Post by baja252 on Dec 14, 2013 13:30:22 GMT -6
I made several trips around the 10 mile loop, I was lucky enough to be practically the only person there. Each time around I would see different things the eagles were doing. As the morning went on the eagles became more and more active, at any one time all you had to do was look up and you would see several eagles flying around.
Oops, those aren’t eagles. These are eagles. Check out the two in the lower right corner.
Around noon other cars starting showing up and there was even a tour bus.
Having only been exposed to the E’s and their behavior, I’m finding it very interesting to see the behavior of so many eagles interacting together. I would call this next photo a social gathering of eagles. They are just hanging out by the water’s edge. From time to time some would leave and others would arrive. It was very interesting to watch, it’s like the eagles have a formed a club.
Due to the cold weather we’ve had lately there were only a couple of small areas left with open water. It looked like perfect place for the eagle club to gather. There was a lot of feather ruffling, squawking, wing flapping and jumping around. In general it looked like they were just having fun.
We all know it takes more than just hanging out to have fun. Other than the social interaction, everyone knows a good social club needs two other things to be successful; food and entertainment.
Meet the food.
It looks like a buffet line that a Las Vegas casino would be proud of. This spot out in the middle of the water was about the size of a small single lane driveway, but had a couple hundred ducks and geese packed tightly together in it. I got out of the truck, put down the tailgate and sat down to wait and see what would happen.
After a few minutes of socializing, a single adult takes off and flies about 15’ over from the edge of the pool.
As soon as he’s up to speed, all of the sudden he turns towards the ducks in the pool.
Understandably some ducks panic and take off, others just plain panic.
The approaching eagle creates terror in the ducks. The noise of hundreds of ducks quacking and the wings and feet splashing the water was incredible. The geese are honking like crazy, but they aren't afraid and they don't fly off.
Its all out bedlam as the eagle closes in. A few ducks try to dive under the water to escape.
He’s now in perfect position to attack the mallard. He’s in full flight and has a huge speed advantage over the slow moving drake trying to take off. I have seen the E’s successfully grab ducks out of mid-air many times; this eagle literally has the “sitting duck” right in his sights.
But no, he pulls up, veers off to his original course and flies off!
Perhaps he wasn’t hungry? But if he’s not hungry then why do that? I submit to you ladies and gentleman, you have just seen the entertainment part of the eagle social club.
From time to time throughout the day I saw other adult eagles buzz the ducks in the pool only to fly off. They were obviously doing it on purpose, like a cat playing with a mouse. When I think about it, I guess most animals do things in the wild to entertain themselves. It must be fun for the eagles, but of course it’s not so much fun for the ducks.
Just like some people don’t like large crowds, I imagine the eagle community has its loners too. This lone juvie stood by this tiny pool of water for a couple hours. There were only about 10 ducks in the pool, but every time I went around the loop in the afternoon he was still there watching over his ducks.
Shortly after this there was a mass exodus of ducks from the larger pool.
The fly off lasted for over 30 full seconds and must have been well over 200 ducks. The pool of water was still half full of ducks and geese, so my first estimate of a couple hundred in the pool was obviously way low.
Some trumpeter swans came in to land. The name trumpeter swan is very fitting; they were extremely loud as they flew by. Notice the eagles in the tree behind the swans.
As they came across the ice, their wing tips touched the snow.
Wait a minute, could it be? Is it even possible? Unbelievably 15 minutes later, I see Star and Ozark at the social club! This is amazing, Ozark is in the middle of the group mantling a duck carcass and Star is on the outside screeching his disapproval at not having anything to eat.
Yes, I'm just joking. But it could be.
I’m working on part 3.
Oops, those aren’t eagles. These are eagles. Check out the two in the lower right corner.
Around noon other cars starting showing up and there was even a tour bus.
Having only been exposed to the E’s and their behavior, I’m finding it very interesting to see the behavior of so many eagles interacting together. I would call this next photo a social gathering of eagles. They are just hanging out by the water’s edge. From time to time some would leave and others would arrive. It was very interesting to watch, it’s like the eagles have a formed a club.
Due to the cold weather we’ve had lately there were only a couple of small areas left with open water. It looked like perfect place for the eagle club to gather. There was a lot of feather ruffling, squawking, wing flapping and jumping around. In general it looked like they were just having fun.
We all know it takes more than just hanging out to have fun. Other than the social interaction, everyone knows a good social club needs two other things to be successful; food and entertainment.
Meet the food.
It looks like a buffet line that a Las Vegas casino would be proud of. This spot out in the middle of the water was about the size of a small single lane driveway, but had a couple hundred ducks and geese packed tightly together in it. I got out of the truck, put down the tailgate and sat down to wait and see what would happen.
After a few minutes of socializing, a single adult takes off and flies about 15’ over from the edge of the pool.
As soon as he’s up to speed, all of the sudden he turns towards the ducks in the pool.
Understandably some ducks panic and take off, others just plain panic.
The approaching eagle creates terror in the ducks. The noise of hundreds of ducks quacking and the wings and feet splashing the water was incredible. The geese are honking like crazy, but they aren't afraid and they don't fly off.
Its all out bedlam as the eagle closes in. A few ducks try to dive under the water to escape.
He’s now in perfect position to attack the mallard. He’s in full flight and has a huge speed advantage over the slow moving drake trying to take off. I have seen the E’s successfully grab ducks out of mid-air many times; this eagle literally has the “sitting duck” right in his sights.
But no, he pulls up, veers off to his original course and flies off!
Perhaps he wasn’t hungry? But if he’s not hungry then why do that? I submit to you ladies and gentleman, you have just seen the entertainment part of the eagle social club.
From time to time throughout the day I saw other adult eagles buzz the ducks in the pool only to fly off. They were obviously doing it on purpose, like a cat playing with a mouse. When I think about it, I guess most animals do things in the wild to entertain themselves. It must be fun for the eagles, but of course it’s not so much fun for the ducks.
Just like some people don’t like large crowds, I imagine the eagle community has its loners too. This lone juvie stood by this tiny pool of water for a couple hours. There were only about 10 ducks in the pool, but every time I went around the loop in the afternoon he was still there watching over his ducks.
Shortly after this there was a mass exodus of ducks from the larger pool.
The fly off lasted for over 30 full seconds and must have been well over 200 ducks. The pool of water was still half full of ducks and geese, so my first estimate of a couple hundred in the pool was obviously way low.
Some trumpeter swans came in to land. The name trumpeter swan is very fitting; they were extremely loud as they flew by. Notice the eagles in the tree behind the swans.
As they came across the ice, their wing tips touched the snow.
Wait a minute, could it be? Is it even possible? Unbelievably 15 minutes later, I see Star and Ozark at the social club! This is amazing, Ozark is in the middle of the group mantling a duck carcass and Star is on the outside screeching his disapproval at not having anything to eat.
Yes, I'm just joking. But it could be.
I’m working on part 3.