Thursday, January 8, 2009

Birds of Prey eating

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek


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The last time we were at the Manitowoc zoo we were lucky enough to be there at feeding time for the birds of prey. You might be grossed out by these so don't say you weren't warned. While I was a little grossed out, I also found it very interesting.


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The Bald Eagle gobbled all his mice up very quickly!  See, one in each claw and two in the throat.


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See he has another in his mouth even though you can still see the tail of the previous one.


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Almost done.


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And with a full tummy he is done with us.


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Go away I say! I thought owls were the only ones able to turn their heads all the way around.


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The zoo keeper laid the mice on this log for the hawk.


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He was a little more hesitant to eat.


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So while we waited for him to decide to eat we walked around and saw the owl (those pictures will be up tomorrow).


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When we came back around he had a mouse in his talons.


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Bye bye mousey.


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I guess he decided to ignore us and have his dinner. Glad I'm not a mouse!

34 comments:

  1. Poor little mice...they're either used for science research or for this! :-) These are magnificent birds and your photos of them are excellent!

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  2. Your images are wonderfully clear and the expressions telling. Simply wonderful!

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  3. He is beautiful and elegant. Unlike myself. I am a tired woman who is just trying to imagine this guy hired out to do what the taxadermist cannot do.

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  4. What an interesting series of photos ... and as long as I didn't THINK about the mice, it was all good. Now that I'm typing however, I'm feeling for the mice ...
    Hugs and blessings,

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  5. Very interesting -- and not TOO gross.
    Those are gorgeous birds!

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  6. i got to witness feeding time for a snake once in a zoo...and while i really felt sorry for the mouse, it was fascinating to watch...just as these photos are! wonderful, superb shots!!

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  7. Those shots are way cool! Food chain, can't deny that.

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  8. Impressive shots. We have redtails hawks that fly in the canyon behind our house. We often see little mice dangling from their claws. :)

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  9. Great photos, my boys would love to see that in person!

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  10. I was very careful NOT to look at the little mice. Great pictures!

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  11. I love takin pictures of the few Eagles we have around here...they always seem so curious!! And your pictures are spectacular!!!! poor mices....they look D.O.A. already....so how do they do that? and who's job is it to get them doa?
    and do they rotate food for them?....hum????
    I so would not make a good Eagle~~

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  12. Wonderful series of shots. What a time to experience.

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  13. Wow! The shot of the eagle looking at you is great!

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  14. i realy love the shots! good work! and, it's funny...i never knew an eagle could do that with their head either! and the stinking thing still looks stately and smart. how is that?!

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  15. Beautiful birds have to eat too. A pretty neat series though and I like their eyes so much! Great captures and Happy Friday to you , my friend.

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  16. oh the food chain.
    Whenever I see a baby owl or eaglet... I try not to think about the other little animals deaths required to feed them.

    We went to a raptor rehab in the area, and watch them at feeding time. Frozen baby chicks.

    I'm sure I'll be a total vegetarian very soon.

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  17. Wow, I thought I was watching the animal planet with those close ups. Nice

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  18. I'm glad you're not a mouse too! Otherwise, you'd never be able to bring us these splendid images.

    The last one of the eagle cracked me up!

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  19. I love the eagle. I have some great shots from Thanksgiving weekend that mesmerize me when I look at them. They are truly magnificent.

    Great photostory!

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  20. I never knew Eagles ate their prey whole! I thought they just tore the food apart.

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  21. I'm a dope, I forgot to tell you how cool the shots were! :)

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  22. OK, totally disturbing for a wimp like me, but absolutely GORGEOUS photos. Truly amazing.

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  23. Oh NEAT! These were fantastic! When we went to Alaska, we saw them everywhere BUT I had the wrong lens along each time and didn't get ONE good shot like this!

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  24. Oh, you can't gross me out. My hubby is an avid hunter, and we see dead stuff all the time. But on to the photos...They are great! Beautiful, really. I don't think there is anything wrong with showing nature in it's truest form, (even if it is at a zoo). Love the pics!

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  25. Wow. That eagle looks pretty happy with himself.

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  26. Eww. I was thinking, "Why'd she warn us? It wasn't that bad." Then I got to the bottom. Ugh. That eagle is so majestic and gorgeous.

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  27. Hey Lisa! Guess what? You won a jar of guava jam! Eventhough I should have i somewhere, email me your address and I'll send it off hopefully on Monday. Congrats!

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  28. Oh wow!! Lisa, you take such amazing photographs! The one of the eagle looking directly at us is fascinating!

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  29. This was so neat! I love the clarity of your photos ... how distinct everything is! And the one where he is looking right at the camera! I see why they chose a bald eagle to represent the USA ... I wouldn't mess this bird!

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  30. Do that have to feed them CUTE mice???

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