Karura Forest #58: Top Talons
This is the 4th in a mini-series of 6 caches celebrating the September 2016 nesting of this stunning bird in Karura Forest between Junctions 23 and 24 on the Mau Mau Trail. You may be lucky to hear and see the bird pair calling as they circle high above this eastern part of the forest.
The cache, a small clip-top camo-pot, is hidden under a small but heavy concrete slab close to Junction 20 on the Muhugu Trail in the mid-southern part of the forest. GPS accuracy at GZ 
was around 7m.
To reach the cache location: the shortest access is to enter the forest at the Limuru Road entrance (Gate A) @ and after paying the entry fee, proceed to park at the KFEET centre @ S 01 14.437 E36 49.097.
Then exit the KFEET centre and turn left past the road barrier then through junctions J12, right to J11 on through J19 to J18. Then turn right to J20.
Alternative approaches may be made from Shark's Gate (Entry Gate C) on Kiambu Road @ S 01 14.395 E 36 50.644.
See here for a detailed map of Karura & Sigiria Forests and check GC4PD3V Karura Forest #1: Intro, info & entry for background info on the forest, opening times, entry fees, etc.
Continued from GC6V43M Karura Forest #57: Flying Leopard
In disposition, the crowned eagle is nervous, constantly alert and on edge. They are quite different from the often-stately open country eagles such as the Aquila species. Some linkage has been made between forest-dwelling habits and having a curious and edgy disposition amongst various raptorial birds.
Ironically considering their otherwise hyperactive behavior, the main hunting techniques of crowned eagle require long periods of inactivity, spent sitting on a perch. Mature birds may be nearly fearless towards humans and, unless shy from prior interactions, 
unusually prone to treat humans aggressively.
They can nest around developed areas, including in the vicinity of quite suburban, developed areas (such as in view of apartment or office buildings), so long as prey is abundant and accessible and the habitat provides enough mature vegetation to facilitate nest building and hunting activities.
This species is considered to be highly intelligent, cautious, independent and inquisitive when compared to other accipitrids.
Young crowned eagles in their post-fledging stage differ greatly in behavior from independent or adult eagles. They border on helpless in terms of feeding and defending themselves compared to other accipitrids and are even described as 'cowardly', unwilling to even simulate attacking prey until many months after fledging. This implies a learning element occurs during their exceptionally long post-fledging period.
See here for a Photo Diary of a pair of crowned eagles in South Africa with some great pictures and videos.
Continues with GC6V53Z Karura Forest #59: Prolonged Breeder.