We often complain when birds of prey eat “our” songbirds, rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels but there’s one prey item that no one quarrels about.
Last weekend Dana Nesiti posted a photo series at Eagles of Hays PA: The mother bald eagle brought food for her fledgling, H8, who quickly crowded her and grabbed for it. The prey was nearly lost in the scuffle. (click here for the photo album)
What did she bring him for dinner? A rat!
Thank goodness birds of prey are eating rats. I’ve seen red-tailed hawks eat them, too.
On Throw Back Thursday, read about a red-tail that’s Performing a Public Service.
p.s. If you see a hawk eating a rat, it’s not a peregrine falcon. Peregrines catch their prey in flight. Rats don’t fly. 😮
(photos by Dana Nesiti)
My only worry is that healthy rats usually hide during the daytime, so one that’s out may have been poisoned. H8 does seem fine, though.