Eagle Behaviors - Imprinting

Did you hear the story about the duck that fell in love with a tricycle? Believe it or not, the story was true! It seems that after birth, ducks will imprint on, or become attached to, the first moving object they see. In the case of the duck in the story, the first moving object was a red tricycle.

One instinctive behavior of the Ave or bird family that appears remarkable to humans is a process called imprinting. During a critical period, typically immediately or shortly after birth, a baby bird will become permanently attached to the first moving object it sees. In the case of the bald eagle, the critical age for imprinting is between the time it is first able to focus its eyes (around 9 days) and six weeks of age. If the bald eagle receives care or food from a source other than a bald eagle, it will imprint on, or become permanently emotionally attached to, that source.

This often happens when well-meaning people encounter an orphaned or injured bald eagle. By handling or feeding the eagle, these well-intentioned persons condemn the baby eagle to a lifetime of confinement or sure death in the wild. A bald eagle that has imprinted on a human will "fall in love" with the person it assumes is responsible for its care. The bald eagle then behaves as though it is human and seeks the company of humans rather than other members of its own species. This leads to a dangerous situation when the bald eagle approaches unwary humans for food or company. This may result in serious injury for the human and possible death for the misunderstood eagle.

Another unfortunate consequence for the bald eagle that has imprinted on a human is that the bald eagle may never be attracted to members of its own species. If this happens, the eagle will never find a mate and raise young.

In recovery efforts, special care must be taken not to allow a bald eagle to imprint on humans or to look to them for a source of food. Elaborate measures are taken by scientists to prevent this from happening in their attempts to restore bald eagle populations.

http://www.eagles.org/vu-study/behaviors/imprinting.php

Published on Aug 17, 2013

(Camano Island, Washington) In mid-July, a young Bald Eagle had left its nest and did not appear to be able to fly. The eaglet walked within the back yards of homes overlooking Skagit Bay. Eagle photographer and educator Jeff Butts heard about the eagle and responded to the scene. This dramatic story follows what happened next.

Special thanks to Jeff Butts and Christian Sasse for allowing me to use their photography in this story.

Jeff Butts on the web: http://eagleskyenet.com
Christian Sasse on the web: http://facebook.com/SassePhoto

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Bald Eagle has a duck snack

Eagle drops fawn on power lines.

What are we watching attack this eagle? Hmmmm. The video title says hawks but....?

What is it like to fly like an eagle???

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1435200443372380

I learned today of a bald eagle nest at John Bunker Sands Wetlands in Segoville (near Dallas). There aren't many bald eagles in this part of the country, which makes this exciting. Unfortunately, the eagles built their nest & fledged two young on an electrical tower. ONCOR, the power people, plan to move the nest to another tower this fall, in hopes the eagles will like a newer, safer nest site. Unlikely, but possible.

http://wetlandcenter.com/nestingeagles.html

Oh! I failed to mention they plan to mount a hi-def web cam to view the nest if the eagles return.

Here is an interesting article about the eagle population in the Chesapeake area. Dr. Bryan Watts is (IMHO) a true eagle champion and probably knows more about eagles, bald & other, than anyone in the world. We once asked Dr. Watts to tell us about his favorite eagle memory from his career working with them. Here is his reply:

"I have many good memories flying surveys or working in the field with eagles. In 2004 I climbed into a nest on the Rappahannock that had 2 chicks. Most eaglets avoid eye contact with humans. But the youngest of the brood looked deep into my eyes and held my gaze no matter where I moved like a young child yearning for discovery. That moment has never left me. To fly along the Bay and see the hand of man moving into every field and woodlot and not consider the universe of this eaglet is to ignore the deeper parts of ourselves."

Now here is the article about Dr. Watts' work and Mitchell Byrd, the man who started the eagles' recovery and taught Dr. Watts much of what he knows.

http://www.vagazette.com/va-vg-ccb-eagle...0,2230020.story

Very enjoyable, HbrgA! Thanks for posting.