Date: 1/2/26 2:50 pm From: Paul Brooks <paulbrooks27944...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Re: eagle activity below Red Rock Dam
Yes, the can, and do get the flue from ingesting infected birds. USFWS is
already reporting a few bald eagle deaths from it in SW Iowa and NW
Missouri.
On Friday, January 2, 2026 at 4:37:56 PM UTC-6 <argus......> wrote:
> Hello Paul,
>
> Thank you for that very informative answer to the earlier question. Wanted
> to follow up with one of my own.
>
> Can Eagles feeding on birds that have died of Avian Flu get the flu that
> way?
>
> A. Battle
> Rural Clarke County
>
> On Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 4:10 PM Paul Brooks <paulbro......> wrote:
>
>> The kettling activity is because most of the rivers are still pretty
>> open, and there is no snow cover on the ground. They are normally fishing
>> from the trees near the dam and dont have much open river. They are likely
>> using the trees for rest at night, and then spreading out to search for
>> other food sources during the day that would be easier than fishing. Warmer
>> temps also slow their metabolism allowing for more "playful flight"
>> opportunities than they would normally have, as they aren't burning as many
>> calories trying to maintain body temperature. The large numbers are likely
>> because of plentiful dead geese and other migratory water species above the
>> dam from hunting and avian flu. If we get snow cover, and colder temps to
>> freeze the rivers up, they will go back to their normal fishing close to
>> the dam with many staying right below the outlet all day. But forecasts
>> don't have any long stretches of cold weather in the next 2-3 weeks, so
>> this behavior may continue for a while.
>>
>> On Friday, January 2, 2026 at 3:09:36 PM UTC-6 Martha Jane wrote:
>>
>>> Anyone else seen the enormous number of eagles "kettling" below Red Rock
>>> dam? Sometimes mixing with gulls, and flying very very high? We've been
>>> here this time of year before and not seen this behavior, plus this is the
>>> most eagles we've seen congregated here in years – and usually the higher
>>> numbers correspond with a super hard winter, which this has not been. Any
>>> feedback welcome. Good birding in 2026!
>>
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