Outsmarted by Eagles and Crows

This incident happened with me and my friend when we were out on an excursion trip to a small village, about 50km from our home town. We were out sight seeing and bird watching at an open meadow which had a pond nearby.

We didn't see any exotic birds, which we'd been hoping for. We mostly just saw quails, cuckoos, and eagles. And lots of crows (the grackle's cousins).

Cursing our bad luck, we sat down on a large rock nearby the pond to have our lunch. My friend’s mother had packed chicken sandwiches for us.

We were just beginning to have our lunch when we noticed the number of eagles circling in the area was increasing steadily.

My friend decided to play a gag on the eagles, or rather he wanted to show off his talent, I don’t know. Holding a piece of his sandwich in his left hand, he waved it over his head to attract the eagles. When they would come swooping down, he would quickly pull it back and hide it.

Maybe the eagles were smarter than my friend (very possible), or they just sensed his trick, but they always flew away before getting close enough to catch their prize.

And then, as he was waving the sandwich to the eagles again, he saw one flying close by on his right side. He dangled the sandwich out a little longer, tempting his fate and seeing how near he could get the eagle to come. But the eagle didn't seem that interested in his offer.

But just when my friend was about to lower his arm, another eagle came swooping down from his left side and snatched the sandwich from him!

My friend was so shocked that he freaked out and started yelling and ended up losing his balance and actually fell into the pond behind him. It served him right. If nothing else, it should've taught him to never underestimate your opponent.

But it gets better (or worse, in my case). I was so busy doubled over and laughing at him that I didn't notice what was happening behind me. “Dude," he said. "You think this is funny? Just look what's happening to your lunch."

I turned and saw a couple of crows had found my sandwich and had dragged it down to the ground and were going to town on it.

I guess birds aren't that stupid at all.