Spring marks the beginning of mating season for many wildlife species in B.C., with many seeking their mate – and for some bird species, it’s a lifelong choice.
Birds like the bald eagle, barn owl, Canada goose and trumpeter swan all seek a partner for the long haul, according to the BC SPCA, and some have been given that second chance by the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) in Metchosin.
Bald eagles, which live up to 20 years, grow old together – returning to the same nest site year after year – building impressive, massive nests deep and wide enough to fit the large adult birds and growing eaglets. The ever-growing nest is a symbol of their strong partnership.
Watching an eagle courtship display is equal parts awe-inspiring and nerve-wracking, according to the BC SPCA. To impress each other, the male and female soar high into the air, then engage in a stunning display of locking talons and spiralling dramatically toward the ground. Sometimes, this can even result in injury.
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“This may have been the case for one bald eagle that was admitted to Wild ARC. We’re not sure if they were in a territory dispute with a rival, or a courtship display with a potential mate, but their injuries were consistent with a crash landing,” the agency said. One of the centre’s largest patients, 10 to 20 bald eagles are admitted each year.
After this majestic eagle’s wounds had healed enough, it took some time stretching its wings and testing flight muscles in the large outdoor flight pen in Metchosin.
Barn owls often mate for life and also regularly use the same nest site each year. In addition to courtship flights and calls, barn owls know that the way to a mate’s heart is through the stomach. When the males are courting, they spend extra time hunting to bring a tasty gift back.
Wild ARC admits barn owls regularly, including one brought in after it was seen staggering.
“Although we can’t know for sure, it is suspected that ingesting something toxic may have contributed to their symptoms. Toxins like rodenticides can be particularly dangerous for predators like owls that feed on rodents,” the BC SPCA said.
After nearly a month in care, the owl was returned to the wild and given a second chance to find its lifetime partner.
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Canada geese mate for life and take turns with parenting duties, including protecting their nest, incubating the eggs, finding food, and co-parenting the young goslings for up to nine months. Practice makes perfect, and their success rate as parents increases every season they stay together. Geese will also help co-parent with other family groups.
“To a wildlife rehabilitator, this is important because this means it may be possible to incorporate orphaned goslings into other wild families. Every year, Wild ARC receives orphaned goslings that typically spend a few days at the facility before the Wild ARC team is able to find a goose family with goslings of the same size to reintroduce the orphans to be raised together. Fostering goslings with wild families is a rewarding moment for staff, knowing they will have dedicated goose parents to raise them.”
Trumpeter swan, which typically breed in the spring, find their mate at around four years old and often return to the same nest every year. These nests are often built using muskrat or beaver dens, preferring to build their nests in coastal freshwater wetlands. Due to their large size of up to six feet in length, these swans need large areas of open water for take-off.
While not a common patient, these graceful birds are occasionally admitted to Wild ARC for a second chance to return to their mate.
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Birds aren’t the only wildlife that engage in monogamy. Beavers live in small family units, starting with a mated pair and their kits. Each year, the colony normally consists of the two adults, any newborn kits, and the yearlings born the year before. Beavers will stay with their parents, learning everything they need to survive on their own, while helping raise the new younger siblings. Fully mature at two years, the young beaver leaves to seek a mate of its own.
While not known to be on Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands, coyotes are monogamous and mate for life, working together to hunt, den and raise their pups each year. The Lower Mainland is home to an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 urban coyotes.
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