Date: 03/20/2006

Number: 1

I believe I may have witnessed a rare display of Bald Eagle intelligence this morning at 08:30. It happened just 2 miles east of Bridgeport NY at the NYS South Shore Boat Launch. I had just finished walking the dog and was preparing to drive away when I immediately noticed the outstretched wings of a broad wing. It wasn't until I saw the white under sided tail that I realized it was a male BE.

It was descending from at least 2 hundred feet to the newly formed shoreline ice shelf in the bay area. Because of its circling descent I new it had seen something on the ice 2 to 3 hundred yards away. When it landed it attracted 2 or 3 Crows.

When the BE took off several more Crows came along and pitched in on an aerial dogfight. It was then I noticed the food the BE had in its talons. I had already stopped the car, rolled down the window, turned off the motor and sat silently hoping the dog wouldn't bark.

Because of the strong westerly wind, low and behold the BE was flying right directly at me into the wind for lift and eventually came to perch at the top of a tree less than 100 feet away. It was unbelievable as its outstretched wings flapped trying to get a hold of the limb. But what happened in the next couple of minutes was even more amazing as 4 Crows also perched and cawed and 3 others kept diving for the catch that the BE held awkwardly in its grasp. I couldn't tell what it was holding but big enough that the BE had difficulty perching every time the Crows dove in as it had to outstretch its wings to keep balance. Finally and what turned out to be the highlight was the BE took off in flight over the ice and to open water. It stayed very low with 7 crows close behind. Then it stopped abruptly, hovered about 5 feet over the water just a few hundred feet away outstretched its talons away from its body and dropped the food.

One by one the crows left and the BE kept flying away. After all of the crows were gone the BE circled back to the same spot and made several slow hovering passes were it dropped the booty. All I could figure was, whatever was let go must have sunk to the bottom and I don't think the BE counted on that happening, as it must have known the Crows wouldn't make that type of entry to the water, and it knew it could come back without any bothersome. I also figured the distance between land and where the BE dropped the catch was far enough away that the BE would have had time to get away without being attacked. At least that's what it appeared like what was happening. It may be common, but it sure was and exciting rare sight for me.

Syracuse, NY

Latitude: 43 Longitude: -76.2

Observed by: James R.
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