Screaming Eagles

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

Master of all surveyed.

Copyright Amy Beste 2016

Adult Eagle just arrived with a fresh fish plucked from the river.
Sub-adult is interested in stealing it.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

Adult is protecting the catch.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

Sub-adult is being more aggressive, using intimidation.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

Getting ready to pounce, the adult is on full alert.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

The sub-adult makes it's move, the adult screams voicing displeasure.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

Pounce.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

Adult screams in while sub-adult uses his talons.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

Adult holds on to the catch and prepares for escape.
Copyright Amy Beste 2016

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