Kor37 9 Posted January 13, 2008 At Least 19 Bald Eagles Die in AlaskaAP Posted: 2008-01-12 16:15:16 Filed Under: Science News KODIAK, Alaska (Jan. 12) - At least 19 bald eagles died Friday after gorging themselves on a truck full of fish waste outside a processing plant. Photo Gallery Jay Barrett, AP Bald Eagles Suffer After Gorging1 of 3 At least 50 bald eagles gorged themselves on fish waste they found in a truck parked outside a processing plant in Alaska. They became too wet and slimy to fly or clean themselves, and suffered when temperatures dipped into the teens. At least 19 of them died Friday. Above, some of the survivors await rescue. Fifty or more eagles swarmed into the truck, whose retractable fabric cover was open, after the truck was moved outside the plant, said Brandon Saito, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who coordinated the recovery operation. The birds became too soiled to fly or clean themselves, and with temperatures in the mid-teens, began to succumb to the cold. Some birds became so weak they sank into the fish slime and were crushed. The truck's contents had to be dumped onto the floor of the Ocean Beauty Seafoods plant so the birds could be retrieved. Some tried to scatter, but since they couldn't fly, wildlife officers soon retrieved them. The eagles were then cleaned with dish soap in tubs of warm water to remove the oily slime and warm them. The survivors were taken to a heated fish and wildlife warehouse to recover, though some were in critical condition. Saito said they would be released as soon as they were dry and strong enough. The dead birds will be shipped to a U.S. Department of Interior clearinghouse, where Native American groups could apply to be given the birds or their feathers for ceremonial purposes. Requests for interviews from Ocean Beauty officials were not returned. Commercial fishing is the main industry in Kodiak, a city of about 6,000 on Kodiak Island on the south coast of Alaska. http://www.aolcdn.com/aolnews_photos/07/03...112153609990003 These guys must be the 'Homer Simpsons' of the bald eagle world....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youbroughtheryouRiker 2 Posted January 13, 2008 If it weren't for the fish waste, I'd probably recommend serving these as Sunday dinner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
He Who Shall Not Be Named 2 Posted January 13, 2008 Benjamin Franklin suggested the turkey as our national bird instead of the bald eagle. Maybe he was on to something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gummy 0 Posted January 14, 2008 Eagles are fantastic birds. I wonder how they would taste with a side of Mashed Potatoes and Gravy? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishfire 2 Posted January 14, 2008 I don't find it funny in the slightest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites