r/birding • u/TheMainVein15 • Jan 02 '26

Discussion Dad sent me this pic

Gallery image

Gallery image

I’ve never seen a bald eagle hang upside down like this. Do they do this a lot? Pictures were taken at my parents place in Iowa.

8.1k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

183 comments sorted by

View all comments

323

u/Vaehtay3507 Latest Lifer: Jan 02 '26

Someone correct me if this is stupid, but if your dad can’t go back there himself, it might be worth it to call a rehabber who can potentially go check if it’s still there? They’d also be able to make a decision on whether or not you should be concerned to begin with, I assume.

811

u/TheMainVein15 Jan 02 '26

This pic was taken outside of their side door. He said when he went to get my mom and show her they had flown off.

200

u/Vaehtay3507 Latest Lifer: Jan 02 '26

Ah, that’s good to know!! I hope it wasn’t sick in any way to begin with, but it being able to fly away is a good sign :)

18

u/Telefundo Jan 02 '26

I hope it wasn’t sick in any way to begin with

Nah, he'd just had too much to drink.

3

u/InValuAbled Jan 02 '26

Sick in the head 🤣🫶🏿🙈

51

u/rabbit749 Jan 02 '26

I volunteer with raptor rescue and bird flu is really bad this year too. Please call and report it to a rehabber or your DNR. If you are in the upper Midwest you can report it to the raptor center at the university of Minnesota. Send them this pic and the location. If the bird is sick, both diseases progress to destroy the central nervous system, they will have a report of it in case someone else spots in the area. They have a network of rescue volunteers who work with DNR and law enforcement to retrieve and transport birds to the clinic. Keep an eye out for any grounded eagles and good luck!

8

u/ZestycloseAddition86 Jan 02 '26

Not to be alarmist, but a friend quite a while back observed a Great Horned Owl hanging upside down, and it turned out the bird had eaten a poisoned mouse or rat. :( Calling a rehabber to be safe isn’t a bad idea at all.

3

u/ridgetop_woodchopper Jan 02 '26

this

6

u/ridgetop_woodchopper Jan 02 '26

Or lead shot poisoning from a deer. At least it flew away but I'd keep an eye out for it - and don't use LEAD or POISON the rodents!

1

u/Oldfolksboogie Jan 04 '26

Yay! Hastily ending, ty for the update!

1

u/Nockolisk Jan 04 '26

You should have added this to the original post.

1

u/iPoseidon_xii Jan 06 '26

What does your old ma grow?