One theory is that the eaglet was practising flight “and kind of glided down and wasn’t able to get back up.”
City of Victoria parks workers restored a baby eagle to its nest in Beacon Hill Park last week after it somehow ended up on the ground — the same nest where they performed a similar rescue just over a year ago.
In both cases, the eaglets were checked over by Metchosin-based WildARC — the B.C. SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre — and deemed healthy enough to be restored to their perch.
WildARC manager Ashley Currie said the most recent eaglet rescued spent three days at the centre after being brought there by a member of the parks staff.
“It was healthy and it was eating well,” she said.
She said that eagles’ nests are typically high in trees and very large, sometimes weighing hundreds of pounds, and typically used for many years.
It’s hard to know just how the recently rescued eaglet got onto the ground from its lofty home, Currie said. One theory is that it was practising flight “and kind of glided down and wasn’t able to get back up.”
Currie said the latest baby eagle is an older fledgling than last year’s, so it’s getting close to having the strength and endurance to be able to fully fly.
And just like last year’s wayward eaglet, it was returned to the nest by a parks worker who was lifted up by a bucket truck.
Currie said it happened to be the same worker assisted by the same WildARC staffer taking care of this particular eaglet homecoming.
“It was a much easier process this time around because they had already done it.”
She said direct handling of the bird was kept to a minimum to limit human scent, so as not to affect its parents’ reaction to it.
It’s unknown how many other eaglets were in the nest, since staff don’t go close enough to the nest to find out.
The city thanked everyone who contributed to the latest rescue, including parks staff, the B.C. SPCA and WildARC teams.
Currie and the city both said that anyone who finds fallen nestlings or injured wildlife should call the B.C. SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722.
“We would love that,” she said.
The eaglet’s parents are featured in an entry in WildARC’s ongoing Wildlife-in-Focus photography contest, where they are seen at the top of Beacon Hill Park’s signature totem pole.
The 2026 version of the annual fundraiser continues through July 23. Enter at spca.bc.ca/news-events/enewsletters/wildlife-in-focus-contest.