BearCreekLar wrote:
Wow, serious game of "Chicken"
Did they let go?? thanks for posting!!
Larry
Thanks, Larry. Yes, they let go. In the last few years, there have been two recorded times when they have hit the ground with their talons still grasped together. In the first case, someone called the Wildlife Rescue Center and the eagles were still clasped together after the half-hour it took them to arrive. They had to throw a blanket over their heads to calm them and then with gloves on, they had to force the talons apart. One eagle flew away, but the other had serious head injuries and I believe it died at the Rescue Center.
In the other instance, some woman phoned me saying a pair of eagles with talons clasped had landed on her lawn. They did disengage talons and apparently flew away. She had taken video of this and wanted to know how much to charge a TV station for broadcast rights.
Both of these events happened within a few miles of our house. Too bad I got to see neither.
Martin Good wrote:
Great action capture Tony!
In the first one it looks like one eagle is pursuing the other. Thats a fantastic shot with the mountains in the bg!
Apart from the mating ritual it is probably a good plain fight too!
Martin
Thanks, Martin. In the first shot they tried to connect, but their timing was off.
Karl Witt wrote:
Interesting info Tony. Something about that first shot that is just awesome. Nice work following the action, thanks for sharing this encounter.
Herb Houghton wrote:
Nice ones Tony, I recently saw this conduct and the two eagles free fell and were spinning as they did. They disengaged just prior to falling in the river.
Thanks, Herb. I see it a lot more often when there are 100 or so eagles in close proximity to each other.
there is nothing terrible about these shots tony. they are actually quite magnificent considering how far they must have been from your location. i've heard about this behavior but to witness it in person must have been very special. i think the space around the subjects gives a sense of how high up these two were. nice job with the post processing to squeeze as much detail as you did out of these shots. i only wish we had more bald eagles around here for me to appreciate and photograph.
Mick Haensler wrote:
Incredible action Tony. I have witnessed this behavior with two harriers and have dreamed about a full frontal full frame sequence all the way to the river. Thanks so much for sharing this incredible display.
Thanks, Mick. I am lucky if I get to see one harrier within shooting range.
