Chris Maack will recognize the following note from our newsletter, Kachemak
Bay Bird Watch. The writer is Dave Nixon of Halibut Cove - across the bay
from Homer, Alaska.
"Usually the eagles go in the water because they have made a kill, and when
sure it's dead, will try to rise, and if unable to perform that maneuver,
will then do that impressive breast stroke to the beach - for lunch. Empty,
they pick up [from the water] like a mallard. They hunt in a power glide,
just clearing the surface, which puts them onto their victim before he is
aware that that is his new status, and when they make contact, go right in
with the loser, and sit there sinking in the stilettoes until the twitching
ceases. Then they either lift (smaller than a merganser) or flap it. We
watched a family group lined up on the beach fresh from the nest one day, and
the father (or mother) began flying out over the water, then returning.; then
again, until one of the brood followed, and when 100 yards from land, turned
on him and knocked him into the water. He sat there for a bit thinking it
over ... so he butterflies it back to the beach having learned two things:
First, that he could swim, and second, never trust the Old Man."

GCWest
kbaybird at aol.com
Homer, AK & Green Valley, AZ