A Fish Story

I sent the following email to the Fisheries Biologist at the Decorah, Iowa Fish Hatchery. Several of us who have been watching the eagles nesting wanted to know more about the fish the eagles were eating.

From: Bill Scott
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 6:10 AM
To: Malaise, Brian
Subject: Decorah eagles and fish...

Some of us Texas and Louisiana fellows and gals are watching your Decorah eagles in their nesting activities. Late yesterday the female brought a 12+ inch fish back to the nest and consumed most of it before the male got there. The fish had a fairly large mouth, a V shaped tail, and did not appear to have scales. Any way of knowing what species of fish that likely was, and where the eagle may have caught it? Also, I couldn't help but wonder if the eagles have any opportunities to get fish from you guys. Thanks for any help you may be able to offer on this.

In his email response the Fisheries Biologist provided the following info.

From: Malaise, Brian
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:39 AM
To: Bill Scott
Subject: RE: Decorah eagles and fish...

Bill, without seeing the fish I can’t say for sure what it was she ate.  That being said, my guess is that it was either a rainbow or brook trout.  As far as where they are getting the fish or can they get them from us.  That is where they are getting the fish.  The eagles nest is just across the road from the fish hatchery.  The eagles take brook trout from the rearing pond.  But most of the time the fish the eagles are eating are fish we have given them.  Every morning when we feed the fish we net all the fish that have died over night and they get flushed into our settling pond and the eagles fly in and get them.  What people can’t see on the camera is that every morning when we pull out our feed tractor the eagles fly over to the hatchery and roost in a tree at the end of the hatchery property which overlooks our settling pond.  When the fish come out they drop in and get them.  I always tell everyone that we are better than the dollar menu at McDonald’s.  I hope this answers your questions, if it doesn’t please just let me know.

Brian Malaise
Fisheries Biologist
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Decorah Fish Hatchery
2325 Siewers Spring Road
Decorah, Iowa 52101