Odd-looking Eagle Is OK
When photographer Ron Goldfarb photographed a young bald eagle flying by at Lake Allatoona in late summer, Goldfarb noticed what looked like swelling in the bird’s throat.
Concerned, he emailed DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section. Is something wrong with this eagle, he asked, or is this “just a meal on the way down?”
Fortunately, it’s the latter, said Todd Schneider, a 33-year Wildlife Conservation ornithologist who recently retired from DNR. While the enlargement looks tumor-like, Schneider explained, it’s actually evidence that the bird has just eaten.
“That’s its crop where it temporarily stores food, which will then be slowly released to the stomach for digestion.”
Visit georgiawildlife.com/bald-eagle for more on bald eagles in Georgia, including the stages of nesting season — which has started — and the birds’ different appearances as they mature from juveniles to adults.
Top: Immature bald eagle with a throat lump at Allatoona (Ron Goldfarb/Special to GaDNR)
Related
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
