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B.C. photographer captures rare moment of herons raised by eagle
The rare nesting appears to be the only known documentation of eagles raising herons, according to the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society.
- On May 21, photographer Ian McAlpine, along with Mercedes Bustamante and Lynn Kroetch, discovered a bald eagle raising a young heron in a nest while walking the Vedder Rotary Trail in Chilliwack.
- Herons and eagles are natural enemies, making this an unusual interspecies relationship; McAlpine shared his "once in a lifetime" story on social media, prompting expert reaction to the rare behavior.
- Biologist David Hancock of the Hancock Wildlife Foundation, who has studied eagles since the 1950s, noted he has "never heard of this" behavior, while the photographers eventually observed a second young heron in the nest.
- Using a drone on June 17, biologist Myles Lamont examined the nest and found it empty; with no heron remains visible, McAlpine suggested the birds must have successfully fledged.
- Camille Coray of the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society credited the photographers for documenting this unique phenomenon, which remains the only known documentation of such an interspecies relationship.
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Leaning Left12Leaning Right0Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Left
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L 100%
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