Eagle with headless Coot (warning)

[Eric D]

Eagles have upscaled the food supply for the Eaglets. Now they are bringing squirrels and Coots to the nest. Still another week before I will be able to see the Eaglets, nest is deep.
This poor Coot never had a chance....off with your head !

[WesternGuy]

Great images Eric. The cycle of life goes on...

Just curious, does this start to happen when the chicks (?) get to be a certain size and need more food to grow before they can fledge?

WesternGuy

[billy320]

There are about 150 eagles in the Hudson Valley region as far south as the george washington bridge, There are 15 pairs at georges island park in Montrose NY. I have not been able to get to them it is to damn cold, it was -7 degrees here this morning.

[Eric D]

Great images Eric. The cycle of life goes on...

Just curious, does this start to happen when the chicks (?) get to be a certain size and need more food to grow before they can fledge?

WesternGuy

As they get bigger so do the meals. They started out with tiny frogs and fish. Now we are at the Coot and squirrel stage and I would expect Ducks pretty soon! Last year I got an image of one of the Adults in flight with a Wood Duck in talons (I love those wood duck too).
Today I witnessed 3 fish to the nest in 45 minutes time.

[Loupey]

That first image is really nice!

That coot never had a chance - running around all headless like that

[paulnj]

Very nice ! I have only seen 2 eagles go after non fish food items and both times they were nesting. What a great capture you have there.

[WesternGuy]

As they get bigger so do the meals. They started out with tiny frogs and fish. Now we are at the Coot and squirrel stage and I would expect Ducks pretty soon! Last year I got an image of one of the Adults in flight with a Wood Duck in talons (I love those wood duck too).
Today I witnessed 3 fish to the nest in 45 minutes time.

Thanks Eric. A number of years ago, I saw a baldie take a mallard in one of the small mountain lakes west of where I live and wondered why, because I figured it was too big a meal for the one bird, now, after seeing your explanation, it makes sense - it was taking the duck back to feed to its growing eaglets.

Regards,

WesternGuy