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22nd November 2011

Photo reblogged from fauna with 67 notes

rhamphotheca: The Tiny Eagle That Evolved Into A Bird So Massive That It Could Barely Fly… by Todd Davidson John Megahan In a blink of geologic time an eagle the weight of a squirrel evolved into a giant predator that fed on animals twice as big as humans. It grew so large it approached the physical limits of flight, a new study suggests. Before man arrived in New Zealand 700 years ago the land was dominated by birds. With no land mammals, the more than 250 avian species created an isolated and unique ecology. Amidst this remote laboratory the Haast’s Eagle was 40 percent larger than today’s record holder, the Harpy eagle, and topped the local food chain. The eagle fed largely on the moa, an extinct flightless bird somewhat like an ostrich. Bones from moa as large as 440 pounds (200 kilograms) bear the marks of the Haast’s talons… (read more: Live Science)   (image: John Megahan)

rhamphotheca:

The Tiny Eagle That Evolved Into A Bird So Massive That It Could Barely Fly…

by Todd Davidson John Megahan

In a blink of geologic time an eagle the weight of a squirrel evolved into a giant predator that fed on animals twice as big as humans. It grew so large it approached the physical limits of flight, a new study suggests. Before man arrived in New Zealand 700 years ago the land was dominated by birds. With no land mammals, the more than 250 avian species created an isolated and unique ecology.

Amidst this remote laboratory the Haast’s Eagle was 40 percent larger than today’s record holder, the Harpy eagle, and topped the local food chain. The eagle fed largely on the moa, an extinct flightless bird somewhat like an ostrich. Bones from moa as large as 440 pounds (200 kilograms) bear the marks of the Haast’s talons…

(read more: Live Science)   (image: John Megahan)

Tagged: evolutionEaglesHaast's EagleNew Zealans

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Source: rhamphotheca

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    About 5 minutes walk from where I’m currently living is New Zealand’s biggest free council park. And in that park are...
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    We might be smaller than Australia but we’re cooler in pretty much every other way
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    I wish humans didn’t completely destroy so many of these wonderful birds… :( Really awesome article though.