How To Steal A Fish Dinner
Posted on May 14th, 2009Filed Under: Birds
Comments: 4 Comments »
Description:
Not only did I capture a Juvenile Bald Eagle over at Spanish Banks the other day, but I also manage to capture an Adult Bald Eagle snatching a fish dinner from a Great Blue Heron. Alright, so it’s not totally captured in photographs but it was a pretty spectacular event to witness. Too bad, it [...]
Not only did I capture a Juvenile Bald Eagle over at Spanish Banks the other day, but I also manage to capture an Adult Bald Eagle snatching a fish dinner from a Great Blue Heron. Alright, so it’s not totally captured in photographs but it was a pretty spectacular event to witness. Too bad, it would have been epic to capture all digitally! That’s right, I used the word EPIC in a blog post!
Step One: Ensure your target has a fish
Great Blue Heron starts feeding on his recently caught fish dinner.
Little does the above Heron realize but he’s been stalked by an Adult Bald Eagle that Robyn said has been circling above for awhile. I didn’t know it because I was too busy photographing the Heron trying to eat his fish.
Step Two: Dive bomb target from above in Stealth Mode
Eagle swoops down and snatches the Fish right from the Great Blue Heron’s mouth!
Unfortunately I did not capture the actual stealing of the fish. Not much the Heron can do but just shrug its shoulder and find some other fish dinner. The Eagle took off the moment it stole the dish dinner.
Step Three: In one swoop grab fish and take off at high speed! (Not that your target can fly as fast as you of course)
Step Four: Ensure victory while eating stolen fish mid-flight. Chuckle to yourself.
The Adult Bald Eagle ate the fish mid-flight, which I have recently learned is something they do often to avoid other Eagles trying to steal their food. He went back to circling high above us.
It was a pretty cool event to see unfold in front of our eyes. I’m glad I caught it somewhat on camera. I ensured my camera was set to AI SERVO and IS mode was set to Mode 2 which is horizontal or vertical movement image stabilization, great for panning shots. Not the greatest of detail in the Eagle or Heron, but with my 70-200mm lens at a pretty decent distance off, they aren’t horrible.
I’m going to go through some of the above photos again in Lightroom and see if I can bring out a bit more detail in them. A buddy of mine at work suggested I work on the second photo a bit more and it could be print worthy. What do you think?
Have you witness Survival of the Fittest in nature before?
May 15th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
VERY COOL PICS! Are you shooting with the Canon 70-200? I have one myself with the IS and LOVE IT. It’s a great piece of glass. What camera, etc. do you shoot with? Just curious. Also, I agree. I like the second shot the best!! You could do some killer stuff with it in Photoshop, boost the colors, etc. NICE STUFF!!!
May 15th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Holy that second shot is absolutely INCREDIBLE Tyler! Nice capture! That must have been tough to get. Your photography is just getting better and better!
Mostly I’m impressed how you manage to get out there and shoot so much. You’re inspiration! I need to do that.
May 16th, 2009 at 3:31 am
If I need to do it, that’s how! Super pictures. NetChick sent me here.
May 19th, 2009 at 9:32 am
@roman – yea all the shots were taken with my 70-200. Ever since the auto-focus pin doesn’t spring back as much I am reluctant to actually change lenses when I’m out of the house.
@vancityallie – The hard thing as making sure I was pointing the camera properly and it was focused
I just took as many photos as my camera would let me before the buffer filled up. it sucks i missed the actually snatching of the fish, but it was cool to experience anyway.