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The sea eagle heads for the heavens on a helix of air, and touches us in the same way as the sight of a pod of dolphins frolicking beyond the breakers lifts our spirits. This great raptor shares the humility of a successful species, secure and confident in its tenure at the top of the food chain. The sea eagle is a giant of a bird, which can weigh up to three kilograms.. It flies defiantly, with a graceful but powerful stroke. Crows, dwarfed by the two-metre wing span of the sea eagle, take pleasure in badgering these solitary predators as they swing towards cliff face updraughts and coastline thermals. The unmistakable grey and white eagle stretches effortlessly into the rising air on broad upswept wings, and the cowering crows disappear quickly below, as hot currents lift the eagle higher. This ruthless, carnivorous bird has a variety of prey at its mercy. It harries aquatic birds to exhaustion and snatches snoozing fruit bats from the trees, as well as following foraging dolphins and stealing fisherman's cast-off bait. When it alights, the mature adult sea eagle is stiffly elegant, carrying a regal white head and chest on conspicuous, gnarled cream-coloured legs. The juveniles retain their mottled brown plumage for two years and become paler every year. They display their full adult plumage by the age of five. Winter hormones make these solitary birds lonely, and the appearance of sea eagles flying in tandem heralds the start of their breeding season. They line their huge nests high on cliffs and offshore islands, with leaves, grass and seaweed. The improved cleanliness of our waterways augurs well for this high-ranked raptor that honks like a goose and glides like a gazelle. But its reproductive rate is still low, with just one bird per clutch reaching maturity. Habitat destruction remains a constant threat to this great bird's future. Remember, when all else fails, go stare at a sea eagle. Copyright © 2002 Rob Marshall, All Rights Reserved. |
by Dr Rob Marshall