The following item is from the NST today. If it is true, then I can sadly say that the eagle has landed. :-((

Pity such a rare and majestic creature should die this way.

SANDAKAN: Wildlife rangers here will be bird watching in the coastal areas with good reason.

A large white bellied sea eagle is believed to have caused a major blackout last week when it struck a conductor at a 33kV tower located on a hill in Batu Sapi.

The bird, which has a wingspan of up to two metres, was electrocuted and in the process disrupted power supply to consumers within a five-km radius in the Batu Sapi and Kamunting areas.

Sabah Wildlife Department chief veterinarian Dr Sen Nathan said yesterday the department would be looking into the report and would likely conduct a survey in the area to gauge the population of the particular eagle.

“This particular coastal eagle normally occupies certain areas in pairs and not in large numbers like most bird species.

“If many are found in ‘risk’ areas, such as where there are power lines or if they are in the way of flight paths, then action that could be taken, including scaring off the birds with gunshots fired in the air,” he said.Sandakan Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd area manager Magdalene Chu said the blackout occurred around 6.30pm last Thursday. Power was restored after about three hours.

“Witnesses informed us they heard an explosion followed by a fire at the tower. The impact of the fault caused several 33kV lines and many 11kV lines to trip,” she said.

Technicians were promptly mobilised to restore power at all affected substations and a team had tried to find the source of the problem the same night, but this was called off due to heavy rain.

“The following day we found a dead eagle in the vicinity of the tower,” said Chu, adding that it may have flown too close and struck a conductor at the tower.