A few weeks ago, these eagles which cruise the cliffs on the beach side of
Normandy Park were observed raiding the nest of a red tailed hawk at about
So. 208th. There were two nestlings. The eagle took both, a few days
apart.

Dick and Donna Koerker
Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics
e-mail: djkoerk at u.washington.edu


On Tue, 4 Jun 1996, Maureen Ellis wrote:

>
> Folks,
>
> I reported a few weeks ago that there appeared to be two active Great Blue
> Heron nests in the Des Moines Washington Beach Park area. Actually there
> were FOUR completed nests with adult occupants. According to a retired
> couple who monitor the Des Moines Marina area frequently (as much as twice
> a day! for many days successively), bald eagle harassment has caused a
> failure of this small local rookery, at least for this season. My friends
> said they actually witnessed an eagle attacking a nesting heron. An active
> eagle nest is thought to be on the bluff side of Normandy Park just north
> of the Marina. Can someone confirm that eagles are nesting there this season?
>
> There appears to be an interesting sociobiological phenomenon
> occuring here with regard to resource competition (is it space or food on
> the local tideland or ???). Any chance that eagles and herons may be
> natural enemies in the lion/hyena style? Do eagles routinely attack ANY
> other large birds nesting relatively near them? There are still one or
> two adult herons feeding in the Marina area; whether they are the
> survivors is unknown. Commentary, please. Thanks,
>
> Maureen E. Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA
>
>
>