Two mature Bald Eagles and two juveniles wait in a partially frozen lake for their turn to feed on a bird carcass at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

The bald eagle is America’s national bird. Its main diet consists of fish—and it is a very skilled fisherman. Thus, its typical habitat always includes a body of water with fish. However, it is also a clever scavenger that likes to steal food from others whenever it can.

Bald eagles fly over water and use their keen eyesight to spot fish near the water’s surface, then they descend and snatch the fish out of the water with their powerful talons.

Left: A splash of water after a successful strike. Middle: The eagle remains dry and flies off with a fish secure in its talons. Right: At a nearby perch, the eagle dines on its prey.

In winter, the population of bald eagles increases in Denver due to birds coming down from the north. In partially frozen bodies of water, these opportunistic birds may hang around the edge of the ice to steal or share carrions with other predators or scavengers.

Bird Walks Mar. 2 & Apr. 6. Two-hour walk starts at 8am. Free, but you must RSVP at blufflake.org/birdwatching. All are welcome. Bring your own binoculars, or borrow a pair from your guide. 11255 MLK Blvd. Search FrontPorchNE.com for “Bird Sightings” to see all the past bird stories and photos from George Ho.