Urban Safari: Bald Eagles on the Charles
9AM feeding….
The local Nature/Wildlife/Photography groups were abuzz with rumor/possibility that a pack of coyotes had brought down a deer on the Charles River (it has been cold enough that the river froze over), and that some bald eagles were feeding on its carcass. We ventured out early on MLK weekend to try to find the site (and hopefully get some photos of the eagles).
We didn’t know exactly where the carcass was, but based on the info we gleaned from the discussions/announcements on social media, we had a general idea of where to start our search.
A note about the Charles:
Most people who aren’t from here/haven’t lived here/didn’t to school here may (probably) know the Charles as “the thing that separates Boston from Cambridge,” or (perhaps) as the locale for the Head of the Charles Regatta.
But the Charles is an 80-mile long river that starts in Hopkinton (yes, the beginning of the Boston Marathon) and ends at Boston Harbor (yes, the one they threw the tea into in 1773), and those of us who live in the area are delighted that it got cleaned up a bunch of years ago and is now SO healthy that coyotes and deer and eagles live near/on it (but outside of downtown Boston) (most of the time).
Doesn’t look like much but WOW what we saw when we looked…
The morning was crisp and cold, so we dressed accordingly, knowing that we were probably going to be outside a while as we walked along the Charles looking for the spot where the, uh, incident, took place.
“Wait, we’ve only been out of the car for 11 minutes and we’re already looking at the…no…are we?”
We arrived at our chosen starting point, parked the car, and geared up for the trek along the bank when Carolyn said:
“What’s that out on the ice?“
Wan: “Where?”
Carolyn: “There.”
Didn’t look like much…until we saw what we saw…
Wan: “Hey! Those are bald eagles!”
Carolyn: “So we found them?“
The temperature had been in the mid-20s for the past week and a layer of ice had formed on the river. Clearly it was thick enough to support the weight of the deer, but we still weren’t goin to venture out on it for a closer shot of the eagles. Good thing we brought along the Nikkor 200-500mm zoom!
We like pairing the long lens with the Vanguard tripod. The tripod has carbon fiber legs, 2-Way Fluid Pan Head w/ Quick Release plates, is light, and super stiff…perfect for this kind of outing.
Ohmeyegawd two Bald Eagles picking over a dear carcass on the frozen Charles River!!
Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
One of the best conservation success stories in Massachusetts is the restoration of the bald eagle. The population has been increasing in recent years, and as of 2023, there were more than 80 territorial pairs of bald eagles in Massachusetts!
Bald eagle habitats are found in coastal areas, estuaries, and other larger bodies of waters. To nest, they require a large shoreline with forested sections, tall trees to perch, and an unobstructed view.
While bald eagles prefer fish as their primary food, they are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of foods, including carrion and small mammals. During the winter months, they will prey on the ducks and geese that are on the ice. We saw one feeding on a goose on Jamaica Pond many years ago (note to the squeamish: it’s as horrifying as you think it is…)
Bald Eagles at Lunch
“Pardon Me, Do You Have Any Grey Poupon?”
Seeing this pair of bald eagles on the ice was quite the thrill. They were clearly keeping an eye out for sneak-thieves, and defending “their” carcass. One kept watch while the other fed.
“Do we need chopsticks for this?”
Although though there wasn’t much left to the carcass, a few moments after we took the above shots, a murder of crows chased the eagles off and claimed the spot! It was interesting to note that as large and fearsome as the pair appeared, a half-a-dozen more maneuverable crows were able to harass them enough to drive them off.
Poor little fella…
Links to items mentioned:
Leave a comment