Of the thousands of images I’ve taken of Bald Eagles, there are a few that stand out as my favorites. This is one of them. It’s not so much a memorable image for it’s quality, but more so for the story that it tells.
Food for eagles, while not a rare commodity in most places, is still something they have to work for. And they are not opposed to stealing a fish from another eagle if the opportunity arises. So in a defense to that, when an eagle grabs a relatively small fish, they will often transfer the catch from their feet, which they use to pluck the fish from the water, and then up to the mouth…and they could consume it in a bite or two and then fly on, without missing a beat.
This fast food approach protects their catch from other birds, and avoids the risk of a chase. These pursuits are sometimes quite dramatic, and the interaction increases the chances of injury…which is not a good outcome for a creature that has to make it’s daily living on the wing.
The image is unique for me in that the featured eagle is in the process of transfer, and she’ll have this little fish down in a matter of seconds. But in the background lurk several other birds that are keeping a watchful eye, not only on the river, but any eagle who may have a desirable fish to rob away.