↓ Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video
The combination of power and elegance displayed by this eagle is breathtaking. As soon as the eagle spots a fish in the water the action is slowed down so that we can truly appreciate just how magnificent this bird of prey is. It’s a video that you will want to watch over again – even if you do feel a bit sorry for the fish!
The eagle spots a fish in the water below and starts the descent. Its feet are outstretched towards the water, whilst its wings are used to slow it down and reach the surface at exactly the right speed and in exactly the right place. Then, it bends its body slightly back to position its talons directly above the fish. With breathtaking accuracy, it grasps the fish which thrashes around but there is no escape. Now that the prey has been secured, the eagle has another challenge. It has to be able to fly away without letting go of the fish and that is not easy. It needs enough power to rise above the water from an almost stationary position whilst carrying extra weight. However, it has powerful enough wings to accelerate back across the river and to the shore where it can enjoy the meal!
Eagles have many attributes that make them excellent hunters and apex predators in a range of different habitats. They have exceptional vision – one of the best of all creatures. This is because their eyes have adapted to give them the best chance of spotting prey on the ground whilst they are soaring in the air. Their pupils are huge and they have a dense arrangement of light-detecting cells in their retinas. Also, the shape of the small pit at the back of the eye (the fovea) allows them to have especially sharp central vision.
Some eagles can see eight times better than a human – they can see prey that is two miles away! As well as hunting fish they will also seek out waterfowl, mammals and snakes. They are opportunistic hunters and will look for food from their high vantage points before swooping down at great speed. They prefer live prey and from the way this fish is wriggling, that is exactly what this eagle got!
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.
