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Golden eagle
photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons
A golden eagle attacks a white-tailed deer in the Illinois and a birder from Zion, Illinois was there to capture the whole episode. Once in a while amazing wildlife photographs or video circulates through the web. A good example of this was the showdown in Kruger National Park in South Africa a couple of years ago. A lion took a water buffalo baby only to have the herd retake it by brute force and it was all captured on amateur video and was the craze of youtube.
One expects these types of phenomenon from parks in Africa. Unexpectedly, the next big episode in animal photography has not come out of Africa or even Alaska or Florida. The most incredible wildlife photographs taken in a long time has surfaced on the web from a park in Illinois only two hours from Chicago.
The Nachusa Grasslands near the small town of Franklin Grove, Illinois was the scene of an attack by a golden eagle on a white-tailed deer. First of all it is uncommon for a golden eagle to be seen at anytime in Illinois, but especially in winter. If they are seen it is usually during migratory season.
The size of the prey of course is the most incredible aspect of this confrontation. Golden eagles main diet consists of smaller mammals like rabbits, squirrels, marmots, prairie dogs, and mice. However, according to wikipedia they have been known to take animals as big as foxes, mountain goats, and young deer. The photos show that this deer was not full grown, but far from being a fawn.
Although it is unusual for eagles to take on prey they cannot handle, it is not unheard of. I have heard of bald eagles taking fish so big that the fish have taken the eagles underwater and drowned them.
Eagles are widely known to have the best eyes in the animal kingdom. “Eagle eyed” is a often used expression given to those with keen vision. Perhaps some eagles need glasses or just maybe as one comment said in this Chicago Sun Times article on the story, “his eyes were bigger than his stomach.”
Click here to see one of the best sets of wildlife photography you will ever see along with exciting commentary by the photographer. Click here for directions to the Nachusa Grasslands from Chicago.
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Comments
A bird outside of its normal habitat, particularly a juvenile, will often attempt to prey on whatever it can find. Hopefully, this golden eagle had another chance at the turkeys after the photographer left.
Poor deer.
There is a lesson here - always have a camera handy!
what a great photo. i'm surprised at all of the colors in the eagle.
Well at least the poor deer got away. Amazing photos though!
Nature works in mysterious ways. How cool.
Wow! I only wish the photos weren't so over-exposed because I think there are details we're missing.
And Patty Davis is right: always have a camera with you! But even though I usually do I miss these kinds of shots. :)
I'm reminded of a Joni Mitchell lyric: "...I was running like a white-assed deer, running to lose the blues to the innocence in here... these are the clouds of Michelangelo... muscular with gods and sungold... shine on your witness in the refuge of the roads..."
Awesome!
Great photos! Seems like that eagle was a little optimistic. That deer was so much bigger than the eagle.
Ted you find the most amazing stories.
pretty amazing. i'm not wearing my deer outfit ever again.
Ted, this is amazing! Do you know if the Golden is the largest raptor in the lower 48? I have seen red-winged blackbirds dive bomb red tails, I never knew other raptors did the same to each other. Interesting!
That seems weird!
Wow, what a fascinating drama...I'm glad the deer got away, and also glad that the photographer was there with his camera!
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