While I was looking around the waters beside McMillan pier for the dovekie, I came across a female Common Eider, who had caught a crab. I observed and photographed what the eider went through prior to eating the crab. In order to be able to swallow the crab the eider has to remove all its claws and legs, and it does this by holding on to a claw, and then beating the crab against the water. I have included a slideshow video of this process. I did not include all the pictures because on occasion, the eider turned completely away from me, so all I could see was its backside. After the eider swallows the crab, the shell is crushed in the eiders gizzard and then the shell is excreted. Slide show of a Common Eider eating a crab
Myer Bornstein
I photograph the natural beauty of Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island and other locations Country and elsewhere. I also publish a blog about the area and other interesting vistas and locations.
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