With a pair of eaglets anticipated to take to the air in June, the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is seeking to name the youngsters before they depart a nest at the Hamilton-area conservation park.
Officials at the RBG revealed via social media the births in a nest on a pine tree near the MarshWalk Boardwalk at Cootes Paradise.
A “Name the eaglets” contest is underway, raising awareness for conservation efforts, with submissions via the RBG’s social media or website.
The two winners – one name for each eaglet – will be given a free single membership to the RBG for one year.
Visitors can make the 1.2-kilometer trek from the Arboretum to see the new birds with binoculars.
Tys Theysmeyer, head of natural lands for the RBG told 900 CHML’s Hamilton Today that the park checks five different spots when seeking the whereabouts of eagles.
The nest a pair of birds are occupying now has been around for several years with their babies discovered in late March.
“So they were in a completely different mess the last two years, and I guess they wanted to return to this one,” Theysmeyer explained.
Park officials estimate the circumference of the nest may be some five to six feet in size in a 120-foot tree.
The young birds are expected to stay in the area for the first year of their lives after being kicked out of the nest by their parents.
It’s unclear if they will make the park their permanent home, according to Theysmeyer.
The RBG is also raising funds toward habitat restoration by offering bald eagle stuffed animals made from 100 per cent recycled materials with an RBG Conservation Certificate.
The deadline for the eaglet naming is June 11, when names will be narrowed down to the best five for an online community vote.
The winning names will be announced when the eagles leave the nest in June.
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