Greetings,

When I posted about Bald Eagle prey yesterday, I forgot to mention that
birds do not make up a large proportion of the eagle's diet (at least not
the ones I've been watching here in Seattle over the past 12 years).

When the eagles in Discovery Park were being monitored by Parametrix
(because of work at the treatment plant at the base of the bluff where the
eagle's nest is), I shared my observations with Parametrix. Together we came
up with the following numbers, based on prey delivered to the nest in 1993:

85 % fish, both fresh and salt water species,
8 % birds,
6 % unidentified.

This was based on 111 prey deliveries to the nest (excluding the turkey wing
mentioned in yesterday's posting).

In other years the percentages were similar at this territory, but keep in
mind this is only one breeding season, at only one nesting territory.
Variation due to location and season is likely to be substantial.

My posting was in response to a request for additional prey species for Bald
Eagles. If I created the impression that I believe eagles eat mostly birds,
I apologize. I was going for completeness of prey species list, not
representative.

Sincerely,
Martin Muller, Seattle
MartinMuller at email.msn.com