Unusual Feeding Behaviour of a Grey Headed Fish Eagle

[Sriya Prasanna]

This picture was taken at Kabini – Orange County. Orange County is located 94 kilometers from Mysore in Karnataka in South India. It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls.

Grey Headed Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus) is a forest Raptor.
We were on a motor boat. I requested the engine to be switched off as I had observed a Grey Headed Fish Eagle, circling around, over our boat. Then in a lightning speed, it landed itself safe onto the grass. The observation that I made along with my family made me wonder about this peculiar behavior. The Eagle started to walk towards the bank of the river and this is what I have tried to show in these pictures. The eagle then got into the water, still close to the shore. It put out its strong legs and locked its prey onto its talons. It came out with a fish in its clasped talons. It dragged its prey to the land. Within seconds it dislodged the head of the fish from the body.
Generally Grey Headed Fish Eagles like the other fish eagle catch’s its prey in flight . As it flies over the water body.

Author & content provider
Vikas Madhav
Class 7 ( now he is doing his 9th grade )
Sishya School
Chennai

Equipment – Details
Canon 500D Ti1 EOS series;
Shutter Speed 1/1579 Sec;
Lens Aperture F/4 ; Focal Length 300mm;
f- Number F/4;
Exposure Time 1/1600 Sec;
ISO Speed ISO - 200; Metering Mode - Pattern;
Exposure Program ;
Date 4/22/2010;
Time 8.17am