| Eagles (鵰) In Action Page 1 of 2 |
In my sightseeing and bird watching trips in last several years, I have seen eagles in action at several different
places, such as Vancouver Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia in Canada, Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in New Mexico, Pea Patch Island and Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware, USA and
several NWRs in Maryland, USA. The photos of these eagles in action that I took are collected here in this web
page.
places, such as Vancouver Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia in Canada, Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in New Mexico, Pea Patch Island and Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware, USA and
several NWRs in Maryland, USA. The photos of these eagles in action that I took are collected here in this web
page.
In July 2005, we were on a tour boat and saw this bald eagle perching on a tree looking for fish near the
Newman Sound in Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland in northeast maritime Canada. We got on the
tour boat at the Visitor Centre premises at Salton's Brook.
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of Terra Nova National Park
Map: Click here to see a larger map showing location of Newman Sound
Newman Sound in Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland in northeast maritime Canada. We got on the
tour boat at the Visitor Centre premises at Salton's Brook.
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of Terra Nova National Park
Map: Click here to see a larger map showing location of Newman Sound
神鵰俯衝掠過水面抓魚。
Then, the bald eagle took off from the tree and swoop down to snatch up a fish from the water surface. Unlike
osprey (fish hawk) or gannet diving into water to catch fish, the bald eagle normally does not dive into water,
but snatches up the fish from water surface. (Please see Section 4 for special cases where bald eagle has to
struggle and to swim in the water.)
However, the bald eagle did not catch the fish in its first pass over the fish. The first pass was only a
surveillance flight for the eagle to check out the fish and the wind direction. Then the eagle turned around and
adjusted its flight path so that the eagle came in against the wind and swoop down to snatch up the fish. If the
eagle were to come in along the wind direction, the speed of the eagle relative to the water surface and to the
fish might be too fast such that the eagle would be more likely to miss the fish. This is what the tour boat
captain explained to us while we were watching this eagle in action.
Then, the bald eagle took off from the tree and swoop down to snatch up a fish from the water surface. Unlike
osprey (fish hawk) or gannet diving into water to catch fish, the bald eagle normally does not dive into water,
but snatches up the fish from water surface. (Please see Section 4 for special cases where bald eagle has to
struggle and to swim in the water.)
However, the bald eagle did not catch the fish in its first pass over the fish. The first pass was only a
surveillance flight for the eagle to check out the fish and the wind direction. Then the eagle turned around and
adjusted its flight path so that the eagle came in against the wind and swoop down to snatch up the fish. If the
eagle were to come in along the wind direction, the speed of the eagle relative to the water surface and to the
fish might be too fast such that the eagle would be more likely to miss the fish. This is what the tour boat
captain explained to us while we were watching this eagle in action.
2. Bald Eagle Raiding a Colony of Seagulls
While touring the Cape Brenton National Park in Nova Scotia in eastern Canada in July 2005, we saw and heard
a big commotion of a large group of seagulls screaming and shouting in the air to harass a bald eagle as shown
in the following pictures.
While touring the Cape Brenton National Park in Nova Scotia in eastern Canada in July 2005, we saw and heard
a big commotion of a large group of seagulls screaming and shouting in the air to harass a bald eagle as shown
in the following pictures.
There is a big colony of seagulls at the far end of this White Point Peninsula in Cape Brenton National Park in
Nova Scotia in eastern Canada
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of Cape Brenton National Park
Map: Click here to see detailed Park Map of Cape Brenton National Park
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of White Point Peninsula
Nova Scotia in eastern Canada
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of Cape Brenton National Park
Map: Click here to see detailed Park Map of Cape Brenton National Park
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of White Point Peninsula
A bald eagle was flying towards the White Point Peninsula, probably trying to raid the colony of seagulls there
to steal a baby gull.
to steal a baby gull.
Many seagulls from the colony rose up in the air in a big commotion screaming and shouting to surround and to
harass the bald eagle in an effort to defend their nesting area. To cover many seagulls and the bald eagle flying
in the sky, I did not zoom in to get a closer view of any particular bird in the sky.
harass the bald eagle in an effort to defend their nesting area. To cover many seagulls and the bald eagle flying
in the sky, I did not zoom in to get a closer view of any particular bird in the sky.
| 圍攻 The bald eagle is being surrounded, harassed and chased away by many seagulls |
After a while, many seagulls turned
back to their home. In this picture,
two seagulls in upper left corner and
seagull in the lower right corner
continued to chase the bald eagle
away from their nesting area
back to their home. In this picture,
two seagulls in upper left corner and
seagull in the lower right corner
continued to chase the bald eagle
away from their nesting area
| 驅逐出境 Finally, one brave seagull was still chasing the bald eagle away to make sure that the bald eagle did not come back. With only two birds left in the sky, I zoomed in to get a closer view of these two birds. 3. Eagle Preying on Another Bird We were touring the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware, USA in May 2006 and saw an eagle preying on another bird on a mud flat in Shearness Pool as shown in the following pictures. |
| 追捕，神鵰風捲狂飚從天降， 舉肩雙鐵翼。 An eagle raised its wings upward to dash forward to chase its prey (of another bird with extended wing) in the grass area ahead of the eagle. I am not sure if this eagle is a golden eagle or a juvenile bald eagle. There were many other birds near the water edge or on the water. |
這場扣人心弦的捕獵行動。
The eagle in flight at low level over the grass got the prey in its talons
The eagle in flight at low level over the grass got the prey in its talons
| 收穫 The eagle in flight over the grass got the prey in its talons. |
The eagle carried its prey to something on the ground slightly ahead. I could not see clearly what was that on
the ground, but one piece on the ground looked like a fish tail. Report from other birders indicates that several
bald eagles had been seen in this area in last few days with a “carp kill”.
the ground, but one piece on the ground looked like a fish tail. Report from other birders indicates that several
bald eagles had been seen in this area in last few days with a “carp kill”.
The eagle with its prey landed on something on the ground
After landing, the eagle started to eat its prey
神鵰好威風，站立像座峰。
The eagle raised its head up to look around from time to time while eating its prey. This went on for quite
sometime. We left at this point to continue our driving tour to see other wildlife in action.
The eagle raised its head up to look around from time to time while eating its prey. This went on for quite
sometime. We left at this point to continue our driving tour to see other wildlife in action.
We went to Goldstream Provincial Park on Vancouver Island in western Canada in November 2004 to see
many large salmons coming back from Pacific Ocean into the shallow water in the Goldstream to spawn. There
were many birds including bald eagles feasting on the salmons in that area. I got the pictures of bald eagles
perching on the trees near the Goldstream. When we were touring the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver
Island in November 2004, we also saw and took picture of a bald eagle in flight.
We also saw and took pictures of bald eagles perching on trees near water: (1) in Moosehorn National Wildlife
Refuge near Calais in Maine, USA on our way to visit Canada in July 2005, and (2) in Bosque del Apache NWR
in New Mexico where there were huge numbers of red crowned sand-hill cranes (丹頂鶴) and snow geese in
February 2006.
We also saw and took pictures of bald eagles in flight when we were touring the Pea Patch Island on Delaware River
near Delaware City, Delaware, USA in May 2006.
There are also many bald eagles at Mason Neck NWR on Potomac River Shoreline about 18 miles south of
Washington DC, at Presquile (island) NWR and James River NWR along James River In Virginia, USA. We plan to
visit these NWRs in the future.
7. Other Kinds of Birds:
In touring these national wildlife refuges, we also saw many ospreys (fish hawks), pelicans, snow geese, red-
crowned sand hill cranes, herons and terns in addition to bald eagles in action. Watching diving sea bird,
gannets, on Delaware Bay and puffins in Newfoundland are also very interesting.
8. Thriving Bald Eagle Population
According to a news article entitled "Bald Eagles, Thriving, Settle Into Suburban Life" in the New York Times on
June 29, 2007, Florida now also has 1,150 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Alaska, Florida and Minnesota are the three
top breeding grounds for bald eagle. There are now 9,700 breeding pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states in
USA.
9. Locations and Directions:
The location of and the direction to various National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) and National Parks are available on
their Internet websites.
The location and directions to the Susquehanna River in northern Maryland, USA for bird watching are given in my
Travelogue web page entitled Bald Eagles on Susquehanna River in Maryland
many large salmons coming back from Pacific Ocean into the shallow water in the Goldstream to spawn. There
were many birds including bald eagles feasting on the salmons in that area. I got the pictures of bald eagles
perching on the trees near the Goldstream. When we were touring the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver
Island in November 2004, we also saw and took picture of a bald eagle in flight.
We also saw and took pictures of bald eagles perching on trees near water: (1) in Moosehorn National Wildlife
Refuge near Calais in Maine, USA on our way to visit Canada in July 2005, and (2) in Bosque del Apache NWR
in New Mexico where there were huge numbers of red crowned sand-hill cranes (丹頂鶴) and snow geese in
February 2006.
We also saw and took pictures of bald eagles in flight when we were touring the Pea Patch Island on Delaware River
near Delaware City, Delaware, USA in May 2006.
There are also many bald eagles at Mason Neck NWR on Potomac River Shoreline about 18 miles south of
Washington DC, at Presquile (island) NWR and James River NWR along James River In Virginia, USA. We plan to
visit these NWRs in the future.
7. Other Kinds of Birds:
In touring these national wildlife refuges, we also saw many ospreys (fish hawks), pelicans, snow geese, red-
crowned sand hill cranes, herons and terns in addition to bald eagles in action. Watching diving sea bird,
gannets, on Delaware Bay and puffins in Newfoundland are also very interesting.
8. Thriving Bald Eagle Population
According to a news article entitled "Bald Eagles, Thriving, Settle Into Suburban Life" in the New York Times on
June 29, 2007, Florida now also has 1,150 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Alaska, Florida and Minnesota are the three
top breeding grounds for bald eagle. There are now 9,700 breeding pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states in
USA.
9. Locations and Directions:
The location of and the direction to various National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) and National Parks are available on
their Internet websites.
The location and directions to the Susquehanna River in northern Maryland, USA for bird watching are given in my
Travelogue web page entitled Bald Eagles on Susquehanna River in Maryland
6. Other Locations
We saw bald eagles in our Winter Wildlife Watching tour in Florida as shown on the following web page:
http://www.shltrip.com/Florida_Merritt_Island.html
We visited the Blackwater NWR on eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, USA on April 8, 2007. We
saw some bald eagles in flight in Blackwater NWR. According to its website, there are more than 50 bald
eagles resident at Blackwater NWR year-round, and that number swells to 150 in winter when additional bald
eagles from north migrate to this NWR. We also visited the Chincoteague NWR on the Assateague Island
National Seashore (i.e., barrier island) off east coast of Virginia, USA on April 7, 2007 and saw many wild
horses, many other kinds of birds and two bald eagles.
We saw bald eagles in our Winter Wildlife Watching tour in Florida as shown on the following web page:
http://www.shltrip.com/Florida_Merritt_Island.html
We visited the Blackwater NWR on eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, USA on April 8, 2007. We
saw some bald eagles in flight in Blackwater NWR. According to its website, there are more than 50 bald
eagles resident at Blackwater NWR year-round, and that number swells to 150 in winter when additional bald
eagles from north migrate to this NWR. We also visited the Chincoteague NWR on the Assateague Island
National Seashore (i.e., barrier island) off east coast of Virginia, USA on April 7, 2007 and saw many wild
horses, many other kinds of birds and two bald eagles.
| 哺育 Then the bald eagle carried the fish back to the nest to feed its babies. (This photo was taken by May Lee) |
Sometimes, a bald eagle may misjudge and latch onto a big prey that is too heavy for the bald eagle to carry
and to fly with. In such case, the bald eagle is forced to swim and to drag the big prey quite a distance to shore
to eat. An example of such a swimming bald eagle is in the following YouTube website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87xNpOYOlQ4&feature=feedu
This footage was taken at Mallard Lakes subdivision in Baton Rouge. It took this bald eagle several attempts
and swimming hard using breast-stroke on the water to drag the prey to the shore. Notice that in the several
attempts, this bald eagle always came in in the same direction against the wind.
More stories and photos of such struggling and swimming bald eagles can be seen at the following websites:
http://www.giveyoujoy.net/natural_high/001707.html
http://grantfuller.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=77
http://www.getlostmagazine.com/features/1999/9910eagle/eagle.html
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/www/critters/eagle/826572782.html
According to a news article in the Washington Post on April 17, 2006, the number of breeding pairs of bald
eagles in the Chesapeake Bay region in Maryland and Virginia, USA grew from fewer than 100 in the late
1970s to about 1,000 in 2006. The population of bald eagles has recovered very well from its endangered
status in 1970s. Therefore, there are more opportunities for bird watchers to see bald eagles in eastern
Maryland and Virginia now. Many people are very excited and happy to see the majestic bald eagles with wing
span up to 8 feet. Many reports of bald eagle sighting are available at the following website:
http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/directory/MD.html
Sample phrases describing their happy and sensational feeling of seeing bald eagles are:
"The bird was gorgeous. Stunning! Awesome! Amazing - it was gorgeous! I gasped. What a magnificent
creature! I'm just thrilled. It was beautiful and amazing. What an awesome sight to see. I was so excited to see
these amazing birds. I was truly struck by shear beauty of this bird. The stealthy graceful glide, very quite, very
striking. It's an experience I wish everyone could have. It was an incredible sight to see the White head and
Tails as they soared over the Washington Beltway in Potomac, Maryland. Everyone thought I was crazy -
saying there are no eagles in this part of the country. I AM 100% SURE IT WAS A BALD EAGLE - and
beautiful at that. The eagle was just grand and circling on updrafts. I was thrilled when the bald eagle flew over
the lake and soared over me. The feeling that came over me was as though the Bird was giving me a gift or
greeting of just flying over. It seems to glance at me for a moment. It was the coolest couple of seconds I've
had since I've been watching birds. What a thrill. What an incredible sight! What a great feeling to see them
again. "
eagles in the Chesapeake Bay region in Maryland and Virginia, USA grew from fewer than 100 in the late
1970s to about 1,000 in 2006. The population of bald eagles has recovered very well from its endangered
status in 1970s. Therefore, there are more opportunities for bird watchers to see bald eagles in eastern
Maryland and Virginia now. Many people are very excited and happy to see the majestic bald eagles with wing
span up to 8 feet. Many reports of bald eagle sighting are available at the following website:
http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/directory/MD.html
Sample phrases describing their happy and sensational feeling of seeing bald eagles are:
"The bird was gorgeous. Stunning! Awesome! Amazing - it was gorgeous! I gasped. What a magnificent
creature! I'm just thrilled. It was beautiful and amazing. What an awesome sight to see. I was so excited to see
these amazing birds. I was truly struck by shear beauty of this bird. The stealthy graceful glide, very quite, very
striking. It's an experience I wish everyone could have. It was an incredible sight to see the White head and
Tails as they soared over the Washington Beltway in Potomac, Maryland. Everyone thought I was crazy -
saying there are no eagles in this part of the country. I AM 100% SURE IT WAS A BALD EAGLE - and
beautiful at that. The eagle was just grand and circling on updrafts. I was thrilled when the bald eagle flew over
the lake and soared over me. The feeling that came over me was as though the Bird was giving me a gift or
greeting of just flying over. It seems to glance at me for a moment. It was the coolest couple of seconds I've
had since I've been watching birds. What a thrill. What an incredible sight! What a great feeling to see them
again. "
On April 5, 2007, we visited the Susquehanna River near a dam in northeast Maryland, USA to see many bald
eagles and ospreys (i.e., fish hawks) in action. This dam is about 10 miles northwest of Havre de Grace
where the large Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The area of this large river just below the
dam is a favored area for many fishing birds such as seagulls, herons, cormorants, ospreys and bald eagles
to catch fish. It is, therefore, also a favored place for bird watchers to see bald eagles and ospreys in action.
The peak season is in the winter if the river is not frozen when some bald eagles from the north migrate here
to join the local resident bald eagles. According to birder's report, more than 100 bald eagles and more than
20,000 seagulls were in this area in December 2006. Best viewing period is between Thanksgiving and
Christmas. Please also see Page 2 for many bald eagles in action here in the winter season at:
http://www.shltrip.com/Bald_Eagle_P_2.html
eagles and ospreys (i.e., fish hawks) in action. This dam is about 10 miles northwest of Havre de Grace
where the large Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The area of this large river just below the
dam is a favored area for many fishing birds such as seagulls, herons, cormorants, ospreys and bald eagles
to catch fish. It is, therefore, also a favored place for bird watchers to see bald eagles and ospreys in action.
The peak season is in the winter if the river is not frozen when some bald eagles from the north migrate here
to join the local resident bald eagles. According to birder's report, more than 100 bald eagles and more than
20,000 seagulls were in this area in December 2006. Best viewing period is between Thanksgiving and
Christmas. Please also see Page 2 for many bald eagles in action here in the winter season at:
http://www.shltrip.com/Bald_Eagle_P_2.html
A bald eagle got a fish from the Susquehanna River in northeast Maryland on April 5, 2007
1.2 Newfoundland, Canada
1. Bald Eagle Catching Fish
1.1. Maryland, USA
On April 8, 2007, we visited the Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Chesapeake Bay in
Maryland, USA to see bald eagles in action as shown in the picture above.
1.1. Maryland, USA
On April 8, 2007, we visited the Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Chesapeake Bay in
Maryland, USA to see bald eagles in action as shown in the picture above.
神鵰抓着魚展翅飛翔，英姿威風無比， 一生瀟灑鳥中王。
A bald eagle in flight in Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Maryland, USA got a fish from
the Chesapeake Bay.
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge
With white feather on its head, neck and tail, bald eagle is uniquely American and is chosen as the American
emblem.
A bald eagle in flight in Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Maryland, USA got a fish from
the Chesapeake Bay.
Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge
With white feather on its head, neck and tail, bald eagle is uniquely American and is chosen as the American
emblem.
More photos and stories of many bald eagles in action on the Susquehanna River in northern Maryland, USA in
the winter season are available at my Travelogue web page entitled Bald Eagles on Susquehanna River in
Maryland, and at May Lee's web page at:
http://mayleesart.com/BaldEagleCono.html
the winter season are available at my Travelogue web page entitled Bald Eagles on Susquehanna River in
Maryland, and at May Lee's web page at:
http://mayleesart.com/BaldEagleCono.html
雄健體魄，鵰來神速如疾風， 殺氣騰騰。
The eagle has caught up and is slightly above its prey. Both birds have their wings extended.
The eagle has caught up and is slightly above its prey. Both birds have their wings extended.
In case if you see overlapped lines of text or some lines of text become obscured behind a picture on this web
page, please change the page magnification (zoom) factor to eliminate such problems by pressing these two
keys "Ctrl +" simultaneously or these two keys "Ctrl -" simultaneously.
Please press the F11 key on your keyboard to get full-screen view of photos and web page. Pressing F11 key
again will return to your normal screen with various tool bars.
page, please change the page magnification (zoom) factor to eliminate such problems by pressing these two
keys "Ctrl +" simultaneously or these two keys "Ctrl -" simultaneously.
Please press the F11 key on your keyboard to get full-screen view of photos and web page. Pressing F11 key
again will return to your normal screen with various tool bars.
5. Golden Eagle (金鵰) Hunting Baby Goats
The movie clip on the following YouTube website shows a golden eagle hunting baby goats on cliff walls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VklTs-Tid_I&NR=1
The movie clip on the following YouTube website shows a golden eagle hunting baby goats on cliff walls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VklTs-Tid_I&NR=1
若要說神鵰功夫本領，單打獨鬥稱孤膽英雄， 擒拿格鬥武藝全會。
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