Eagle attacks Seagull
- Thread starter Sir Reel
- Start date
That is an amazing picture.
Once watched a life and death dog fight between a Bald Eagle and a Seagull on the Gorge in Victoria for about half an hour. The Gull would fly fast and erratic about a foot above the water. The Eagle would dive on the Gull and just as it was about to grab the Gull, the Gull would fold its wings and crash into the water with a splash causing the eagle to overshoot. The eagle would then have to climb again so it could dive once again on the Gull. This gave the Gull time to shake off the crash landing and get air born where the process happened over and over. Unfortunately I never did get to see the final outcome because the aerial combat eventually went around a point of land and out of sight.
I suspect if the Gull had been caught not aware of the eagle and flying more than about a foot above the water it would have been quickly toast.
Once watched a life and death dog fight between a Bald Eagle and a Seagull on the Gorge in Victoria for about half an hour. The Gull would fly fast and erratic about a foot above the water. The Eagle would dive on the Gull and just as it was about to grab the Gull, the Gull would fold its wings and crash into the water with a splash causing the eagle to overshoot. The eagle would then have to climb again so it could dive once again on the Gull. This gave the Gull time to shake off the crash landing and get air born where the process happened over and over. Unfortunately I never did get to see the final outcome because the aerial combat eventually went around a point of land and out of sight.
I suspect if the Gull had been caught not aware of the eagle and flying more than about a foot above the water it would have been quickly toast.
Last edited by a moderator:
Percy Stipec
Active Member
I admire the top seagull for trying to save its friend.
Last edited by a moderator:
finaddict
Well-Known Member
More likely he just wants his fair share of the spoils...........
I've seen ducks do something similar with eagles when they are attacked. They dive - just before the eagle grabs them. Then the eagle appears to keep trying to drown the duck by never letting it get a breath of air - if it can.
As far as eagles verses gulls - I have seen (twice now) an eagle fixated on getting a gull - where both are in the air - and the gull "corkscrews" into as tight a turn and climbs as fast as it can. The eagle is slower, and less maneuverable - and ends up performing another corkscrew with a larger diameter and a slower climb rate than the gull. This show can take an hour or 2 before the eagle gives up.
Also, twice have seen a mob of seagulls attack an eagle with a fish - causing the eagle to drop and loose the fish. Might be the reason the eagle got pissed-off with a gull in the 1st place.
Also seen an eagle hook into a fish too big to handle and swim to shore with it - again - twice.
Fantastic shot!
Rum Buddies
Well-Known Member
wow, crazy pic! Most times I see eagles and gulls it's the gulls that are chasing around/harassing the eagles.
Similar threads
