Rare photo captures powerful eagle's unbelievable catch in Aussie outback
A jaw-dropping photo has laid bare the raw, untamed power of nature — capturing the moment a mighty wedge-tailed eagle swooped down on a young kangaroo.
Taken in Quilpie, Queensland, and uploaded online this week, an Australian photographer said the roo was "not living in the pouch anymore", but was young enough it "possibly may still have been putting it's head in it's mother's pouch to suck".
In the photo, the joey's mum can be seen chasing after the impressive bird, which at that point had locked its talons onto the little animal, lifting it from the ground. Speaking to Yahoo, BirdLife Australia's Sean Dooley said while it's rare for a wedge-tailed eagle to hunt kangaroos, it's not totally unprecedented.
Dooley said majority of the time, the big birds prefer to catch rabbits.
"While most research shows that the majority of prey that Wedgies take is usually smaller than a kangaroo or wallaby, (these days rabbits often make up the majority of their prey) it's not unheard of for Wedge-tailed Eagles to take larger prey like this," he told Yahoo News Australia.
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"Often it will be a pair that take on something as large as a kangaroo, so individual birds going for a kill this large is unusual but not unheard of. Interestingly, the eagles vary their hunting method according to the size of the target."
Dooley said for smaller prey "they will snatch it from the air" and continue flying, but for large prey they "strike around the head" —either knocking it out or breaking it's neck.
"Sometimes they will make repeated strikes to disable the prey before settling down upon it to finish the job, start feeding on the carcass," he said.
The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey and one of the largest eagles globally. With a wingspan averaging 2.3 meters and occasionally reaching up to 2.8 meters, these majestic birds are formidable hunters.
Predominantly found across Australia, including Tasmania, and extending into southern New Guinea, wedge-tailed eagles inhabit diverse environments, from deserts and semi-deserts to forests and tropical rainforests. They are highly adaptable, often favouring areas with varied topography, such as rocky terrains and open woodlands.
As opportunistic feeders, wedge-tailed eagles have a varied diet that includes mammals, birds and reptiles. The introduction of European rabbits has significantly benefited them, providing a consistent food source. They are known to hunt invasive species in large volumes, including rabbits and other mammals.
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This year, let's move past the old stereotypes and use card-giving as a way to embrace an expanded definition of a 'good dad.' We can use Father's Day to highlight that fatherhood is so much more than a 9-to-5 at the office or a weekend BBQ. We can celebrate those dads who are providing for their families in many different ways, and honor fathers for the care work they do. We can also challenge outdated cultural norms, and set clear expectations of what we expect fatherhood to look like in the future. 'Many of us have in our heads that mothers are the main caregivers," Barker agrees, "the ones who really know what they are doing and that dads are really kind of deficient when it comes to care. That's why it's so important that we send daily messages that [dads] can and should be just as much the caregivers as moms.' This may be especially important for the new dads in our lives. A new generation of men are entering parenthood, perhaps celebrating their first Father's Day this year. 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Unlike a photo of golf clubs or a necktie, this illustration captured a snapshot of fatherhood; a routine that made them feel warm, content, important, and loved. Hopefully, when my husband opens this card on June 15th, he'll feel the Message: "Best Dad. Better Dancer. Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop NowInside Message: "Dad, you've taught me so much! Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop NowInside Message: "Thanks for all that you do! Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop NowInside Message: "I couldn't ask for a better role model. Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop Now You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
