This is bird note.

Two adult eagles flying high above the ground confront each other, talons outstretched,

then suddenly lock onto each other's talons.

Gravity takes over, and the pair still fully entangled, wings flailing, begin to cartwheel

to earth.

Just before they smack the ground, they disengage and begin to fly upward.

This cartwheel display of courting-balled eagles is thrilling, both highly acrobatic and downright

hazardous.

Once in a while, the two birds fail to release their talons and reach the earth, still fully

in each other's iron grasp.

Rival adults competing for mates or territories sometimes perform the same wild flight.

And neither seems in a hurry to let go.

Their clasp could last for hours.

At last, the eagles unlock talons and fly off, back into the sky where they could perhaps

meet again for another dramatic bout of cartwheeling.

For bird note, I'm Mary McCann.