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California Birdwatchers Enthralled As Bald Eagle Adopts a Baby Hawk

 1 year ago
source link: https://www.businessinsider.com/california-birdwatchers-enthralled-as-bald-eagle-adopts-a-baby-hawk-2023-6
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California birdwatchers watched a bald eagle adopt a baby hawk — a behavior that's been recorded in the wild only 4 other times

Jun 24, 2023, 5:05 PM UTC
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A bald eagle flies towards a landing perch, talons outstretched for landing.

Bald eagles adopting hawks is so rare, the behavior has only been recorded by experts four other times. Regis Duvignau/Reuters

  • A female bald eagle abducted Tuffy, a baby hawk, from his nest and began caring for him as her own. 
  • This behavior has only been spotted in the wild four other times, the Los Angeles Times reports.
  • Even though bald eagles prey on hawks, avid birdwatchers say they're hopeful for Tuffy's survival.
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Birdwatchers in California been enthralled for the past month with a rare phenomenon unfolding right before their eyes: A female bald eagle stealing a baby hawk straight from his nest and caring for him as one of her own. 

This behavior — strange, according to experts, because eagles prey on hawks — is even more exciting for bird enthusiasts because it has only been seen in the wild four other times, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Doug Gillard — former Olympian hammer thrower turned birdwatcher — was the first to spot the strange family in a Bay Area forest, and has nicknamed the baby hawk Tuffy. He now lives with his adoptive parents and their child, whom Gillard nicknamed Lola, according to the Los Angeles Times. Tuffy — despite living with two dangerous predators — appears to be thriving, receiving food and successfully flying to and from the nest, observers told the outlet. 

The female bald eagle likely plucked Tuffy from his home to feed him to Lola, but instead got confused and began caring for him too once he was in her nest, avian experts told the Los Angeles Times.

It hasn't been smooth sailing for Tuffy since his abduction, though. A week after Tuffy arrived, his parents brought another baby hawk to the nest — that second hawk disappeared the next day after the male eagle saw him, Gillard told the outlet. 

Yet, despite all odds, Gillard says he's hopeful for the young Tuffy's survival.


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