Golden Eagles have been observed successfully preying on Sandhill Cranes (and even Whooping Cranes), though all the cases I'm personally familiar with involved a mid-air attack on a flying crane. In one observation on the Platte River, the crane fell to the ground after having been hit from above, and then the Golden Eagle swooped down, picked up the crane and carried it to the top of a post to feed on it.
As for Bald Eagles, although they commonly flush flocks of roosting cranes, I never heard a reliable report of a Bald Eagle successfully taking a live crane, in a dozen years of working on the Platte in Nebraska. One personal observation I had was pretty instructive. A Sandhill Crane with a broken wing found itself alone on a sandbar in the Platte after its thousands of companions departed the roost one morning. In short order, half a dozen Bald Eagles (adults and immatures) gathered on sandbars and logs near the injured crane. One by one they repeatedly made flying passes at the crane but were driven off as it defended itself with only its formidable beak. After about 30 minutes, the eagles gave up and moved off. So my overall impression is that Golden Eagles can successfully prey on a flying crane (at least when the conditions are right) but that even an injured crane is a bit too much for Bald Eagles - though they may give it a try now and then, and maybe even rarely succeed. Ken Ken Strom Audubon Colorado Boulder ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David Alcock Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 1:46 PM To: [email protected] Cc: cobirds Subject: Re: [cobirds] Sandhill crane Boulder county Hi, After seeing the report that the Sandhill was still present early this morning I decided to head over myself to see if I could relocate it. True to the directions the juv. Sandhill Crane was feeding in the wheat field. I was afraid it was going to leave just as I spotted it, because just as I pulled to a stop a N. Harrier headed low across the field directly towards the Crane. To my relief the two birds largley ignored one another. A few minutes and some poor photos later another bird spooked the Crane. I kept the crane in frame as it flew, and then tried to ID the culprit who chased it off. From my impression and close looks at really bad pics it appears to have been a 3rd year Bald Eagle. I watched the two fly east and drop down behind the first group of trees to the east. After a few minutes I did see two large birds rise from that area, the presumable Sandhill heading SSE, possibly turning back towards the S as I lost it. Does anyone have experience with the frequency of Bald Eagles taking Sandhill Cranes in migration? Would other area species attempt to snack on prey that size? Has anyone else seen similar interactions with this bird? Thanks and good birding! Dave On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 8:36 PM, Suzi PLOOSTER <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Hi, The Sandhill Crane that Ruth Carol Cushman reported yesterday is still in the area. We observed it in the wheat stubble field west of the road into the South Teller Trailhead off east Arapahoe at approx 5:30 pm today. Suzi and Myron Plooster Lafayette CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:cobirds%[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- David Alcock Broomfield, CO http://daveabirding.blogspot.com/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
