died by accident, Saturday. I was driving towards home on the highway after a day's fishing at a local lake and a pair of eagles, talons locked, fell from the sky right in front of me.
I slammed on the brakes as soon as I saw them, but it was too late, I ran over them with my van.
As soon as I was able to get stopped, I ran back to see if they were by some miracle still alive, but sadly, neither was breathing. I moved them from the center of the road to the shoulder, and noted the location so that I could notify conservation about the mishap.
I felt so bad, and didn't really understand what had happened until I got home. I called conservation, and they told me that it happened at least once a year at mating season. The eagles were actually courting, they fly way up high, lock talons then spiral towards the ground in free-fall, usually disengaging just before hitting the ground.
Here's a video of a pair doing the courtship thing, but without the fatal results.
The conservation officer said he would go out and pick them up and dispose of them, and asked did I want a couple of the feathers. I said no, as I would have been reminded of my part in their untimely death every time I saw them.
It was quite a shocking experience, and I'm going to be looking up a lot more when I'm driving from now on.
Wow, that clip of their mating ritual is spectacular. Must be something to see it for real. And we think a few candles and a cooked meal is special!
I'm sorry that you had to experience that though, it must have knocked you for six. Don't think there is anything you could have done though, and I'm sure the conservation people are glad you let them know.