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raggedtoad t1_j7zerfy wrote

I feel sad for this lonely eagle.

It's lost!

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PinkLemonade2 t1_j802vit wrote

It is not lost

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raggedtoad t1_j8039mh wrote

It literally is.

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066201821/a-lost-eagle-from-asia-has-been-traveling-around-north-america-for-more-than-a-y

It's called vagrancy and it affects many species of sea birds. There's no reason for the eagle to be outside it's normal range where it can never hope to find a mate.

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PinkLemonade2 t1_j804mk3 wrote

Thanks for the link. I:'ve read similar, and I have to be honest I'm not sure I believe in the theory. The fact that it's returned to almost the exact same spot makes me think it knows (however incredibly smart birds know) exactly where it is. It's not like it's wandering aimlessly, y'know?

I'm guessing there are other reasons it's here, (environmental?) but I find it hard to believe it's "lost". I could be wrong, and I know vagrancy exists, it just doesn't feel accurate for this one. I think we are underestimating that incredible animal by assuming it's lost.

Also, finding a mate is no simple task when there's only what, 5,000 of these things still on earth?

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raggedtoad t1_j806zyz wrote

Finding a mate would be easy if it stayed in Kamchatka where over 4,000 of these giant birds live, I'd think.

Vagrancy happens to albatross and frigate birds too, I believe. Only takes one bad storm to be blown off course.

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PinkLemonade2 t1_j80berr wrote

So 4,000 of the 5,000 globally are there? I didn't realize the number was that high of % of their overall population. Part of my thinking just before you responded led me to: "Maybe a lack of potential mates globally would have it get desperate and change traditional locations". Seems that is unlikely.

However-

I did read that the environment in Kamchatka has grown incredibly suboptimal. Wiki gives us this:

"Threats to survival include: habitat alteration, industrial pollution, and overfishing, which in turn decrease their prey source. The current population is estimated at 5,000 and decreasing. Heavy flooding, which may have been an effect of global climate change, caused almost complete nesting failure for the eagles nesting in Russian rivers due to completely hampering the ability of the parents to capture the fish essential to their nestlings' survival.Persecution of the bird in Russia continues, due to its habit of stealing furbearers from trappers"

All good reasons to head elsewhere, isn't it?

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raggedtoad t1_j80cemm wrote

Could be! Who knows? I, for one, would be more than happy to have these huge birds hanging out in Maine full time.

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