 a.m.
Parent flies off the nest and leaves 'lets alone. Another eagle calling closeby

5:56 a.m.
Eagle calling closeby. Hope is preening and Echo is laying down in front of her: ; how cute is that--Hope is "digging" in nesting material

5:58 a.m.
Someone landed on WA cam housing; eagle calls in distance; 'lets are flatlets; Echo peeping

6:00 a.m.
Mom lands in nest and covers up the 'lets; whoever this is has some sort of dark "stain" on left side of face (facing away from cam mostly so can't confirm whether Mom or Dad)

6:11 a.m.
Eagle calling in the distance

Debbie57 reports:

617
Mom continues brooding facing the
ocean side. She has a dirty face again
must be all the healthy food she is consuming
Lots of fish in the nest
from yesterday; see at least three
laying from 9 to 12 oclock; mishipman fish I think
they are called.
Mom just yawned twice.
All is quiet at the moment.

Chipmunk reports:

6.18 - yes I can see that dark stain on her left side of her face, I hope it's not because she tangled with another eagle and got clipped. Mom keeps yawning .

Debbie57 reports

634
Mom continues to brood facing the
ocean side; calling and thrilling from
seated position with responses heard
from Dad in the distance.

635
Something peaks Mom's interest and
she rises up slightly off the nest
and looks over towards 1 oclock.
Resettles back down on the nest.

Skipper reports:

7:18 a.m.
Dad lands with fish

7:19 a.m.
Both Mom/Dad on nest and calling out (intruder-type calling)

Chipmunk reports

7.20 mom has been very alert this past half hour and she just called out and dad arrived shortly. both calling and moms hackles were raised up.

7.22 - dad left and you could hear him calling in the distance. chicks are peeping under mom.

7.27 - calling and mom lowered in the nest as if something was flying close to the nest. Hackles raised again.

soph9 reports

0759

Echo seems to be stuck underneath mom

chipmunk reports:

7.58 omg mom has echo caught in her under belly, she is hoppinf all over and is dragging echo along, i can her him peeping. I'm shaking andd i'm going.

drhopper reports

OMG Echo is stuck underneath parent. I'm sure something terrible is about to happen.

soph9 reports

0800
Echo is entangled in her under feathers

0801
Mom is on the cam out of sight with Echo..

jkr reports

7:56 am
Mom is moving about the nest with Echo stuck her her under feathers. She can't seem to get her loose. I think the feathers are wrapped around her neck.

Mom is dragging her everywhere trying to get her loose and at the same time moving nesting arond.

7:59 am
Mom is now feeding Hope . Echo is pinned to Mom's under feathers. She's definitely hanging by her neck under Mom.
Echo is struggling to get loose.

8:00 am
Mom is still walking all over the nest trying to shake her loose.

8:01 am
Mom just flew off the nest with Echo hooked to her underfeathers.
Can hear her on the upper limbs near the WA camera.
Mom now returns to the nest with Echo still hanging from her.

This is a disaster !

soph9 reports

0804
I hate to say this it looks like Echo may have part of mom wrapped around his or hers neck..no more peeps

jkr reports

I think Mom's leg feathers got tangled into a knot around Echo's neck.

soph9 reports

0814
mom is settled down to brood but I think Echo is still stuck...the peeps may be Echo not sure

0822
mom is preening underneath...come on mom....untangled Echo!

0824
She is trying I think!

birdofprey reports

8:31 am
I've called Doug and alerted him! He is going to watch carefully.

mishy reports

Dad is back but mom isn't showing him that Echo is caught...I don't hear any crying from Echo...

chipmunk reports

jkr, I have been watching and documenting all morning. With both parents on high alert, sometimes both would be off the nest at the same time. When mom came back, I thought she had been in a tussle with another eagle as she has staining on the left side of her head. If it were blood and she had blood on the underbelly maybe this is how echo became entangled.

JudyB reports

8:52 am
Looks as if Hope is coming out from under Mom - I'm a bit relieved as I was afraid she was getting stuck as well.

mishy reports

crying heard but I don't know if it's Hope or Echo...