Food Fight!

I was heading home after a so-so outing to photograph eagles and swans and American dipper at Tern Lake and a picnic area at the far side of the lake, when I came upon an incredible scene.

This small pond, which connects to Tern Lake by a culvert under the Sterling Highway, is right at the junction of the Seward and Sterling highways.   During the summer months, this pond is favored by Greater Scaup and Green Winged Teal, but now, a different species prefers it.

This photo, taken last week, shows three bald eagles and a salmon dinner on the ice of Tern Lake.    You can see the bottom of a stop sign in the upper left.   This is where traffic from the Sterling highway turns left onto the Seward Highway.   Today's story  takes place immediately to the left in the photo, in a small pond.

There have been eagles hanging out in this area because of the late silver salmon run.   Obviously, some of those salmon swam through the culvert to reach the pond.     Yesterday, I saw activity in the pond and pulled over to watch.   A bald eagle was in possession of a salmon, but was about to be challenged by another eagle.

Two magpies and a raven were also there to see what scraps they could purloin.

Not a great photo, but I was trying to get all the actors into the scene.   You can see the salmon under the eagle on the log.

And here comes an immature eagle....

 ...to challenge the adult for the food.


 A longer, but better view to give you an idea of the scene and the younger eagle about to attack.   The guard rail is along the Seward Highway as it descends a hill.  Turn left towards Anchorage; turn  right towards Seward.

 The young eagle wins this round and now has the salmon.

The adult is not happy....

...and says so!

 It watches the salmon disappear and considers its options....

 The stare down....

...and the food fight is on again......

Obviously, I didn't anticipate how high they would jump!

 I think the younger eagle is underwater in this shot....

In the below photo, the younger eagle is on its back.  You can see its head at far left and its talons on the other eagle's breast.

The older eagle gets back on the log to claim the salmon.

The defeated young eagle swims towards the log....

It still wants that salmon back....and its pride.

Nothing to do but challenge for salmon.....

But the young eagle has much to learn about food fights.     He goes high while the adult goes low.   Here, his right wing is behind the adult's head...

 And he winds up beyond both the adult and the salmon....

The adult shrugs him off and the youngster swims to shore.

To the victor goes the salmon; to the vanquished, the agony of defeat.

The black-billed magpie sneaks in for a bite....

While this eagle rips off large chunks of salmon, waiting nearby are a number of other eagles.....

There are two wet defeated young eagles crawling through the dried grass across the pond, another adult in the grass in addition to the adult that has made its way to the top of the embankment, and several waiting in trees across the highway.

The food fight isn't over yet, but the salmon is rapidly disappearing.


(to be continued)