Steller's sea eagles (Haliaeetus pelagicus) of eastern Russia are the largest of all eagles and rely heavily on the summer and autumn run of salmon in the coastal waters and rivers. The sea eagle spies for fish from an overhanging tree or ledge or patrols on its vast wings. When a salmon is spotted it dives like an osprey, snatching the prey from the water with its talons. It is protected by law and in Japan it has the status of National Treasure. Feeding groups of 700 birds have been reported and total numbers are stale at about 3200 pairs, despite persecution by fur trappers. As its biggest threat is lack of food in winter, it has to eat whatever is available, including hare, stoat, sable and fox - sometimes taken from hunters' traps. In February many sea eagles feed on the cod that escape from the nets of commercial trawlers off Hokkaido.
