This adult Bald Eagle showed unusual tolerance toward a brazen and seemingly clueless immature companion.
- Note: I found these two photos from January, 2009 three days ago at the same time I found the “Bald Eagle Landing On Ice” series I posted recently. I posted a couple of other shots of these two birds long ago but the photos below are new to my blog.
1/1000, f/11, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The adult eagle on the right was feeding on some carp leftovers at Farmington Bay WMA when the immature bird approached very slowly in the shallow water with the intention of stealing a few fish tidbits. The younger bird was obviously nervous about what “he” was trying to do. When he got close to the adult all of his movements were in extreme slow motion as his head came dangerously close to the feeding adult. His wings are raised just in case he has to attempt an emergency escape or fight for his life.
In my experience with eagles this is a recipe for a vicious fight. Almost guaranteed. Eleven years later I actually remember switching my aperture to f/11 in the hopes I’d have enough depth of field to get most of both birds sharp when the inevitable brouhaha erupted. I knew at the time I was too close to keep two fighting eagles in the frame without cutting off body parts (this photo is actually full frame – not cropped).
But blow me away, no fight broke out.
1/1250, f/11, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Apparently the adult was in a magnanimous mood because he allowed the immature eagle to abscond with a chunk of his fish. His only reaction was this look of apparent surprise and disbelief that the younger bird would have the cojones to even attempt such a brazen maneuver. I think the look on the adult’s face is to die for.
Apologies once again for posting so many older photos lately. The overcast weather pattern we’re in has been relentless for most of the winter so light for bird photography has been at a premium.
We have hopes for some clearing this weekend so maybe I’ll be able to get out into the field again in a day or two.
Ron
Notes:
- Readers may want to read the comment from Pierce Fleming below for a possible explanation for this behavior.
- Good friend Jim DeWitt made the following comment on Facebook about this post and this behavior. It supports what Pierce said. Jim and his wife Nancy lived in Alaska for many years.
“Many years ago, Nancy and I were lucky enough to win bear viewing permits for McNeil River. We watched as many as 44 big, big bears catch and eat the chum salmon that swim up the McNeil to spawn. The variety of feeding and fishing behavior were amazing.
But there was one bear who never caught a fish; never fished, in fact. Instead, he approached successful bears who were eating their fish displaying juvenile food-begging behaviors. The “hungry child” approach was amazingly successful. More than half of the time, he got fish. I wonder if you’ve just documented something similar in bald eagles?”
The adult in the second shot seems to be saying, “What the hell just happened here?” 😉 I love seeing ANY shots you post, be them new, old, or reprised. Plus, as often happens, I’ve learned as much from the comments section as from your descriptions. The quality of this group is a huge tribute to who you are as a blogger. 🙂
I appreciate your last sentence very much, Marty. And I agree about the quality of the comments in many of my posts. Of course my readers get the credit for that.
🙂
I wondered if the immature Eagle was a “baby” of the adult. Regardless, the look on the adult’s face is great. I have no problem looking and reading about past adventures. Your pictures always put a smile on my face.
Thank you, Jean.
when I first looked at the photo, I thought the juvenile was in a begging posture. Maybe the adult was a parent or the juvenile was hoping the Adler would share the fish.
Could be…
If old Ben had seen these photos maybe he would have had a better opinion….
Good point, Lyle.
Fascinating photo series – and comments.
I do hope this brave young bird learned to fish for him/herself and admire the magnamity of the adult who allowed the young un to poach. And that look was priceless.
magnanimity. Note to self, time spent proof reading comments is not wasted.
Nothing to worry about, EC. I made a significant typo when I published this post and had to be corrected by a reader. Happens all the time.
I’m in complete agreement with the several others who commented about your “old eagle photos”. I am always happy to see them. Today’s are just wonderful. When I looked at the first one, my first thought was that I was seeing food begging – the slightly extended wings can be part of that behavior. I was fascinated to read about rehabbers making clever use of these natural behaviors.
As for the second shot, I know I’m anthropomorphizing like crazy here, but that “Did you SEE that?!” expression really is priceless.
You may be right about the raised wings being part of “food begging” behavior, Robyn.
This young eagle looks like it may be a bird-of-the-year—very dark and it looks like the gape is light. If so, it may be more tolerated than an older immature. If this is true, it may not have been separated from its parents for long and some adults may be more tolerant of birds-of-the-year than older immatures. I’m just guessing here, but it would be interesting to know what the reality is. When you have seen adult-immature encounters before, have you noted the age of the young bird? I could be entirely wrong but it would be interesting to note age and time of year to see if some patterns are possible to discern. Even if I’m right, the tolerance shown here is beyond what I would normally expect. But Bald Eagles are very resourceful. Close to 50% of young eagles survive their first year, which is remarkably high for raptors. In most raptors, nearly 70% of young do not survive their first year. A very wide diet (fish, mammals, birds, carrion) also helps with their survival rate.
“When you have seen adult-immature encounters before, have you noted the age of the young bird?”
Sadly I haven’t, Dan. This photographer always has getting the photo at the forefront of my mind. I’m lucky to even remember that one of the combatants was a sub-adult unless I’m successful at actually getting photos. Too many things for the photographer to think about in so little time…
Completely understandable, but this does raise a whole new set of questions for me. Does age play a role is such interactions? Are there any submissive behaviors offered by these young.? As adults, are recent parents only so tolerant or would a currently unmated adult be as tolerant? Always lots of questions to ask about nature which is what makes being a biologist (or anyone with any interest in nature) so much fun.
Agreed on all counts.
Pierce Flemming outlines a practice that many rehabilitation folks count on: Releasing immature Bald Eagles, who’ve been in care, in the winter, in areas where Balds are known to gather in large groups. The food is plentiful and the adults mostly tolerant. This has been observed and well-documented. The young do survive and learn a great deal about how to get food and how to negotiate with their elders. It’s not a new strategy. Alaska is famous for its Bald Eagle winter gatherings as is the Klamath area of northern California/southern Oregon. This practice is with Balds only. Golden Eagles do not gather in groups and are very aggressive toward other Goldens aside from their mates and offspring still being fed and guarded. In fact, Goldens are known to pretty well clean out everything living near their nests, other predators and prey alike. Falconers lose many of their falconry birds if they are doing abatement work near a Golden’s nest. The eagles even kill the Peregrines, which surprised me, the falcons being such fast flyers.
Thanks for the confirmation, Sallie. I’m also surprised that Golden Eagles have even a chance to catch Peregrines.
I’ve been told by a falconer who does abatement work on a land fill near a Golden’s nest that the two eagles gang up on the Peregrine. One flies at the falcon who dodges and doesn’t see the other slamming in on the other side. I’ve never seen it, so I can’t describe it in detail.
This is fairly well astonishing behavior in an adult bald eagle, behavior which I have never seen. Many thanks! (By the way, cajones are wooden percussion instruments that the musician sits on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caj%C3%B3n. I presume you are referring to the sit-upon instruments spelled with two o’s.)
You’re right, Martha – it’s a spelling error. Nope, I was referring to something else. I fixed my typo (cajones to cojones).
You’re spoiling me ….a Bald eagle again ❗️ My thought when seeing these pictures were a curfluffle was about to happen or a teaching lesson. I like that it was the second.
Enjoy your day
Just for you, Diana… 🙂
Ron – Isn’t it possible that this immature eagle is an offspring of that adult in your image? If that adult wasn’t in full-blown nesting, it would be more tolerant of the sub-adult hanging around – at least, that’s what I’ve observed with the nesting in Florida.
“Isn’t it possible that this immature eagle is an offspring of that adult in your image?”
Kathleen, I suppose it’s possible but personally I doubt it.
I’ve enjoyed your photos for some time, Ron, but rarely speak up. But this topic interests me.
I volunteer at the Raptor Center located on the St Paul campus of the U of MN. I do a number of things there: fly eagles, fly hawks and owls in the warmer months, do rescues, transports and carpentry as needed. I am a retired veterinarian and I find this a great way of enjoying my retirement. Late in the fall we start collecting many juvenile eagles (or immies as we call them) for one reason or another. As they are too immature and have never learned to fend for themselves, the strategy for them is to be released where large groups of adults gather so they can learn from them how to hunt and fish. So we keep them through the fall until most of the Mississippi is frozen and then they are released just south of a power plant along the river in Red Wing, MN, where water doesn’t freeze. During the winter there are so many adult bald eagles in the surrounding trees they look like they are decorated with white bulbs! Quite a sight. So we will ride from the St Paul campus to Red Wing with 2-4 immies in our laps and release them one at a time.
My point of this long reply is that recently I asked Julia Ponder, the veterinary head of the Raptor Center, how do we know these immature eagles will survive when released? Her response was that they have observed that the adults often times will share or, at least, not attack the youngsters who are vying for scraps. And hopefully they eventually learn how to fish and hunt by observing the adults. At any rate, it seems the best option we have for trying to get these birds back to their natural habitat. Hopefully she is right.
Very interesting, Pierce. I think adults probably do have that tendency at times. However, I’ve also seen adults attacking immatures in similar situations so I don’t think it’s something that can be counted on. But then very little in nature can be “counted on”. Thanks for relating your story. I’ll make reference to your comment at the bottom of this post.
You can post old eagle photos anytime Ron, they are my favorites by far. Outstanding photos. I don’t think eagles generally like to share. This immature visitor might be part of the family. As you have no doubt seen, they are ready to fight anyone and everyone for whatever food is available.
“I don’t think eagles generally like to share”
I’d call that an understatement. Thanks, Everett.
That look is everything!
I think so too. It’s perfect for the situation.
Older photos don’t bother me a bit! 🙂 The immature certainly looked cautious and the look on the mature’s face at the nerve of the immature to snatch a bit is priceless… 🙂 Mature must have not been “starving” at the moment….. Glad you have the extensive archives to pull these gems from….
“Mature must have not been “starving” at the moment”
Those are my thoughts too, Judy. The adult didn’t appear particularly ravenous at the time.
Lovely, expressive pair of images, Ron. I Love it when you couple technical excellence with great story-telling.
Tom
I especially appreciate your last sentence, Tom. That delicate balance between the two can be a little tricky, depending on the varying interests and preferences of my blog followers.
It is really what separates your work from anybody else I follow, with the possible exception of Jamie Lafferty, the great young Scottish photojournalist from Glasgow!