Haines, Alaska Sept. 11, 2016
Always be Ready …
Alaska is an incredible place – the opportunities are everywhere. Again I’d joined a small group with a wildlife biologist. Everyone wanted to see the bears. But they weren’t cooperating and so our guide led us to a place where we might see eagles. We counted 35 on a sandbar where salmon were plentiful. I had my best camera on a tripod with a special mount for tracking wildlife. But even with a 10x lens the eagles seemed tiny. Then I looked up! A juvenile eagle – too young to have developed the snowy white head – appeared to have taken a dislike to an adult eagle.
(I wish I knew more. I can’t tell the sex of the birds. I have no idea why the juvenile attacked. I don’t know the tactics involved. I’m not even sure who won. So my comments are speculative – if someone knows, please chime in or send me a note…)
I watched as a juvenile rose above the adult – something was about to happen. It seemed to me that the upper bird has a definite advantage. Closing in from above seemed to signal and attack!
The adult responded – flying almost upside down with talons out as the juvenile descended.
Then the adult broke off and started flying away,
But then rose, turned and attacked!
The juvenile flew off …
Until (s)he rose above and turned tables on the adult.
Talons touched, the adult trying to defend …
While the juvenile stayed above and kept up the chase.
At this distance, I can’t tell.
But the adult flew off. Wow!
Next, back to Chitina …