Couple of sea eagles may have a second chick, Maaike Cafmeyer and Wim Willaert will become godmother and godfather (Domestic)

Exciting times at the white-tailed eagle’s first nest: the birds of prey fairy tale suddenly seemed to be over when the parents left the nest, but after a few hours they were back there. Natuurpunt even suspects that a second chick has been born and appoints Maaike Cafmeyer and Wim Willaert as godmother and godfather.

Fans of the European fish eagle have had an eventful Tuesday morning. “Parents Paul and Betty had left their nest, a bad sign,” says Guido Vandenbroucke. After a few hours of anxious waiting, the curator of the De Blankaart nature reserve was ready to enter the perimeter around the nest with a boat for a drone inspection. (Read more below the photo)

“Luckily it didn’t have to come to that, because the couple suddenly settled back on the nest and showed normal parent behavior again,” says Guido. “After the birth of the first chick last week, we suspect that there is a second chick present. We deduce this from changes in behavior at the nest since last Sunday. From this we conclude that eggs are no longer being hatched and that perhaps the second chick has also been born. We can only speculate until the chicks actually raise their beak above the edge of the nest.” (Read more below the photo)

Natuurpunt has already opted for the flight ahead and announces a well-known godmother and godfather for the chicks Guido and Gloria: the actors Maaike Cafmeyer and Wim Willaert. “Both West Flemish people with a heart for nature,” says Guido. Natuurpunt even distributes a birth announcement. “Everyone is welcome to come for a maternity visit in De Blankaart,” the card reads. “Stay on the paths and do not disturb parents and chicks. The little ones will soon come squeaking above the nest.”

Bird tourism

The nest is almost constantly watched by avid bird tourists and curious nature lovers. After Paul and Betty returned to their nest on Tuesday morning, schoolchildren from GBS De Linde from Zarren came for a ‘maternity visit’. (Read more below the photo)

“We could see the couple on a smartphone that was attached to a telescope,” says nine-year-old Casil Volcke from Handzame. “The chicks are too deep in the nest, but I could see the sharp beaks of the parents. They are beautiful big birds.”

Childlike wonder

The children looked in amazement at Guido’s hands as he showed how big these sea eagles are. “They have a wingspan of 2.5 meters and reach a height of up to 1 meter when they sit on the ground.” Hundreds of people pass by on weekends. “We are prepared for it,” says Guido. “Volunteers from Natuurpunt take turns with a telescope on the bridge of De Blankaart. There everyone can see these mythical birds up close.”