Cleaning House (Sort of Graphic)

[Mike Tracy]

I was at one of the Eagle nests I monitor this morning. While far from a desirable angle which was due to sun position and wind direction this shows a interesting behavior none the less. Instead of letting the Anhingha carcass rot in the nest the female flew out with the remains towards the nearby lake and dropped it.

[John Chardine]

Makes sense Mike. Many birds go to great lengths to keep the nest clean including the chicks who defecate over the edge of the nest. Egg shells are often taken away maybe to reduce the conspicuousness of the nest.