Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

[LippCJ7]

fast forward to the end, I had no idea!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/87xNpOYOlQ4?rel=0

The story is the Eagle is trying to take a Nutria that someone shot.

WHOOPS MODS PLEASE MOVE TO DOCKSIDE CHAT......MY BAD!!

 

[jdlough]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

Bald Eagles are also incompetent thieves, too!

A couple of years ago, a Bald Eagle flew up the road by my house, carrying its catch, a huge fish. He dropped it. It landed in the road, and bounced. That fish was FROZEN!

There's a cannery/fish packing place 1/2 mile down the road. It appears the Eagle nabbed himself a nice frozen fish, but couldn't quite hang on to it.

Check out this thread re an Eagle fishing, then later defending its catch from the evil Vultures on my dock.
Post #23 has a link to a vid of Ospreys fishing in slo-motion that's also way cool!

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=539267

In the past decade, the Bald Eagle is really making a strong comeback! Please add your pics/stories!

The eagles are nesting next-door to me, and like to hang out on my boat and pier. I did not take pics, but for anyone interested, I recommend a 3000PSI power washer to remove Eagle Carp from your boat seats.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

Never seen that before. We've got one at the lake place that like picking up baby loons and fish but I'be never seen one actually land in the water.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

I will move it....... it was just posted there in Dockside recently.....http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=539267

 

[sam60]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

Millions have seen this family..

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

"Bald Eagles are also incompetent thieves, too!
"

Could not agree more. Bald Eagles are actually quite clumsy. Not to mention they are NOT a bird of prey but, actually, a scavanger. Their biggest competitor is the Common Crow.

We've heralded this bird as a sign of our environment. Yes and no.

If the Bald Eagle can live there-anything can. It's the lowest common denominator. A clumsy bird that barely thrives in the best of conditions.

Now that we have them back, it's a sign that things are OK.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

Well, our East Coast eagles are definitely not scavengers.

For the past month, I've seen multiple eagle catches in my cove. Good sized fish too, some over 2'.

The eagles have changed my mind about fishing in this cove. I never bothered much before, since the cove is only about 2 feet deep.
Last week, I tried fishing there with a left over piece of steamed shrimp. I caught 10 fat croakers in 30 minutes. They were delicious, fried coated in corn meal.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

"Bald Eagles are also incompetent thieves, too!
"

Could not agree more. Bald Eagles are actually quite clumsy. Not to mention they are NOT a bird of prey but, actually, a scavanger. Their biggest competitor is the Common Crow.

We've heralded this bird as a sign of our environment. Yes and no.

If the Bald Eagle can live there-anything can. It's the lowest common denominator. A clumsy bird that barely thrives in the best of conditions.

Now that we have them back, it's a sign that things are OK.

They may be clumsy on the ground, but not while flying or swooping down to take fish, unless they are younger. I saw one chase another furiously in the spring one day, I think it was a territorial dispute. It was increadable to watch. The chasing bird almost caught the other several times as they flew w great speed up and down,back and forth, darting all over w the chaser right on the others rear end the whole time. I was impressed to see them both dive into and streak through the thick forest canopy w/o slowing down w those enormous wings. I saw an imature baldy chasing an Osprey last summer that it almost caught several times. They maneuver pretty good for such a large and powerfull bird.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

They're like us....they do what ever they have to do to eat every day!

 

[silverfox441]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

This guy likes to hunt mallard ducks! Go figure...

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

I've seen bald eagles swimming in the ocean (West Coast Canada) several times over the years. The water here is pretty cold so I don't imagine they would survive the water for very long. I was once surprised to see one take flight after ending up in the water while trying to catch some herring. I always thought they would have to swim to shore first.
This time of year we have herring spawning in our local waters which can attract dozens and dozens of them to one spot.
If you're ever lucky enough to see their courting ritual where they lock talons and tumble through the air you may not think they are so clumsy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYkQOdq3PHw

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Bald Eagles swim? WHO KNEW!!

I remember seeing them every day when I was in Alaska - magnificent birds!