Public Display of Affection in Flight

[milestogo]

Link to tweet

[Frustratedlady]

1. We have a lot of eagles around here, but I have never seen that sequence.

Incredible!

[milestogo]

2. It reminds me of pairs figure skating

where they are holding on to each other while spinning across the ice!

[Frustratedlady]

12. Good comparison.

I have several that fly over my house, each day. I may have seen something similar and thought it was two males fighting to be top eagle.

Animals are fascinating. The more I watch them, the more convinced I am that they are good indicators of the climate and what's about to come.

[milestogo]

13. I have never seen this, and had no idea that they did this.

[jaxexpat]

17. ....or sky divers' mid-air freefalling antics.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. We all know that feeling

"Once I had a love and it was divine
soon found out I was losing my mind." - Heart of Glass, Blondie.

[aggiesal]

4. Mike high club, Bald Eagle style. n/t

[liberalla]

5. So that is foreplay?

I mean - Wow!

[milestogo]

6. Maybe its just flirting.

[liberalla]

18. "Aerial sky-dancing displays"

Also known as "flirting"
https://journeynorth.org/tm/eagle/annual/facts_courtship.html (a few small photos also)

Bald Eagle Courtship and Mating Facts.

Courtship is a time to develop and strengthen the pair bond, or form a new one.

Scientists have observed some mating behaviors on wintering grounds, but have also seen males and females start courting in breeding areas.

In addition to the spectacular aerial sky-dancing displays, courtship includes nest-building, perching, billing, and preening.

Bald eagles mate from the time of returning to the nest territory in early fall through egg laying, and sometimes a few months after. 

Like most birds, eagles are monogamous. If one of the pair dies, the lone eagle will find a new mate.

Adults may be vocal before, during, or after copulation.

Copulation occurs mostly before egg-laying but happens at other times too.

Gestation period: 5 - 10 days after copulation, the female lays one to three eggs.

[milestogo]

19. Thanks, that's pretty cool.

[Xipe Totec]

7. Soarplay. nt

[liberalla]

11. Very good!

[Marthe48]

8. I saw 2 bald eagles cavorting over a field

on the way to my daughter's house. It was about 2 years ago. They didn't lock their talons, but they were spinning and turning in the air. I cried all the rest of the drive. Just wonderful.

[Bayard]

9. I dunno

Maybe this is how eagles get divorced.

[IronLionZion]

10. Those lovebirds would like some privacy

[SWBTATTReg]

14. Wow. And capturing it all on camera too! NT

[Joinfortmill]

15. Whoa! Amazing.

[irisblue]

16. When you found your one...

[TomSlick]

20. Very impressive.

But wouldn't a nice dinner be easier and safer?

[imaginary girl]

21. I saw two hawks do this once!

I just caught the end of it and panicked at first, thinking a hawk had one of my chickens. But when I went outside, one hawk was still on the ground where it landed and the other was flying away. I looked it up, and found out they can do this in combat or courtship. Pretty impressive: love that this was caught on video!