Eagles and their prey

[Dahlia]

We saw a kinda cool/creepy event while out on the water. There was an eagle swooping back and forth super close to the water, swooping for like 10 minutes. We initially thought he was hoping to grab a fish. Then we noticed a small duck (hen) diving under water every time the eagle swooped down close to the water. Poor thing was trying to hide under the water! When it came up for air the eagle would swoop! The eagle missed the duck a few times, but finally grabbed it with his claws and carried it up up and away! Poor duck! She was dinner that day!

 

[digitS']

I experienced nearly the same thing just a couple of years ago, Dahlia.

It was along the river and I had stopped at the park to have lunch. A bird was down on the river. It must have been a merganser. A bald eagle showed up and began that swooping back and forth close to the water.

The bird was very successful in diving at the right moment. The eagle finally stopped in a tree and the merganser allowed the river to carry it around the bend and out of sight. After a few minutes the eagle flew off but didn't make the turn in the river. It made me hope that its prey had escaped.

There was no guarantee that this was how it ended because if the merganser was taking up residence in the river, it would be fairly easily found on another day, I imagine. Eagles have to eat. And, the merganser isn't a vegetarian, either ...

Steve

 

[flowerbug]

We saw a kinda cool/creepy event while out on the water. There was an eagle swooping back and forth super close to the water, swooping for like 10 minutes. We initially thought he was hoping to grab a fish. Then we noticed a small duck (hen) diving under water every time the eagle swooped down close to the water. Poor thing was trying to hide under the water! When it came up for air the eagle would swoop! The eagle missed the duck a few times, but finally grabbed it with his claws and carried it up up and away! Poor duck! She was dinner that day!

strange to me to consider it creepy (i don't) - the cycle continues...