I use several trail cams/motion sensor cams in my day-today work. It is surprising how animals can react to them. Obviously they don't know it is a camera. But they do get "eye-balled" by deer and deer also chew the ends of the straps if they can get at them.
But this is different.
A year ago a young Wedge-tailed Eagle spent some time on the ground near a camera. Then he (she?) saw it and came in for a closer look.
Skip to this year, same camera but shifted to another position not far from where the first pic was taken. I suspect it is the same eagle. Their plumage gets darker with age until they are almost black. This one has darkened up a bit so I suspect it is second year. And back with attitude!
Let's see what this thing is ...
It had a good go. When I found the camera, the side catch was undone (top arrow), the bottom catch was broken (and the door swinging in the breeze) (bottom arrow), the camera was scratched by the talons, and a talon had pierced and broken the lens cover.
Amazingly, the camera still works - just. The broken lens cover stopped the IR filter from moving, so daylight shots were OK but night shots were a washout. I have since removed the pieces of broken lens cover and the IR filter moves but I am yet to give it a test run. I will need to make a new cover for the lens to keep moisture out. The scratches show clearly.
Never a dull moment!