How to float dead fish?

Hi everyone
I've tried to photograph sea eagles before, where I had used frozen fish I bought from the fish markets. The birds took the fish, but seemed to be "uncomfortable" as they flew with it to their feeding perch as it must've felt very cold.

I considered using a small baloon inserted into the empty stomach cavity, that is then sewn up with thread. I have an initial problem with introducing the rubber into the environment, which may include ingestion by the bird. So I don't want to do this and I will not.

Is there another way than freezing the fish to make them float?

I have an initial problem with introducing the rubber into the environment, which may include ingestion by the bird.

But using dead fish from the fish market to bait the birds in (and thus making them spend energy catching a frozen fish) gives you no pause?

I wouldn't expect much advice on this forum, sorry.

I'd like to simply point you to this website's code of conduct and suggest that you read it, particularly this item :

Do not entice a wild animal with food (baiting) in order to get the photo. Allow the animal to be wild, and to move about on its own accord. Note - photos of live-baited birds are prohibited in the NPN Avian Gallery. Photos of baited wildlife are prohibited in the NPN Wildlife Gallery.

While you aren't using live bait in this case, I would guess that a lot of people here would essentially think of this the same way (not in terms of the death of the bait, but of disruption to the eagles). I know there have been many long debates about baiting, and it might be instructive to read some of those threads as well.

I think the first 2 replies to your post sum up my thoughts well. To bait in the Sea Eagles with any kind of bait is not something I am interested in, nor am I interested in seeing the images made using the technique.

Thanks for pointing out the expected standard. Appreciate it.

I find this sentence of particular importance: "Allow the animal to be wild, and to move about on its own accord."

I cannot read anything about using of call playback.
Is it a view of NPN when it comes to ethics and setting a standard that it is OK to use call playback to get the photos? Sounds like a double standard in that case.

I can certainly see images that in my opinion were likely obtained with the use of call playback. Where is the ethics in that then when the suggested guidelines state: "Allow the animal to be wild, and to move about on its own accord."

This subject has been covered many times over the years and searching the birding forum threads using the term "bait" will give you lot's to read and think about. I sure am glad you abandoned the terrible balloon idea which could kill the bird or its young if ingested.

Hi Akos,
Images with playback as well as baited images with non-live bait are allowed in the avian critique gallery but must be disclosed as such. That info is included in the avian gallery posting guidelines.

And if they swallow the balloon????

I consider us Stewards of the Planet and especially of the wildlife that we are so fortunate to see and capture in images.
ANYthing that disrupts their normal nesting, feeding, hunting, courting, nesting or ANY other normal, daily behaviour must be avoided.
As far as "only" calling - I was near a group of workshop-led photographers awhile ago who used a playback call several times. EVERY time they played it, a little female bird head popped out from every nesting hole in the area to investigate, disrupting the egg-incubation they were engaged in.. and all males coming in with food diverted to another area to "defend" their nest.
Sandy

If you ARE going to bait them do it responsibly. Use a hypodermic needle to insert air into the air bladder or gut cavity. That won't hurt the bird or the fish (I assume it's dead). Don't use anything artificial and please use fresh fish. As for baiting, a bird feeder full of sunflower seeds for song birds is OK, but a fish for an eagle isn't. Putting seed down for songbirds is feeding, putting food down for predators is baiting. Don't you see the difference. Personally I prefer to leave nature to it's own devices but I DO visit several state parks in my area that have bird blinds with feeders.

The other issue I have is the number of "fed" predator pics that show up. It just makes it too easy so everyone is doing it. For the most part, they are pretty obvious and have become almost cliche. They look great from a distance but loose their appeal as you look more closely. Baiting is about on the same level as shooting zoo animals and fooling yourself into believing they are wild animals. I'd rather spend a weekend working for a wild shot than take 10 minutes for a bait shot but that's purely a personal choice. Baiting in many places isn't illegal so shoot what works for YOU, just don't use those balloons! (-:}

In Akos' defense, he stated at the beginning that he wasn't going to do it. Proper perspective. If you must, Akos, squirt some air into it's belly with a syringe. I'll yawn at the photo. Canned is easy to spot. But many have done worse to obtain a photo...much worse.