Screaming Eagles
In the winter, eagles will frequent the Susquehanna River in large numbers. I travel to the river often to get a glimpse. The numbers have dwindled a bit even though the winter has been mild so far.
The pictures show an adult bald eagle and in some, a "sub-adult" meaning it is a juvenile that is coming into it's adult white head and tail feathers. This sub-adult was extremely aggressive this day. The adult eagle can be seen screaming it's displeasure when the sub-adult would not relent from trying to steal the fish just snatched from the water.
At one point, the sub-adult had it's talons around the neck of the adult bald eagle. It was intense to watch. Eventually, the adult flew off to another branch a few trees away, but again the sub-adult pursued. This happened three times before they flew out of sight. It seems odd to me that the energy expended to "steal" a fish is so much more than simply plucking a fish from the water themselves. Nature is curious.
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Screaming Eagle.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Master of all surveyed.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Adult Eagle just arrived with a fresh fish plucked from the river.
Sub-adult is interested in stealing it.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Adult is protecting the catch.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Sub-adult is being more aggressive, using intimidation.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Getting ready to pounce, the adult is on full alert.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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The sub-adult makes it's move, the adult screams voicing displeasure.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Pounce.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Adult screams in while sub-adult uses his talons.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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Adult holds on to the catch and prepares for escape.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
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The adult is the victor and soon after voicing a battle cry, flies off to another tree
only to re-enact the first scenario all over again.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016 |
