New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-09-28
Prowess d tie Bald EaeiA

AAAO0S ~ OOA kSV0AS 1ut&4OA0 AOVV
treated the bald eagle as : sluggish.
fish-eAting bird. whose entire stock ol
surplus energy = devoted to robbing .
moro industrious and less powerful
neighbor. That it has not entirely lost
its Old-time daring. SO graphically des-
cribed by Audubon. the following ao-
count will show. am indebted for my
facts to Nathan Cobb, ono Of the: old
est and most reliable Of tho profession
al duck-shooters at Cobb's Island, vs..
The species is a permanent resident in
the neighborhood of the island, though
1t is not often seen during tho summer
months. A few, however, are said to
breed upon the opposite mainland.
In the winter the eagles arc much
more numerous than at any other time
of the year; and my informant has. on
several occasions, seen as many -
eight at once. At this season, the
neighboring bays and creeks swarm
with wild fowl, and upon these tho
eagles principally live. He has never
known them to capture fish .of any
kind, although they not unfrequenNy
rob the fsh.hawk. Geese and brant
form their favorite food, and tho I'd.
dress displayed In their capture b very
remarkable. The poor victim has ap.
parently not the slightest chance for
escape. The eagles fight, ordinarily
slow and somewhat heavy, becomes. in
the excitement Of tho pursuit, exceed.
ingly swift and graceful; and the fugi-
tive is quickly overtaken. When close
upon its quarry, the eagle suddenly
e,uoov,o Ionookh s%EanI <<s,,,,,Su. h>nY
downward, thrusts it's powerful talons
up into it's breast. A brant or duck ID
carried off bodily 70 the nearest marsh
or sand-bar, but . Canada goose Is TOO
heavy to be thus easily disposed Of
The two great birds fall together 70 the
water beneath, where the eagle literally
lows his prize along the surface until
the shore Is reached. In this way, one
has been known to drag . large goose
for nearly half Z mile.
A single bird il usually seized ut the
first attempt, but Mr.. Cobb has seen
an eagle repeatedly miss his aim when
In the midst Of : large flock. The
very abundance Of opportunities seem
to bewilder him, and be thrusts wildly
and harmlessly in all directions; but,
after the crowding masses have become
scattered by his onslaught. separate
individual is selected, aud quickly over.
taken and killed. u ~, 5--ss =
Although the larger and heayier
waterfowl are more likely 60 be at
tackled, the royal bird seems to find lit.
tie difficulty in overhauling tho swiftest
flying ducks. The latter, however,
often escape by diving. although in
shallow water this resource sometimes
proves Of no avail. as the eagle follows
their course, and seizes them O. they
rise near the surface. Under favorable
conditions, even grebes are sometimes
captured.
In winter shooting the Sportsman
loses many wounded goose or brsnt
by the eagles. They seem fully aware
! OF the advantages to be gained BY main.
tanning close espionage upon the gum
ner's movements, and bird that falls
at any considerable distance from the
stand is often seized and borne away
before it can be recovered. Universal
~ hated as he is by all the gunners Of
this island, the eagle is not unfrequent-
~ killed by them in the following Gu.
rious manner. The ''stools," or decoys,
which are relied upon 10 dupe the
wary waterfowl. sometimes deceive
even the keen-eyed bird Of prey; and.
in his eagerness to secure one of the
unsuspecting flock, he swoops upon .
wooden victim, and is riddled BY .
fatal discharge from the circle Of sea-
weed whore the sportsman lies con.
cealed. On several occasions. when the
marander's approach did not happen
10 be observed, Mr.. Cobb has had de-
coy lifted from the water and carried
off several yards before the eagle dis
covered his mistake. = William BresU-
ste,' IN Bulletin INITIAL Club.