Eagles, gulls, murres in food-chain drama

©2013 Lydia Hinshaw

Gull defends against the predator

Making a pass at murres

Eagle flies off with unlucky victim

 NEWPORT, OR -- Thousands of nesting birds cower below one hungry eagle in what it surely a morning ritual at Yaquina Head just north of here.
 Common murres, gulls and cormorants nest on several giant, crowded rocks just offshore from the lighthouse.  And along comes a golden eagle on his morning run, looking for a meal.  
 Gulls dogfight with the predator, but they can't drive him away.  He makes several low passes over the top of the rock where the murres are increasingly agitated.
 Finally the eagle goes out of sight behind the rock, and reappears seconds later with a murre in his talons.  Gulls give chase, but can do nothing.  The eagle heads over the beach with breakfast, perhaps for his own family in its cliffside nest.