Subject: Re: eagles and hawks
Date: Feb 8 08:55:34 1998
From: Kelly Mcallister - mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov



Martin Muller wrote:

> This made me think of the articles I've read (don't ask me when and where
> right now, I'm too busy with other stuff to go dig it out...) that mentioned
> Bald Eagles raising a Red-tailed Hawk chick alongside their eaglets.
>
> Theoretical explanation was that adult eagle raided Red-tailed Hawk nest;
> delivered the chick to its own nest alive, then changed its mind for
> whatever reason about feeding it to its young (looked too similar to its own
> chicks and killer-instinct was inhibited? -my thought-).

Good recall Martin. During Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Bald
Eagle nesting surveys, Red-tailed hawk chicks have been observed in Bald
Eagle nests alongside Bald Eagle chicks three times that I am aware of.
Jim Watson published a note on the topic in Raptor Research and his theory,
which you accurately describe above, is well-reasoned and based on a
number of facts about each site and the chronology of events that were
observed.

The three occurrences I am aware of were all in northern Puget Sound, San Juan,
Island, and Skagit Counties, if I remember correctly.


Kelly McAllister