↓ Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video
Bald eagles are known for being majestic representations of strength and freedom. Did you know that the bald eagle is one of the largest birds in the United States? It has a wing span bigger than the great blue heron!
Bald Eagles can be seen flying high in the air, gliding slowly over trees, or poised on branches or on the ground. Bald eagles often forage for food by bothering other birds or by consuming carrion or trash. They attack ducks, gulls, and animals in addition to eating primarily fish.
A couple of fishermen in Dunedin witnessed an eagle catching dinner. They were enjoying an evening watching the sunset and fishing for bonnet sharks. One of the anglers finally caught a shark as the hues of orange and red filled the sky.
Just as he’s reeling the small shark in, a bald eagle swoops in out of nowhere, showing off his grand wingspan and hunting skills. For eagles, finding food is typically simple. They are so adept at it that they frequently limit their hunting time to a few hours per day. They then laze around for the remainder of the day.
These birds typically grab fish by plucking them out of the water with their talons while flying low over the surface. Only fish close to the water’s surface can be caught using this technique.
A Giant Snack
Although eagles are large birds, a bonnet shark is quite the meal for them. This particular shark species is a smaller part of the hammerhead family and has a distinctively tiny, shovel-shaped head.
bonnethead shark or shovelhead, Sphyrna tiburo, stranded on a sandy beach.” class=”wp-image-68928″ />As the only omnivore shark, the bonnethead consumes both animals and plants. The bonnet shark must swim continuously to avoid sinking. At most, they can weigh about 25 pounds. Bald eagles, on the other hand, can weigh a maximum of 14 pounds!
These epic birds only eat about five to ten percent of their body weight in a day, leaving much of the shark to be had. It’s not uncommon for a bald eagle to store up to two pounds of food when sources are sparse.
The fishermen were left shocked as one of them immediately asked someone to grab a picture! It’s not every day you see a bald eagle, let alone in a situation like this! They eventually cut the line and took out the hook to allow the gorgeous animal to feast.
A woman named Kathy commented on the footage of the catch and said, “There is an old saying that says “Get it by hook or crook” and it fits here.” It’s amazing to watch the eagle stand her ground and claim what’s rightfully hers!
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
