[Leica] Cutlass Court Cannabalism

[Jim Nichols]

Hi Howard,

In an unregulated world, the fittest survive.  It was obvious in earlier 
photos that one was weaker than the other.

Your final photo of the male in flight is one of the best flight shots I 
have seen, showing the individual feathers and how they change the wing 
shape to suit the mode of flight.  I may have mentioned this 
previously.  Dr. August Raspet, who headed the Aerophysics Dept. when I 
was in college, in the late 1940s, trained a buzzard to fly alongside 
his sailplane so he could observe the tips of the wings while in flight.

On 5/30/20 10:06 PM, Howard Cummer via LUG wrote:
> Hello Again,
>
> Remember that there were two chicks in the eagle nest at Cutlass Court:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSCF7355.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSCF7355.jpg.html>
>
> Well, now there is only one. The weaker eaglet died - its body is under the Momma’s feet:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3951.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3951.jpg.html>
>
> While I was watching, Momma and living Eaglet proceeded to eat what was left of the other:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3962.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3962.jpg.html>
>
> Momma looked at me - surely not for approval:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3977.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3977.jpg.html>
>
> She flew a short distance away to guard the nest:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4003.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4003.jpg.html>
>
> Keeping a watchful eye:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4014.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4014.jpg.html>
>
> The distance between Chick and Momma - a two panel panorama:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4015-Pano.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4015-Pano.jpg.html>
>
> Shouting for her mate:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4142.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4142.jpg.html>
>
> Still guarding the nest:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4109.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4109.jpg.html>
>
> Poppa arrived with a fresh fish:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4035.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4035.jpg.html>
>
> Which Junior ate in one gulp (you can just see the fish tail in his mouth)
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4036.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4036.jpg.html>
>
> And Poppa flew away to fish some more:
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4127.jpg.html <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_4127.jpg.html>
>
> Each year the eagles lay and hatch two eggs and then the stronger chick pushes in to get
> more food and the weaker chick grows less quickly and gets less and less nourishment and
> eventually dies. That’s what has happened here.
>
> C&C always welcome. Can be view large if you like.
>
> Howard
>
>
>
>
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>
-- 
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA