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1. transplantella
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   We live in an apartment between the Kenney and Beach Dr. We've been seeing a lot of eagle activity for about a year now.

   Maybe it's just one eagle? Or do they run in families?

   Frequently I'll notice lots of bird fluttering and ruckus outside, and the next thing I know there is an eagle swirling around. The thing has often swooped over our building, right by the deck and the window next to my computer.

   Last spring we watched on several occasions as some kind of crow vs eagle war broke out somewhere behind a building across the street. Lots of commotion and dive bombing till the eagle lifted off and soared away right over our heads.

   We've been here four years but this eagle business is new and now ongoing.

   Anybody know anything about eagle habits? Maybe new birds have moved in?

   There he is! Just this moment glided by my window and landed somewhere on/behind the building across the street. When I started this post I suspected an eagle to show up because there was all kinds of bird commotion swirling around.

   What's going on here?

   Posted 4 months ago #         

2. miws
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   This thread is useless without pictures. ;-)

   Mike

   Posted 4 months ago #         

3. transplantella
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   There, added avatar.

   Now back to the eagle issue....

   Posted 4 months ago #         

4. datamuse
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   Crows and raptors are natural enemies. I've seen crows mob and drive off bald eagles more than once. One time was right over the West Duwamish Greenbelt.

   Posted 4 months ago #         

5. anonyme
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   This is all pretty common behavior around here. The crow action is called "mobbing" and is likely to occur whenever eagles (or any other raptors) go out cruising. You're fairly close to Lincoln Park, and there are several eagle's nests there. Eagles often fly solo, but are just as likely to be seen in the company of family members.

   Posted 4 months ago #         

6. WSB
   Member Profile

   

   Had an eagle pic on the home page just yesterday

   

   Thanks to Gary Jones, one of the wonderful Alki people who send photos of fabulous sights, from birds to boats and beyond ...

   TR

   Posted 4 months ago #         

7. datamuse
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   anonyme, the ones that crack me up are when a hawk is perched in a tree or on a lamppost and a crow is dive-bombing it. The hawk always looks like it's thinking "IIIIIIII'm ignoring youuuuuuuuu..."

   Posted 4 months ago #         

8. KatherineL
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   LOL, datamuse, that's a perfect description.

   Posted 4 months ago #         

9. redblack
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   i've been on washington beaches in the fog, and i know when eagles are cruising, because the seagulls - who are usually begging for snacks from anything bipedal - will suddenly leave simultaneously and seemingly without reason. it's funny that they can sense eagles' presence when (human) visibility is so poor.

   but once the airborne threat passes, the seagulls return to their panhandling, loafing ways.

   i've also worked a job site where seagulls nested, and i've seen eagles steal seagulls' eggs and offspring. talk about "mobbing"...

   i think most animals know when eagles or hawks are searching for prey, and i think they all respond appropriately.

   and to transplantella, i think you have eagles nesting nearby. they might be gone by spring or early summer when chicks hatch... unless the pickings are good in your 'hood and they decide to nest there again next year.

   look for the dark gray eagles in early summer. those are the chicks.

   Posted 4 months ago #         

10. sbre
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    On a few occasions I've witnessed eagles stealing baby crows from the nest, even multiple young at once. And in the grandest feat, the eagle took the babies, the nest and part of the branch it was built upon.

    After every occurrence the murder of crows would try to keep up with and attack the eagle while in flight.

    It was like me trying to chase down and tackle an NFL linebacker.

    The beauty of nature.

    Posted 4 months ago #         

11. transplantella
    Member Profile

    

    Thanks for the replies. :-)

    When we saw the bird war last year we were pretty sure there was a crow's nest across the street that the eagle was raiding.

    But it's winter now and there aren't any baby birds. Yet often I see this eagle take the same flight path over our building to go to the same place across the street. Then he leaves from over there and flies back across our building again. He doesn't appear to have anything in his claws.

    It never takes off and wanders down toward the shoreline or uphill toward the Kenney. Always the same path with the same destination.

    It's just a curious behavior that's all. Before last spring/summer we never saw this eagle before.

    Posted 4 months ago #         

12. redblack
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    it might have something to do with air currents.

    or he's going out for a pack of smokes.

    Posted 4 months ago #         

13. anonyme
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    Crows (and many birds)will go after raptors whether it's mating season or not. Letting them know they're not letting their guard down, I suppose. And the crows prey on the young of other birds in the spring; for some reason, robin chicks seem to be hard hit by crows.

    Datamuse, I know the look you described. Pretty darn funny.

    The crows get really brazen sometimes. I've seen them pluck at the tailfeathers of an eagle, disrupting it's flight. They must know the exact turn radius of the eagle...

    Posted 4 months ago #         

14. amalia
    Member Profile

    You may see adults with 1st-year young up until about November, but they work pretty hard to get the chicks to go on their way. The white head and tail don't start to show until year 4, and they are not fully in their adult plumage until year 5, so those big brown or browm/white-streaked birds you see may be young ones. Once you get used to it, it's very easy to to tell a young eagle from a hawk by the flat "plank" appearance in flight and the heavy wingbeats.
    .
    They sure do seem to drive crows & ravens (or "corvids," if you've interested) nuts! Once saw one take a raven chick from a nest amid a frantic attack from the parent ravens.

    Posted 4 months ago #         

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