While I was out digging out from the latest dose of global warming I got a special treat. We have several pairs of nesting Bald Eagles in the area that frequent the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers.
There I am shoveling snow with the neighbor when for some reason I stopped and looked up into the still snowing, stormy sky. Overhead, flying low, was one of our local Bald Eagles. I see them often when i am out fishing or hiking but they never cease to amaze me!
It’s actually just about mating season for them right now in this part of the world. February is the month you’re most likely to aerobatic courting displays, which can be magnificent.
I was fishing my local stream last fall, and had a bald eagle fishing the same stretch as me all afternoon – usually a hundred or so feet up or downstream. At one point, he decided to fly upstream past me at about 5 feet off the water. I could have poked it with my rod, it was that close (Even if I would do such thing, it would have broken the rod.) It was the closest I’ve ever been to one, and was just slightly scary.
My other hobby is flying radio controlled sailplanes; once in a contest I got to share a thermal with an eagle for a whole ten minute flight. That was way cool, too.
Last week I witnessed 3 feasting on a deer carcass out on the ice of the Connecticut River
I see them regularly this time of year, but that was a first for me.
LastChance, I was using my old Olympus mod 740 with a 10x optical zoom, 3.1, I think, megapixal.
It is no longer made and has been retired because of much damage do to many drops, snow, cold, etc. It even went to China with me. I now use a Nikon Coolpix P80.
That pic was at the Elk Feedground/Refuge at JacksonHole, Wyo.
Had about 1/2 inch today, we could really use some more here, Snow that is. I would gladly send some wind to whom ever wants some!!
We are graced with SEEDSKADEE (sp) Bird Refuge on the Green River, where several pairs of Bald Eagles nest every year, also used to have a pair stopping thru on the Big Sandy where our camp was. They got friendly enough to take offerinfgs left out for them, some guts from game we harvested. We made sure that it was placed at least 30 or 40 yds. from camp and across the river. Brilliant minds that we have, we never thought of pics
There is a pair of them that hang out on the Elk River here in WV. Luckily I have seen them throughout the whole year. They are amazing creatures. I actually got to watch one swoop down and catch a fish, very cool.
On the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, between early December and late January there is an annual gathering of both Bald Eagles as well as Golden Eagles. They gather to feed on spawning Kokanee Salmon in the lake. Sometimes there are only a few and sometimes there are over 150. I’ll try to get some pictures up. Best Regards…
Well the bestie will make it tougher on you because they only eat the dumb ones. Soon all you will have is those smart, older, tougher to fool fishies to try catching. What will you do, oh my!:lol:
You ought to see what two of these do to the dumb trouts:
I have been to that spot at Coeur d’Alene lake and have seen the Eagles its quite a sight.
In the Queen Charlottes where I lived during the Pink salmon runs there used to be several hundred Eagles show up on the mud flats during low tides to feast on the trapped salmon.
We had a pair of Golden eagles nesting in our 145 foot Sitka spruce tree right out in front of the living room window. The Goldens are quite a bit bigger than the bald Eagles and are quite magnificent to see.
Invaribly, the ospery at Little Half Moon lake can ALWAYS catch at least one fish bigger than what I am catching.
We have a pair of Golden Eagles nesting at the the ranch in a cottonwood tree at the east end of the field behind the barn. They have been there for at least ten years.