If you’ve been following this website, you know that over the last couple years more than one eagle has visited Clark Lake. About a week ago, an eagle, just short of adulthood, tried to feast on ducks at both Eagle Point and the west end of the lake near the Township Park. Becky Consonni was not only able to photograph some of this activity, but also captured the eagle’s repeated attempt to grab ducks on video. Becky took her video (and photos) at the west end location.
As you will notice, the ducks duck each time the eagle makes an attempt on them.
Becky found this link helpful in learning more about eagle behavior.
John Deming comments:
Great pictures. Without the lake being iced over or at least somewhat iced over, the eagles have a lesser chance of success because the ducks have more open water to escape into. All of the ducks in the pictures are mallards that have been well accustomed to the activity of the eagles. The maximum payload for an adult eagle is around 5 pounds. An adult mallard is around 3 lbs. Ask a pilot what the stall speed would be after crashing into a body of water and picking up 1/3 it’s weight? If it could only catch carp!
This juvenile eagle is much improved at his flying skills since the last attempt at duck hunting. One of his wings is underdeveloped or injured thus hampering his attempts. A few weeks ago when he tried this he or she could barely bank this much. A much improved performance this time. His or her head is turning white too. I submitted this video and took the other pictures of this eagle. My husband, Mike Consonni, took this great video. I played it twice and added the music. Hope you all enjoyed it and ignored the cuckoo clock noise in the background at the beginning! LOL.