Extinct New Zealand eagle may have eaten humans

Sep 11, 10:26 AM EDT
Extinct New Zealand eagle may have eaten humans
By MICHAEL CASEY
AP Environmental Writer

BANGKOK (AP) -- Sophisticated computer scans of fossils have helped solve a mystery over the nature of a giant, ancient raptor known as the Haast's eagle which became extinct about 500 years ago, researchers said Friday.

The researchers say they have determined that the eagle - which lived in the mountains of New Zealand and weighed about 40 pounds (18 kilograms) - was a predator and not a mere scavenger as many thought.

Much larger than modern eagles, Haast's eagle would have swooped to prey on flightless birds - and possibly even the rare unlucky human.

Ken Ashwell of the University of New South Wales in Australia and Paul Scofield of the Canterbury Museum in New Zealand wrote their conclusions in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Using computed axial tomography, or CAT, the researchers scanned several skulls, a pelvis and a beak in an effort to reconstruct the size of the bird's brain, eyes, ears and spinal cord.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_SCI_NEW_ZEALAND_KILLER_EAGLE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-09-11-10-26-03

i wanted to see one of those artist interpretation pictures they always have... :(

Interesting though.

Also an accurate live action version on film!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5jfCb6-2RA

Raptors sort of have special place in my memory. I went to a place that houses, cares for and rehabilitates birds of prey. This particular place have a number of permanent residents-eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, and a few vultures. A Golden eagle weighs in at 14 lbs, give or take, AND THIS BIRD WEIGHED 40 LBS!!

It would have possessed one serious set of talons, that's for sure!

but unless the human was injured or a child, not sure that's large enough to do too much damage to your average human without taking a lot in return.

:)

:O

sorry for my dupes stupid replay media catcher (downloading HQ nasa briefings from YouTube)

I guess if I were a baby at the time, I'd be pretty well fucked, though.

:hi:

I can quite easily see a beak that size snapping a full-grown, young, healthy man or woman's spine. It would require a precise strike, but they don't call 'em "eagle eyes" for nothing.

Looking at the picture of the silhouettes again, I'm certain it would have been possible.

Do raptors usually carry off their kill, eat on site, or both?