Kip’s Comments - December 2, 2022

Two Views

Today was another trip to one of the big cities up north with a family member. Now that the crops are out and the rut is on, the drive is as much a bald eagle counting trip as it is a process of moving from Point A to Point B. Along the way we saw many bald eagles. In fact, neither of us were counting. Then we found an adult bald eagle right along the road, feeding on fresh road kill.

As quickly as I could I turned the car around, prepped my Nikon, and moved us back to the deer death scene to shoot photos. As we approached, the eagle took flight, but moved only to a clump of trees not too far from the road. Also in the trees was another adult eagle and a juvenile bald eagle.

We watched the eagle that had been along the road and noticed that with great determination it was rubbing its head on the branch it perched on. Its behavior was something I had not seen before. Once we returned home and I was able to study the photos on my computer it became clear what the eagle was doing. The bird was cleaning the blood and maybe flesh remains off its beak. (Notice the absence of blood on the beak on the second photo.)

Seeing the eagle was consciously removing blood from its beak made me wonder how the eagle knew its beak was blood-covered. Did it see it? Did the eagle feel the blood? If it did feel the blood, does it also feel our temperature extremes via its beak? No, I do not have answers. Maybe someday I will learn that. What I do know is we enjoyed watching the birds, even if the show was brief. And if you look close you will see the eagle did not clean its talons. Notice too the blood on the tree branch. This bird was in the thick of the carrion.

By the way, during our drive back home we almost made road-kill for tomorrow’s eagle feedings. A very large buck nearly ran into the side of the car. In fact, I checked for damage, or deer hair, or blood. How the buck did not make contact I do not know. It was so very close.

Bald Eagle in Tree - Image 783519

Bald Eagle in Tree - Image 783553