Returning a Young Sea Eagle to the Wild

Sometimes the most important jobs aren’t planned, quoted, or conveniently reachable by a cherry picker.

A few days ago, Skilled Trees was proud to be involved in a rescue effort to reunite a four-week-old sea eagle chick—nicknamed Nessie—with her parents after she fell from her nest near the Stewart tip.

A long way down — and a dangerous place to be

Nessie was discovered on the ground by a council worker who noticed a small white “fluff ball” drop from above. While it’s incredible she survived the 60-foot fall without injury, the bigger issue was immediate: she was stranded.

At just four weeks old, Nessie can’t fly yet. She hasn’t developed proper feathers—only small quills—so returning to the nest wasn’t something she could do on her own. On the ground overnight, she would have been easy prey for local predators.

A rescue plan with a height problem

Wildlife rescuer Deborah Carter stepped in and quickly worked out the only realistic solution: get the chick back into the nest.

That’s where Skilled Trees came in.

Our arborist Adam Kostoro attended site to help return Nessie safely to the nest—but it wasn’t as simple as “lift and place”. The nest was positioned in a tree around 20 metres high, while the available cherry picker could only reach 15 metres.

So Adam did what arborists do: solved the problem the hard way.

Climbing the last stretch

With the cherry picker maxed out, Adam climbed the remaining height to reach the nest. Nessie was secured carefully in a bag and lifted by rope to ensure she stayed supported and calm during the ascent.

Once in position, she was placed back into the nest—safe, sheltered, and right where she needed to be.

The hardest part: waiting

Even after a successful return, there’s always uncertainty. Would Nessie’s parents come back? Had the nest been abandoned?

For the rescuers, it was a tense few hours of watching and waiting.

Then the moment everyone hoped for arrived: one of the adult sea eagles returned, perched above the nest and kept a close eye on Nessie—clearly not willing to let her out of sight again.

Why this matters

Sea eagles put enormous energy into raising a chick. Once they’ve got one, they’re fiercely protective—and reunifications like this give young birds their best chance to survive and thrive in the wild.

We’re grateful to have played a part in this outcome and to work alongside people in the community who act quickly and care deeply—council workers, wildlife rescuers, and everyone who helps make these efforts possible.

If you ever find an injured or stranded animal, avoid handling it where possible and contact a local wildlife rescue group for advice. Quick action can make all the difference.

Skilled Trees
Safe, professional arborist work — and occasionally, the odd life-saving climb.