#12 That does appear a bit small, perhaps a juvenile. I think part of the view is misleading...the way it's turned and hunched down. My parents have a place near where some eagles nest, and when they have babies, I've been around to see them when they just start flying. Seen some newly flying babies right at my home, too. This one is a little bigger...just standing hunkered down. One thing I could never understand, the damned crows just swarm the new babies when they are learning to fly and they make an awful racket. I always expect to see dead crows dropping out of the sky when mom or dad grab some, but never seen that actually happen.
#15 Doubt it. Eagles are off the list now, and unless that eagle was severely wounded, the cat doesn't stand a chance. Shoot, my wife has birds much smaller than that and nowhere near as strong, but you'd be surprised at just how strong them bastids is. Even the small parrot, the Senegal, has a tremendous amount of biting power. Parrots, eagles, hawks, etc., those types of birds are all amazingly strong and quick for their size.
#17 If it's shopped, it was not done by me. I don't have photoshop. It really doesn't looked shopped, however. If you've ever seen one of the higher order of birds focusing in on something, eyes zooming, pupils flexing...they have that same focused look. The cat is probably thinking it's looking at a large meal whereas the eagle appears to be thinking if that cat gets one step closer, I'm tearing it to pieces. I rescued a hawk with a broken wing back when I was in high school. Cat had it cornered on the ground. I saved the bird and got it to a licensed handler who helped the bird heal, but me and the handler both agreed that even with the hawk wounded, I probably more likely saved the cat. The cat and hawk also were staring each other down just like this.
