you never want to be the little bird

[IsaacTheHungry]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7447003/Starling-snatched-mid-air-by-eagle-in-spectacular-photo.html

Eagle catching a starling in 3 progressive photos :smalleek:

[Syka]

That guy is a great photographer. The second picture is stunning.

[FoE]

Eagle catching a starling in 3 progressive photos

News flash! The animal kingdom does not adhere to Disney rules. :smalltongue:

[Yora]

I like it when little birds are killed by insects.

Those are big, nasty bugs! :smallyuk:

[Starscream]

News flash! The animal kingdom does not adhere to Disney rules. :smalltongue:

Good thing, too. I'd hate to see any animals modeled after Hannah Montana or the Jonas Brothers.

And it would be sad to eat things that can sing Alan Menken songs.

[Umael]

That's interesting.

I've seen birds about the same size as that starling mob a falcon before. The whole "I'm smaller, I have more maneuveribility" thing kicking in.

But the article states that the starlings seemed to be completely hyponotized to ignore the eagle.

Predators go for prey of a certain size, energy expenditure / risk vs. reward issue. I would think that the starling would have been too small - given that eagles will snatch 25-30 lb salmon, a starling that weighs considerably less doesn't seem like an ideal choice.

I feel like I'm missing part of the puzzle.

[arguskos]

I feel like I'm missing part of the puzzle.
Maybe that starling called the eagle's momma fat. :smalltongue:

[CrimsonAngel]

Hmm. Bummer.

[Temotei]

Maybe that starling called the eagle's momma fat. :smalltongue:

It could have insulted its ship nest too.

[Athaniar]

That's some awesome photography.

[Krade]

News flash! The animal kingdom does not adhere to Disney rules. :smalltongue:

Yes it plays by much more awesome rules. Nature does not play nice. Being small means you're food.

When I was in high school, one of the 9th grade science teachers found a kitten on the side of the road and took it home. As her husband (The AV lab teacher) was complaining about her picking up another pet while the cat was in the backyard. I don't think it was a bald eagle (there were a few of those around) but it was definitely a large raptor, came down, snatched it up, and carried it away, never to be seen again. She cried. He told the story to other teachers. It got passed around.

Note: I know it's sad, but the fact that nature did it was hilarious. If the kitten had gotten hit by a car or drowned or really anything else it would not have been funny.

[Soterion]

That's interesting.

I've seen birds about the same size as that starling mob a falcon before. The whole "I'm smaller, I have more maneuveribility" thing kicking in.

But the article states that the starlings seemed to be completely hyponotized to ignore the eagle.

Predators go for prey of a certain size, energy expenditure / risk vs. reward issue. I would think that the starling would have been too small - given that eagles will snatch 25-30 lb salmon, a starling that weighs considerably less doesn't seem like an ideal choice.

I feel like I'm missing part of the puzzle.

Growing up on a farm in the American northwest, every fall we cut hay for use by our cows and/or horses. This involved first cutting, then, after a drying period, raking the hay into long windrows. One September, as I drove the tractor raking the hay, I watched half a dozen bald eagles bomb down from their perches in the surrounding trees to nail mice and voles as they were exposed. This went on until I had cleared the field.

[DemonicAngel]

Thats really good photography.

I have a red chests falcon flying around my house (a 19 stories high marble building.. looks like a cliff form the outside). he once landed on our window one night... then it went and catched a pigeon in midair.

[SuperMuldoon]

That's interesting.

I've seen birds about the same size as that starling mob a falcon before. The whole "I'm smaller, I have more maneuveribility" thing kicking in.

But the article states that the starlings seemed to be completely hyponotized to ignore the eagle.

Predators go for prey of a certain size, energy expenditure / risk vs. reward issue. I would think that the starling would have been too small - given that eagles will snatch 25-30 lb salmon, a starling that weighs considerably less doesn't seem like an ideal choice.

I feel like I'm missing part of the puzzle.

It is possible that since the starlings seem 'hypnotized' and do not attempt to evade the eagles, there is a very low chance of failure and low energy used to catch them, as opposed to trying to catch salmon. This could tip the whole energy expenditure/risk v. reward in favor of the starlings. My theory for now until we get some more info :smallsmile:

[KerfuffleMach2]

I like the videos of Peregrine falcons dive-bombing other birds.

Those guys are mean.