A few summers ago I observed an adult (of a nesting pair) circle and dive on a black duck 36 times!! before being overheated and giving up. The duck managed to dive each time and it took the eagle a long time to lumber around in a circle and swoop again. Not long after the second adult took up the hunt, and finally landed on the poor exhausted duck. It lay on the water, wings outstretched for several seconds (drowning the duck?) then started rowing with its wings to shore. It took 15 minutes before it reached land and dragged the duck on shore. The chick sat behind me on a snag watching the whole thing and started squeeing loudly as the adult approached land... it took off and glided down to its parent and I assume it got to eat before its hard working parents. (The duck had been dragged behind a rock so I couldn't see what happened next).
Thanks so much for your fine recounting .... I hope the Black back survived in o.k. shape or if not the eagle got a good meal.
On Sunday, December 16, 2012 6:42:27 AM UTC-5, Craig Kesselheim wrote:
Good morning all -- At the very end of yesterday's MDI CBC and just before dusk, I was returning into SW Harbor from the small supermarket up Rte 102. I saw some kind of apparent dogfight between two large birds over Norwood Cove, and pulled into the overlook pull-out to catch the details. Talk about distracted driving!--
An adult Bald Eagle was chasing an adult Great Black-backed Gull, and the gull was doing its best to evade the eagle. Many swoops and circles, most over the Cove and around its perimeter, and at all altitudes. The chase lasted at least two minutes while I watched, but it could have been twice that. The gull kept eluding the eagle, but many dodges were close calls. Finally, at only a few feet over the water, the eagle managed a blow to the gull with one talon that made the gull settle onto the water. It was upright and appeared intact, but it also did not fly. I was watching this in dimming light, and these last incidents took place on the far side of the Cove. I had time then to get out my scope.
The eagle tried swooping on the gull several times, making some contact, and the gull mostly attempted escape (ducking into the water, flapping wings). The eagle then took a nearby perch. The gull sat still, or might have been gently paddling away, because it did drift. After a bit, the eagle attempted another stoop on the gull, snagged the bird's wing and dragged it a few feet closer to the shore. But again, the gull was either too heavy or the grip was too slim, because the eagle released the gull.
I left near dark (~15 minutes), with the eagle perched above Norwood Cove, preening. The gull had drifted out of sight toward the causeway and outlet of the Cove. Outcome uncertain.
Some of us just have to walk up to the meat counter to get our dinners!
Craig K
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