Bald Eagle Hunts Down, Catches Gull In Central Park: Watch It

Upper West Side NY

24 January, 2022

10:15 AM

Description

CENTRAL PARK, NY — Parkgoers were treated to quite the sight Sunday when a bald eagle hunted down another bird over the Central Park Reservoir. Emily Bernay posted a video of the chase to Twitter and TikTok, where the birding account Manhattan Bird Alert confirmed that the unfortunate victim of the eagle's talons was a type of gull. @emilybernay coolest thing ever #baldeagle #centralpark #lunchtime ♬ Run - AWOLNATION Bernay's original tweet of the video has garnered over 1,600 likes. Manhattan Bird Alert told Patch that seeing a bald eagle hunt in Central Park is "quite rare, something you would not expect to see every year." However, the popular birding account added that the Reservoir in the winter is a good location for predatory birds such as eagles and falcons to hunt. "That's because the Reservoir attracts hundreds of waterfowl that swim on it or perch on the ice," Manhattan Bird Alert said. "The predators watch for signs of weakness, birds that look injured, ill, or simply unaware. Then they strike!" Birds are not typical prey for bald eagles, which mostly eat fish, but the predator will generally attack and eat whatever it can. Sandra Beltrao caught close-up photos Sunday of the eagle clutching the gull in its talons. Photos by Sandra Beltrão. On Twitter @SandraBirdlover "Wow! What a catch! For both of you," a user on Twitter responded to Bernay's video. "What a gift you were given and how cool that we get to see it. I would have gone nuts!"