mid-air prey drop from eagle to eagle

[Otter74]

Mid-air refueling, nature edition:

https://www.reddit.com/r/natureismetal/comments/kee2xx/midair_prey_drop_between_two_eagles/

[Zeke]

I'd say the 2nd bird was in the right place at the right time.

[Seahawk]

We have a number of nesting Bald Eagles on my farm.

We also have two Osprey nests out over the water.

The aerial displays between the two are amazing, I have seen the mid-air prey drop a few times when the Osprey, burdened with the "payload", could not out fly the Bald Eagle and jettison the fish, which the Eagle catches.

Thanks for the video.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

We have a number of nesting Bald Eagles on my farm.

.

There is a nest on Bellehaven golf course just south of Old Town Alexandria (VA) off the George Washington Mem Parkway. Directly across the river from MGM casino

As my father was really into eagles, we used to call them Grandaddy's eagles every time we drove by. Now that we have moved, I really miss seeing them.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

There is a nest on Bellehaven golf course just south of Old Town Alexandria (VA) off the George Washington Mem Parkway. Directly across the river from MGM casino

As my father was really into eagles, we used to call them Grandaddy's eagles every time we drove by. Now that we have moved, I really miss seeing them.

That is neat. I have driven by Belle Haven GC many, many times leaving Fort Belvoir to get home.

As the crow, uh, Eagle fly's, we are 40 miles south along the Potomac.

I don't think folks realize how big they are.

[vash]

i think this thread has a low chance of derailing into the typical PPOT debate.

it did get a glimmer with Zeke tho..

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

That is neat. I have driven by Belle Haven GC many, many times leaving Fort Belvoir to get home.
.

For reference. Its just after you cross that little bridge where folks fish (barf). Its a dead looking tree

[MRM]

I wonder if the lead eagle was a parent and the following eagle was its juvenile and this is their way of assisting their young.

[RWebb]

some birds do prey exchanges as a courtship ritual - dunno re bald eagles


courtship feeding is common in mammals and birds - you can observe it at weddings too

[GH85Carrera]

The eagle that caught the fish does not look like a Bald Eagle, it does not have the white head or the white tail. Maybe it is a Juvenile, but it looks like a different type of bird.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The eagle that caught the fish does not look like a Bald Eagle, it does not have the white head or the white tail. Maybe it is a Juvenile, but it looks like a different type of bird.

My guess was Juvenile...now I am not sure:

https://www.avianreport.com/how-to-tell-a-juvenile-golden-eagle-from-a-juvenile-bald-eagle/

Interesting reading here, same things I have witnessed:

https://oaklandcountyblog.com/2018/02/02/bald-eagles-skilled-hunters-opportunist-scavengers-masters-of-the-sky/

[porsche tech]

I have not lived in VA for 8 years but remember that nest on the side of the GW Parkway. I think eagles return to the same nest over and over.

I was walking the dog on the golf course we live on here and heard all this racquet and saw 2 eagles flying up the fairway with 20 crows chasing them and squawking. One of the Eagles had a crow and the other one was tussling with him to get it. There were feathers flying everywhere as the eagles tussled. The dog and I just watched in amazement! Seahawk, we have the Ospreys too and a large lagoon across the fairway from us. I love watching them dive bomb the lagoon for fish. They actually shake the water off on the way back up and rotate the fish in their talons to a headfirst orientation for aerodynamics. Lots of fun to watch the wildlife around here.

[Skip Newsom]

Looks like a parent teaching its young to me too.

Mating rituals of bald eagles involve locking talons and the pair doing a "death spiral" toward the ground or water and only turning loose at the last moment.
It's quite the show, and yes they are pretty big!

[MRM]

It looks like a Juvenile to me too. It takes years for bald eagles to form their white head.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/id#

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by MRM

I wonder if the lead eagle was a parent and the following eagle was its juvenile and this is their way of assisting their young.

I would say you are correct. Looks like a juvenile eagle to me.