Fellow bird watchers,

To add to the swimming bird thread, especially swimming Bald Eagles.

As far as the eagle observed plunging in the water after Western Grebe and
swimming for a while before taking off from the water (Michael Price
mentioned this); could the bird have caught the Western Grebe, attempted to
take off with the bird in its talons, failed; tried swimming for a while,
then given up, let go of the grebe and fly off? I'm sure other scenarios are
possible (I'm not suggesting a Western Grebe is beyond a Bald Eagle's
carrying capacity in general, I believe they can lift close to their own
weight, when in good condition).

I've seen Bald Eagles float on the water surface after a hunting attempt,
then take off without problems.

Ed Deal watched a Bald Eagle on Lake Washington swoop down on a large flock
of American Coots, land in the middle of the lake, floating about for
several minutes. Upon take-off a dead coot was dangling from its talons.

Somewhere I have read about a Bald Eagle hitting a Double-crested Cormorant,
landing on the water with it, swimming a quarter mile to land, dragging the
cormorant on shore before "feasting"on it.
I assume the same may happen when a big fish is caught.

Ernie Rose, raptor keeper at Woodland Park Zoo, has mentioned seeing Bald
Eagles "swimming" up to a quarter mile after landing on the water. In one
case I believe it was a rehabilitated young eagle, which upon release didn't
make it very far. It swam to shore and was just fine.

Similarly I watched a young Bald Eagle, three weeks out of the nest, gorge
itself on a large salmon provided by mom, then slip on the algae and
barnacles encrusted rock it was on. Try as it might, it fell in the water
and had to swim the 200 yards to shore. I'm sure that accidental falls in
water, especially after a big meal, may lead to some mortality by drowning
in young birds, provided it happens far enough from shore.

So, to summarize: I believe plunging in the water and swimming may occur on
purpose as part of the Bald Eagle's hunting strategy as well as by accident.
The outcome: taking flight from the water surface or swimming to shore, with
or without prey, is determined by the condition the bird is in, the distance
to shore (related issues), etc.

Before someone mentions the lore of eagles being unable to unlock their
grasp on prey and drowing by being dragged under by a large fish; to my
knowledge nobody ever actually found indisputable evidence for this (like
catching a salmon with an eagle talon still lodged in its back). I've heard
the story many times though. But consider for a moment your own observation
of an eagle, carrying a big fish in both talons. Upon approaching a branch,
what happened? Did the eagle let go of the fish with one talon and make a
graceful landing, or did the bird do a face-plant after trying to land on
top of a slippery fish on a wobbly branch?

Oh, and as to "eagle in the water, who do you call?" I suggest calling the
fire department, assuming you're near a city with a fire boat. Several years
ago someone watched an eagle getting hit by a helicopter over Elliott Bay
(Seattle). The fire department sent out their boat and retrieved the bird.
Barring that, police department or even coast guard might be willing to lend
a hand. MIND YOU, I'M NOT ADVOCATING CALLING 911 EVERY TIME YOU SEE A BALD
EAGLE IN THE WATER. But in an obvious case like the aforementioned wounded
bird (one-third of her left wing was clipped off, I believe, the observer
watched her spiral out-of-control to the water), calling authorities with a
boat at their disposal is a perfectly good solution.

Martin Muller, Seattle
MartinMuller at email.msn.com