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Thursday, September 17, 2009

#638 Kill 'em and Eat 'em


Thanks, Art M.

This came from a gent who runs a 2000 acre corn farm up around Barron, WI, not far from Oshkosh. He used to fly F-4Es and F-16s for the Guard and participated in the first Gulf War. Submitted for your enjoyment, and as a reminder that there are other great, magnificent flyers around besides us.
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I went out to plant corn for a bit to finish a field before tomorrow morning and witnessed The Great Battle. A golden eagle - big bastard, with about a six foot wingspan - flew right in front of the tractor. It was being chased by three crows that were continually dive bombing it and pecking at it. The crows do this because the eagles rob their nests when they find them.

At any rate, the eagle banked hard right in one evasive maneuver, then landed in the field about 100 feet from the tractor. This eagle stood about 3 feet tall. The crows all landed too, and took up positions around the eagle at 120 degrees apart, but kept their distance at about 20 feet from the big bird. The eagle would take a couple steps towards one of the crows and they'd hop backwards and forward to keep their distance. Then the reinforcement showed up.

I happened to spot the eagle's mate hurtling down out of the sky at what appeared to be approximately Mach 1.5. Just before impact the eagle on the ground took flight, (obviously a coordinated tactic; probably pre-briefed) and the three crows which were watching the grounded eagle, also took flight thinking they were going to get in some more pecking on the big bird. The first crow being targeted by the diving eagle never stood a snowball's chance in hell. There was a mid-air explosion of black feathers and that crow was done. The diving eagle then banked hard left in what had to be a 9G climbing turn, using the energy it had accumulated in the dive, and hit crow #2 less than two seconds later. Another crow dead.

The grounded eagle, which was now airborne and had an altitude advantage on the remaining crow, which was streaking eastward in full burner, made a short dive then banked hard right when the escaping crow tried to evade the hit. It didn't work - crow #3 bit the dust at about 20 feet AGL.


This aerial battle was better than any air show I've been to, including the warbirds show at Oshkosh. The two eagles ripped the crows apart and ate them on the ground, and as I got closer and closer working my way across the field, I passed within 20 feet of one of them as it ate its catch. It stopped and looked at me as I went by and you could see in the look of that bird that it knew who's Boss Of The Sky. What a beautiful bird!

I loved it. Not only did they kill their enemy, they ate them.

One of the best Fighter Pilot stories I've seen in a long time...


#638

10 comments:

Sandee said...

Now you're talking. I would have loved to have seen this. I really would.

Have a terrific day. :)

bronxbt said...

i have always wondered what would happen when those hawks or eagles around here just snapped and said "awww f**k it!" and went all jackhammer on the crows and even sparrows that taunt them.

hmmmmm... methinks i now know, eh?

;)

Jack K. said...

-b, now you know. Glad to add to your knowledge of the world. lol

Merle said...

Dear Jack ~~ Great story and as a great hater of crows - Yay!! I was driving years ago and saw a dead crow on the side of the road and then I saw his mate and I thought he was grieving - But no - He was eating his mate.

Good on you doing the dusting for
Maryann - it isn't a hard job, so I don't know why we all detest it. Maybe
because it is so repetitive.

Glad you enjoyed the dried arrangement
and the blonde cowboy and Don't move !
Take care my friend, Regards, Merle.

Peter said...

Yet another great story Jack, one up for the eagles.

Christina said...

great story!

Skunkfeathers said...

Crows are crafty, smart birds. Takes a better bird to best them.

'Nuff said ;)

Merle said...

Hi again Jack ~~ Glad you enjoyed the jokes, and the plans that went awry will all work out another day. Best Wishes, Merle.

Fred said...

Hi Jack. Looks like I've missed a lot since I've been AWOL. Off I go to catch up on all the posts I haven't read.

Puss-in-Boots said...

Wow, that's probably a pretty rare sight and to get to see Nature in full action is a privilege indeed.