RE- SEA EAGLE CATCHING SEAGULL IN MID AIR

[PennyDB <>]

Regarding numbers (up or down) of White-bellied Sea-Eagles on the NSW 
Central Coast and whereabouts, on a recent trip up the Hawkesbury River, 
5 - 7 May from Brooklyn to Peat's restaurant and beyond, I saw a pair at 
Brooklyn, a pair with 2 juveniles opposite Milsons Island and another 
pair further up river not far from Borowra.
Perhaps there is an excellent source of prey in the river and the air - 
certainly quite a few Silver Gulls around and there were many people 
fishing.
> Patrick,
>
> A basic rule in ecology is that the prey controls the predator, not the 
> predator the prey.
>
> In other words: Much prey - good time for the predator.Shortage of prey - bad 
> time for the predator.
> If predators would control their prey, this cycle wouldn't work.
> Unfortunately there are exceptions; certain species in man-made or 
> man-influenced habitat and - of course - man itself...
>
> In other words again: There are White-bellied Sea-eagles around as long as 
> there is abundance of its prey. It is not the White-bellied Sea-eagles who 
> reduce their prey - it is us!
>
> I hope the real ecologists out there are not going to punish me for this very 
> simplified statement!
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Nikolas
>
>   
> ----------------
> Nikolas Haass
>
> Sydney, NSW
>
>
> ________________________________
>   From: patrick appleton<>
> To: 
> Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 4:57 PM
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] RE-  SEA EAGLE CATCHING SEAGULL IN MID AIR
>
>
> When Sea Eagles snatch up swan cygnets I momentarily hate them and threaten to 
> cancel my subscription to Sea Eagle Cam but I had no idea they'd feed on 
> seagull.
> So why then, are there so few Sea Eagles and an abundance of Gulls????
> ALSO:
>
> The Black Swan Communal Nesting Site at Paynesville, (Gippsland Lakes) has its 
> first occupants for this season with 3 nests occupied.   At nest #1 both mum&  
> dad were in the water today and I saw a white (???????) seabird swoop down and 
> steal an egg and started eating the yellow contents in about 6 inches of water by 
> the lake edge.  Dad came by and after having a taste of the contents himself, 
> washed the contents out of the egg shell and threw it into deeper water.
>
> Obviously my first question is,  What is the name of the white seabird that 
> looks like a plain seagull on steroids, (about twice the size) like a dwarf 
> Albatross ????
> Also, why do black swans leave their nests to chastise harmless juvenile swans 
> yet pay no attention to egg stealing preditors ???
> Is it an experience thing?  I notice the other two nests are never left unattended.                          
> ===============================
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