Carol Ledford wrote:
> Yesterday (Saturday), at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in
> SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/), I watched two
> adult Bald Eagles cooperatively hunt and take a sitting duck in the
> middle of Rest Lake. First one, then the other eagle would swoop in and
> attack the duck, striking at it, causing the duck to dive in an attempt
> to get away from them. After about a dozen strikes, the duck could no
> longer avoid the eagles, and succumbed. The lighting was poor at this
> angle, and the best I could determine was that the duck may have been a
> ring-necked duck. The whole thing was very interesting, yet a bit sad,
> to watch. I've not previously seen this sort of cooperative hunting by
> birds.
>
I don't see why this is sad instead of a special opportunity to observe
behaviour. We thrill at the sight of the majestic eagle, yet perhaps
ignore what in nature is normal and assume, perhaps, that eagles are
vegetarians.

Arthur Berman
North Vancouver, BC