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Predator
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I have a few marginal shots of this Steller's Sea Eagle, but today he decided to pay an up close visit. The bird landed about 10 feet from me on a rock and walked within about three feet. There is no netting separating the bird from my observation point, so it was a something of a close encounter.
Steller's Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus, is one of the largest eagle species in the world, weighing between 14 - 19 pounds. It breeds in north-eastern Siberia, northern Japan and north Korea. It usually winters in Japan or Korea and occasionally along the Chinese coast and inland as far as Beijing. It is chiefly found on sea coasts or along large rivers not far inland.
The large size suggests that it evolved in a narrow subarctic zone of the northeasternmost Asian coasts, which shifted its latitude according to ice age cycles, and never occurred anywhere else. It is unique among all sea eagles in having a yellow bill even in juvenile birds, and possessing 14, not 12, rectrices (veined flight feather in the tail).
Its main food source is large fish, principally salmon - both living and dead after spawing. It also takes large or medium-sized birds from Ptarmigan and Capercaillie to large ducks and geese, and mammals from the size of young hares to young seals, including carnivorous mammals such as the sable and arctic fox. Stranded fish, invertebrates such as crabs and molluscs, and carrion are also important.
Lead poisoning is a particular problem for this species. Between 1994 and 2000 one researcher in Japan identified 72 individual birds that were poisoned by ingesting lead shot. The problem arose from eagles feeding on Sika deer killed by hunters since Japanese regulations do not require that hunters remove carcasses from the field after removal of the meat. Japanese law was eventually changed to ban the use of lead in shotgun slugs and rifle bullets.
Taken at the Cincinnati Zoo. |
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Hi Greg - what an unusual and striking pose, a very dramatic shot.
The eyes and especially the beak are in great focus - a super portrait of a lovely bird. Well done and a good note as well!
- trinko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4310) - [2007-04-22 1:46]
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great experssion good pose nice focus good DOF
![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 31 W: 1 N: 3]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-n.gif)
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