immature bald eagle

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By Jordan Lake Dam: Bald Eagle Death Spiral 02/18/2019
Bald Eagle Death Spiral
As they mature at the age of 5, Bald Eagles use the Death Spiral to determine the fitness of a potential mate.
The sky challenge is there to prove to each eagle that the other one is just as arrogant, assured, and fit as the other.
The eagles clasp each other’s talons and dare the other one to let go first.
The difference in the size of the smaller male to the larger female causes the birds to spiral around their axis.
Sometimes, the drive to win is so strong that the hold is not broken and the birds crash into the ground or the water.
Immature eagles practice this maneuver all the time.  In this case it is a pair of four-year-old bald eagles.
Death can occur.  These two immature eagles broke the clasp just as they got to the tree line.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest 1 photo, 1 video 02/08/2019
First Nest
The cove suddenly erupted in Mom Kate’s high pitched angry alarm calls.
This time the intruder was another bald eagle.
I looked toward the main lake and there was Petruchio making a high speed dash for home.
Dad Petruchio had a fish for his family.
The two-year-old bald eagle wanted to steal the fish.
The dash was on as both raced toward the nest.
Eventually there were two two-year-olds and a three-year-old trying for the fish.
Petruchio made it to the nest and the screams continued.
Finally he and Kate stand side by side and watch the intruders fly out.

By Jordan Lake Dam: Bald Eagle Chase, 2 photos 02/03/2019
There are 3 bald eagles in the chase.
The lowest bald eagle is a 3-year-old and it caught the fish that is dangling from one talon.
The adult bald eagle was right behind the 3-year-old when the youngster caught the fish and immediately the chase was on.
The best way for the catcher to hold onto his fish was to make it deep into the woods and land on a branch, fish again the branch.
The 3-year old had almost made it to safety when a 2-year-old eagle joined the chase and cut in below the adult.
The chase was fast and furious with a lot of screams. Ultimately, the 3-year-old lost the game and dropped the fish.
I have enclosed both a full-color and a black and white image.
The scene is so detailed that it may be easier to see the 3 eagles in one or the other photographs.
 
 
black and white of same photo