I watched, amazed, as Hershey the smallest male bald eagle on the lake set his talons and took this huge carp.
Hershey weighs about 10 pounds. The common carp weighs at least 2 pounds.
Hershey never got the fish more than 3 feet above the water.
He essentially crashed landed on the shore and flopped over on the fish.
He stood up, jumped all over the carp, and eventually left the carp on the shore.
This is the only time I have seen any eagle take a carp!
eagles of Jordan Lake
Tageagle family report: 2/28/16
Kate and Petruchio are looking directly at each other.
He is bringing in a fish.
She is impatient and wanting to feed the family.
Not sure I would want to be the recipient of either eagle’s glare.
eagle family report: 2/24/2016
Kate, the mother eagle, returning to the nest with a fish in her right foot.
When she steps down into the nest, she will keep her toes curled under.
In other words, she will walk on her knuckles to keep her sharp talons from hurting the chicks.
eagle family report: 2/21/2016
Suddenly Kate flung herself out of the nest. I couldn’t see a reason for her sudden leap.
I watched as she struggled against the gusting winds. Her head and body at an abnormal flight angle.
She regained the nest by jumping a limb that had fallen into the nest.
I think the falling limb had startled her badly enough for her to have momentarily left her chick(s).
Yes, I said chick(s) for it/they have hatched!
Everybody seems to be ok, whew!
breakfast in 4 quick steps
Fish for breakfast for Kate in 4 quick steps:
1) Kate sees Petruchio catching a fish and starts hollering for her food.
2) Petruchio flies into the nest from behind Kate,
flies over her back and drops the fish.
3) He pauses for a split second at the rim of the nest.
4) He is off again for more food.
time elapsed: 17 seconds
only thought: fish
yesterday my friend and I were bundled top to bottom
wondering out loud why the heck we were at the water’s edge
wind dropping the temperature way below comfortable
when this eagle appeared
oblivious to the cold, only thought: fish
doc ellen's journey 