Seward, Alaska
It could be herring,
euchalon, or some other species returning in large numbers to spawn in the area
rivers. Or salmon smolt trying to swim to the ocean. Whatever it is, a
bazillion gulls and BALD EAGLES knew all about it.
While well-spaced humans were
trying to snag red salmon at the head of the bay, over 60 BALD EAGLES stood in
the shallow tidal streams, wing to wing, toe to toe, beak to beak, combat
fishing.
A screaming feathered cloud
of mostly GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, with some KITTIWAKES, and a few MEW GULLS flew
above the tide flat streams en masse from one hot spot to the next like gold
miners racing after rumors of rich strikes. I don’t know how they managed to
fly, immersed in beating wings, outstretched webbed feet, and sharp, open
beaks. The cacophony was deafening.
Whenever an eagle took to the
air, the gulls nearby instantly rose up in swirls like a down-filled pillow
shaken loose in the wind. The dark Eagle flew through the temporary clear space
ahead surrounded by a white blur of gulls that instantly filled in behind it.
It was astonishing to hear
and see this living, breathing, screeching, flying, chaotic kaleidoscope of
feathers. And the mystery of it all, was the fish I never saw.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
Great story! Without seeing the pics, I could visualize the mass of feathers! Cool!
ReplyDelete