My wife and I and another birder friend went to the Ottawa National Nature
Area to see what they had on tap yesterday.  We saw a few interesting birds
on the Auto Tour, but the best was at the very end near sign post #7.  Two
bald eagles came flying from the direction of Lake Erie and made a big
circle around us and then flew back again toward the lake.  Then one
returned passing in front of us.  At this point a large flock of starlings
was also moving in the same direction.  I expected that each would go on
about their own way, but suddenly the starlings, many hundreds of them in
their usual tight formation, wheeled around as one and buzzed the eagle.
The eagle had to take evasive action to escape the starlings but soon the
same action was repeated.  In fact it happened over and over, probably about
eight times.  The eagle kept dodging the attacking starlings and they kept
circling for another attack.  Finally the eagle was  able to gain enough
altitude to escape his tormentors.  It was just like a couple warplanes
engaged in a dog fight.
    Is this unusual behavior?  I seldom get to observe eagles.  I have seen
mobbing behavior frequently with a few birds after a crow or bunch of birds
mobbing an owl, but I was surprised to see a large flock of starlings flying
in unison after an eagle.  Anyone have experience with this?

Paul Klassen

Bluffton

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