Eagle-Hawk Death Match in New Jersey
March 29, 2013 7:47 PM Subscribe
jeebus, did that redtail have a suicide wish? Surely there must have been some grub elsewhere that wasn't going to stomp his guts out and use him as delivery pizza. I wonder if during all that stomping around if that eagle's clutch of eggs was damaged?
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 7:56 PM on March 29, 2013
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 7:56 PM on March 29, 2013
Yeah Bald Eagle!! I think Fox News has found it's new opening credits graphics.
posted by helmutdog at 7:58 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by helmutdog at 7:58 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
According to the article the eggs hatched the next day. No wonder mom was pissed.
On edit, thanks fartron, and if a mod wants to replace my main link and cut the time stamp comment, feel free.
posted by spitbull at 7:58 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
On edit, thanks fartron, and if a mod wants to replace my main link and cut the time stamp comment, feel free.
posted by spitbull at 7:58 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Here's the short video, from philly.com.
posted by gingerbeer at 7:59 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by gingerbeer at 7:59 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, that is one heck of an encounter. Red in tooth and claw, for sure.
It's a juvenile red-tail, which accounts for some level of stupidity. They aren't the smartest hawks in the drawer. But, yowza.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:02 PM on March 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
It's a juvenile red-tail, which accounts for some level of stupidity. They aren't the smartest hawks in the drawer. But, yowza.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:02 PM on March 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
bah, that eagle was just feathering her own nest
posted by facetious at 8:11 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by facetious at 8:11 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
"This is what will happen to Kim Jong Un if N. Korea attacks the United States."
A comment on the philly.com link that gingerbeer posted.
posted by knapah at 8:15 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
A comment on the philly.com link that gingerbeer posted.
posted by knapah at 8:15 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Okay, so that's why 99% of the time all those eaglecams are just one eagle sitting on the nest looking around warily.
posted by Curious Artificer at 8:18 PM on March 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Curious Artificer at 8:18 PM on March 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
I can almost hear that hawk's friends.
"Bro. Bro. Stop, bro. Don't do it, bro. no way. Wait. Brrrrrrooooo!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:21 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
"Bro. Bro. Stop, bro. Don't do it, bro. no way. Wait. Brrrrrrooooo!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:21 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
violence alert? really? would some of you have preferred the hawk ask permission to attack?
posted by ReeMonster at 8:22 PM on March 29, 2013
posted by ReeMonster at 8:22 PM on March 29, 2013
I just figured some people would find it distastefully gory, thus erred on the side of caution.
posted by spitbull at 8:28 PM on March 29, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 8:28 PM on March 29, 2013 [9 favorites]
would some of you have preferred the hawk ask permission to attack?
That hawk just got a lesson in how silence is not consent.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 8:30 PM on March 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
That hawk just got a lesson in how silence is not consent.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 8:30 PM on March 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
being a fan of both hawks and eagles, I'm passing on this one.
posted by HuronBob at 9:12 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 9:12 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
Having watched the herons in the treetops across from my balcony helpless to do anything about it when bald eagles come to feast on their eggs, and having watched a heron snatch and eat a baby duck right in front of mama duck, I'm left with the impression that birds are just assholes. At least the stupid hawk chose a worthy adversary.
posted by Balonious Assault at 9:12 PM on March 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Balonious Assault at 9:12 PM on March 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
At least the stupid hawk chose a worthy adversary.
More than worthy, I'd say. The hawk shows up and about 2 seconds later the eagle is standing on him pecking his eyes out.
posted by axiom at 9:18 PM on March 29, 2013
More than worthy, I'd say. The hawk shows up and about 2 seconds later the eagle is standing on him pecking his eyes out.
posted by axiom at 9:18 PM on March 29, 2013
Hawk = WalMart customer delivering lunch.
posted by dragonsi55 at 9:40 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dragonsi55 at 9:40 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
... what the fuck was THAT about!!
on the other hand mmmm this hawk tastes great.
posted by not_on_display at 9:52 PM on March 29, 2013
on the other hand mmmm this hawk tastes great.
posted by not_on_display at 9:52 PM on March 29, 2013
The speed at which the eagle turned as the 'tail approached was amazing. Poor rtha.
posted by rtha at 10:01 PM on March 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by rtha at 10:01 PM on March 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
There is quite a large population of bald eagles in the Georgia Basin north of Puget Sound, and a lot of eagles reside around here in Victoria, at the south tip of Vancouver Island (a friend snapped this wonderful shot last week of an immature bald eagle about five minutes from my house at the edge of the urban core).
In fact, there is a heron colony in a grove of old growth Douglas firs in the city park about a block from where I'm pounding on the keyboard, and it disappeared for about five years after bald eagles ate all the eggs!
Anyway, it's always seemed to me that bald eagles were kind of pussies. I've often watched them get tormented by crows, seagulls, hawks, and even sparrows, all of whom are protecting their nests.
So this scenario doesn't seem suicidal to me. But of course the hawk lost!
posted by KokuRyu at 10:27 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
In fact, there is a heron colony in a grove of old growth Douglas firs in the city park about a block from where I'm pounding on the keyboard, and it disappeared for about five years after bald eagles ate all the eggs!
Anyway, it's always seemed to me that bald eagles were kind of pussies. I've often watched them get tormented by crows, seagulls, hawks, and even sparrows, all of whom are protecting their nests.
So this scenario doesn't seem suicidal to me. But of course the hawk lost!
posted by KokuRyu at 10:27 PM on March 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
I once saw a pair of eagles sitting on a log in the middle of a pond. A seagull had the gall to fly a bit too close to the eagles, and one of them immediately got up off the log and chased that seagull down. The eagle missed on its first pass but swiftly circled around for the kill, and oh my god, the insane acceleration for a bird of that size, and then the flash of its full wingspan as it rolled sideways in flight, it was a sight I'll never forget. The whole while the seagull was screaming at the top of its lungs to no avail. The eagle didn't miss a second time. It snatched the seagull out of midair, returned to the log, and proceeded to chow down while the seagull was still alive and screeching. These eagles, they do not mess around.
posted by keep it under cover at 11:22 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:22 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Poor rtha.
posted by rtha
Dang, and just a few days ago I thought I had figured out that either your name was 'Eartha', or you were a big fan of Eartha Kitt. Learn something new every day.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:52 PM on March 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by rtha
Dang, and just a few days ago I thought I had figured out that either your name was 'Eartha', or you were a big fan of Eartha Kitt. Learn something new every day.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:52 PM on March 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
Okay, so I don't get it. One, this isn't a deathmatch, it isn't even a fight. The eagle just immediately stomps the life out of the hawk.
For that matter, the hawk attacks foot talon thingies down, which is like...okay, I mean I guess if that's your best weapon, then you don't have a choice? But he misses by like a foot and basically lands on his ass and just gets stomped immediately.
Is the hawk really that stupid? Or is there something else going on - maybe it was gonna land and posture but the eagle overreacted cause of the eggs? I'm so confused. I thought hawks were much smarter than that.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:21 AM on March 30, 2013
For that matter, the hawk attacks foot talon thingies down, which is like...okay, I mean I guess if that's your best weapon, then you don't have a choice? But he misses by like a foot and basically lands on his ass and just gets stomped immediately.
Is the hawk really that stupid? Or is there something else going on - maybe it was gonna land and posture but the eagle overreacted cause of the eggs? I'm so confused. I thought hawks were much smarter than that.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:21 AM on March 30, 2013
Circle of life (and death)
Update 3/25/2013
It appears at least one chick has hatched, biologists have observed feeding in the nest (with the adult feeding the chick the remains of the hawk from the attack on 3/24/2013).
posted by Red Loop at 12:54 AM on March 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Update 3/25/2013
It appears at least one chick has hatched, biologists have observed feeding in the nest (with the adult feeding the chick the remains of the hawk from the attack on 3/24/2013).
posted by Red Loop at 12:54 AM on March 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Once again, the voice of Omar echoes through the ages......"Ayo, lesson here, Bey. You come at the king, you best not miss."
posted by C.A.S. at 1:33 AM on March 30, 2013 [15 favorites]
posted by C.A.S. at 1:33 AM on March 30, 2013 [15 favorites]
Such a ripe metaphor for angry liberals. I watched this and thought, "LT vs. Fox News. LT vs. anti-gay marriage. LT vs. THE WORLD!"
And then I thought about breakfast. And how breakfast should never attempt to invade my nest.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 4:21 AM on March 30, 2013
And then I thought about breakfast. And how breakfast should never attempt to invade my nest.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 4:21 AM on March 30, 2013
"Eagle-Hawk Death Match" sounds like a Kool Keith song.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:24 AM on March 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:24 AM on March 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is as close as any of us are going to get to fights between dinosaurs. After all, these guys are raptors.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:26 AM on March 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 5:26 AM on March 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
That's pretty cool for the eagle. A meal is served right to the nest.
posted by rmmcclay at 5:40 AM on March 30, 2013
posted by rmmcclay at 5:40 AM on March 30, 2013
If predators are resorting to hunting each other, doesn't that indicate that there's not a whole lot of prey left?
posted by prepmonkey at 5:55 AM on March 30, 2013
posted by prepmonkey at 5:55 AM on March 30, 2013
It was a mismatch but the hawk had a good season and was happy to get that far in the bracket.
posted by surplus at 6:05 AM on March 30, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by surplus at 6:05 AM on March 30, 2013 [6 favorites]
So I clicked on this expecting some good aerial warfare. Instead dumb hawk arrives at eagles nest. Eagle stomps the shit out it pretty fast. The best bit was when the eagle looks around with pinfeathers stuck to mouth af to say ''Next?''
posted by adamvasco at 6:50 AM on March 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by adamvasco at 6:50 AM on March 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is quite a large population of bald eagles in the Georgia Basin north of Puget Sound, and a lot of eagles reside around here in Victoria, at the south tip of Vancouver Island (a friend snapped this wonderful shot last week of an immature bald eagle about five minutes from my house at the edge of the urban core).
I went on a bike ride through Whidbey Island, just a bit south of Vancouver Island, and saw a clutch of eagles hang out on some telephone poles by a wheat farm. The farmer was running his threshing machine, so I stopped off for a swig of water and to take pics. Every now and again, an eagle would pop off his or her perch and swoop in on the freshly-cut field, probably to grab a field mouse or two.
Sometimes, they don't always win. I was at a friend's house in West Seattle, overlooking the Sound. An eagle swooped into the water to grab a fish but couldn't hold on. A nearby osprey went in for the easy meal. The two fought and I think the eagle had to make a run for it.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:05 AM on March 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
I went on a bike ride through Whidbey Island, just a bit south of Vancouver Island, and saw a clutch of eagles hang out on some telephone poles by a wheat farm. The farmer was running his threshing machine, so I stopped off for a swig of water and to take pics. Every now and again, an eagle would pop off his or her perch and swoop in on the freshly-cut field, probably to grab a field mouse or two.
Sometimes, they don't always win. I was at a friend's house in West Seattle, overlooking the Sound. An eagle swooped into the water to grab a fish but couldn't hold on. A nearby osprey went in for the easy meal. The two fought and I think the eagle had to make a run for it.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:05 AM on March 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is the hawk really that stupid?
Seems like it screwed up some variables in the Lotka–Volterra equations ahead of the landing. Always check your math.
posted by relish at 7:35 AM on March 30, 2013 [7 favorites]
Seems like it screwed up some variables in the Lotka–Volterra equations ahead of the landing. Always check your math.
posted by relish at 7:35 AM on March 30, 2013 [7 favorites]
Is the hawk really that stupid?
Well, like gingerbeer said above, the redtail is a juvenile, so it's got less experience. It's also kind of dumb. It may have very badly misjudged where it was going to land, or it may have thought....I have no idea. But like most species, adolescence in hawks is a time of poor impulse control, bad judgement, and inexperience. Their mortality rate's a lot worse than ours though.
posted by rtha at 7:42 AM on March 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Well, like gingerbeer said above, the redtail is a juvenile, so it's got less experience. It's also kind of dumb. It may have very badly misjudged where it was going to land, or it may have thought....I have no idea. But like most species, adolescence in hawks is a time of poor impulse control, bad judgement, and inexperience. Their mortality rate's a lot worse than ours though.
posted by rtha at 7:42 AM on March 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
That's pretty cool for the eagle. A meal is served right to the nest.
30 minutes or less, or it's free!
posted by desjardins at 7:55 AM on March 30, 2013
30 minutes or less, or it's free!
posted by desjardins at 7:55 AM on March 30, 2013
Prepmonkey, judging by the large numbers of red tails and increasing number of bald eagles here in NJ, I don't think food is particularly a problem. I'm chalking this one up to adolescent overconfidence.
posted by mollweide at 9:53 AM on March 30, 2013
posted by mollweide at 9:53 AM on March 30, 2013
I nominate that hawk for a Darwin award.
posted by Dr Ew at 10:56 AM on March 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr Ew at 10:56 AM on March 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Howdy, neighbor! Say, I just stopped by tOOAAAGGGGHHH!!!!! AAAAAAAAAGHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!!!!
posted by orme at 11:58 AM on March 30, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by orme at 11:58 AM on March 30, 2013 [6 favorites]
Evolution -- hawks that attack eagles nests get their genes cut from the pool.
posted by dancestoblue at 1:39 PM on March 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by dancestoblue at 1:39 PM on March 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh man, just watched it again -- I wouldn't want to get near that nest with anything less than a machete and a handgun, and I wouldn't even want to get near it then.
posted by dancestoblue at 1:45 PM on March 30, 2013
posted by dancestoblue at 1:45 PM on March 30, 2013
the first time after the kill the eagle lifts its (her) head, with one hawk feather hanging, and just CAWS. there is no clearer moment of "yes I am a descendent of dinosaurs bitch" than that in all of birdhood. beautiful but chilling...
posted by supermedusa at 3:19 PM on March 30, 2013
posted by supermedusa at 3:19 PM on March 30, 2013
Yeah, I think that eagle just mind-controlled breakfast into its talons.
posted by glasseyes at 9:32 PM on March 30, 2013
posted by glasseyes at 9:32 PM on March 30, 2013
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posted by spitbull at 7:54 PM on March 29, 2013