Eagle in Flight

Leslie, July 12, 2010
Katmai National Park

Other animals benefit from the grizzly bear fishing efforts.  When the bears have eaten a lot of fish, they become more selective, eating only the head and skin and discarding the remainder of the salmon.  Gulls and bald eagles benefit from the bears’ sloppy behavior. 
I was fascinated to watch this bald eagle swoop in and pick up a piece of salmon in its mouth, and then in flight transfer the salmon to its talons.

Salmon in mouth:


Taking off, salmon in mouth:


Bringing talons forward:

 
Stretch forward:


Passing salmon to the talons:


Salmon held in talons:

 
Flying somewhere safer to eat:





I read recently that the bald eagle’s eyesight is so good that it can see a mouse in a field from 3 miles away.

******************Trivia question:  Look at the US Postal Service logo.  Notice the difference of the markings between the eagle on that logo and a real bald eagle.