Wild Nature: Hikers Captures Rare Footage Of Eagles In “Death Spiral”

Part of the fun in hiking is experiencing the beauty of nature. During a recent hike in Maine, one couple was in for quite a rare treat. As they walked along their path, they had the opportunity to witness two bald eagles in a “death spiral.” While this ritual can indicate a territorial dispute, it’s often a sign of the birds courting each other. Either way, the ritual is absolutely breathtaking.

Videos by InspireMore

Most amazingly, an eagle death spiral is rare for humans to see in person. Part of the reason why is because the birds tend to fly so high in the sky, and typically in rural areas, that it’s not often a human is close enough to spot them. Witness this special moment for yourself in the video below!

“To dance in the sky with the one you love,” someone in the comments writes, another adding, “Seeing this would become my whole personality.”

When bald eagles engage in a death spiral, they fly thousands of feet into the sky. Once they’re high enough, they lock talons. Finally, the two of them let go of their lift, sending them into a dive straight toward the ground. As dangerous as this may sound, these bald eagles know exactly what they’re doing. Just before they hit the ground, they release each other’s talons and immediately fly back up.

So, in other words, the term “death spiral” is a very fitting name for this ritual. In addition to falling from great heights (up to 2,000 feet), they also do so at great speeds. Their speed can be anywhere from 75 to 100 mph.

“This is a rare sighting,” the couple who shared this video writes, “and we are so lucky to have witnessed it.”

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!