lI guess its....."As the world turns, so do the days of bald eagles lives".
Never heard of this.....
WESTMINSTER, Colo. — It was a tragic and uncertain series of days for the eagles at the nest near Standley Lake.
The nest has been live streamed for years, and the Standley Lake Regional Park consistently provides updates about the eagle family.
This year’s saga took a turn on April 6, when the “mom and dad” Standley Lake bald eagles were attacked by a mystery third eagle. Since then, mom has not returned to the nest, and dad has been incubating the babies himself.
This third eagle is being referred to by Standley Lake Park as the “floater.” She is believed to be a female who, according to a lengthy Q&A from the park, “is risking her life so she can have territory and reproduce.”
For what it’s worth, she’s significantly larger than mom and dad – and was caught on camera attacking the nest.
>>> Click the video above to see the attack.
Like we said: mom hasn’t been seen since the nest attack. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), it’s common for eagles to nurse themselves to health on their own, and not return to their nest for a while.
“They spend time in solitude recuperating, hunting and eating,” Standley Lake’s Facebook post said.
Park staff looked for mom right after she first disappeared, but the Facebook post said she was not found. If she was on the ground, she would have been taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center.
The floater eagle, meanwhile, has been hanging around a lot.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that there were two viable eggs in the eagle’s nest. One of them hatched on April 12, but is believed to have passed away.
“This could be due to cold temperatures yesterday and the fact that dad was off the nest for roughly two hours because of a third eagle in the area,” Standley Lake Regional Park wrote on Facebook. “We are not sure at this time if the third eagle was mom, but there are reports of two eagles fighting under the nest while one watched from a low branch …”
So, there’s one eaglet that could still be alive. Begging the question: what about mom? Standley Lake’s Q&A said dad could raise the baby alone, but “it is not an easy plight and not something that happens often.”
One thing that could happen?
“In rare situations, father bald eagles will accept the floater as a mate so they can successfully raise the eaglets together,” the Facebook post read. “The Standley dad seems very resistant to that scenario as he has continued to drive the floater away.”
At this point, the park said it won’t intervene. Partially because the floater may have lost her own nest due to humans, and also because CPW told the park to “let nature run its course until there is a change in events.”
“If you think of the situation the floater is in, she is risking her life for the sake of a mate and territory,” the Facebook post from Standley Lake read. “She hasn't been able to find suitable territory and needs it for survival and reproduction. We run the risk of putting dad in that situation since he may abandon the nest permanently. Our response to this situation hasn't been determined by park staff only. There are many professionals being consulted and at this point we just can't enter the nest site. We are continuing to evaluate the situation and check in with professionals on a daily basis.”
One thing that needs to be abundantly clear is that members of the public should not check on the eagles under any circumstance because it could put them in danger. .
Eagles were once all advertised as about to go extinct, and put as a guilt trip on society for, I dunno, drinking 6 packs of pop out of plastic holders or something. Now! they are plentiful enough for me personally to have seen 4 in Florida, and a few here in Ohio, and way- too many Hawks or Falcons or other large birds of prey, in recent years, They'll sit on electric wires, but nobody hunts them, to keep their numbers in line. Our once plentiful and care free population of squirrels is in jeopardy of large bird of prey attack, which used to be relatively non existent.
Ironically, just had 3 hawks circling above our house/development approx 2 hrs ago. BIG. At least 5.5' wingtip to wingtip. Wanna say 6' but??? Prob 150-180' up. Just circling and glidin.....effortlessly.
If they're really big and flying in groups, they are most likely turkey vultures. The best way to tell is that they hold their wings in a "v" shape and wobble a bit during flight. Eagles and large hawks are more graceful and stable without the "v".
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Ironically, just had 3 hawks circling above our house/development approx 2 hrs ago. BIG. At least 5.5' wingtip to wingtip. Wanna say 6' but??? Prob 150-180' up. Just circling and glidin.....effortlessly.
Just fascinating to watch.
My math must be wrong, 150', inches, is like, 12 1/2 feet. But, ain't much going my way anymore.....
I will say, as I used to travel the counties around here, I loved seeing the hawks. Mainly red tailed hawks. Usually sitting on a fence post, or telephone wire, but every once in a while I'd see one swooping down to get whatever, for a meal.
My experiences with owls. There's more than a handful in our developement. Just like every house in the woods, at times we get mice. I would set up the traps(plastic rectangular, door swings one way....in). So, I got to thinking. Why set em loose in our yard?
Decided to set em loose in the street. Sorta like an equal opportunity thing for the neighbors.
Caught one. Walked out to the street and released it. The mouse took about 8-10 "mouse steps" and whooomp!!! Owl landed in the street no more than 5' from me. It sank the claws/talons in and all the while staring directly into my eyes with a "Thanks for the mouse, pal" look.
Another time, walked out of our 2 story great room. 2 guys working on the house next to me were staring directly at me. Then they pointed above and behind me. 18-20 feet above me.... 2 baby owls on the gutter just hanging around and, well, just being baby owls I guess. Then momma swoops by with it's talons sunk into a rabbit. She lands in a tree between our 2 properties...ours and the neighbors where the guys were working. Baby owls flew to her and momma ripped that rabbit to shreds for her and the little ones just like we hoomans do to turkeys on T-giving.
Ironically, just had 3 hawks circling above our house/development approx 2 hrs ago. BIG. At least 5.5' wingtip to wingtip. Wanna say 6' but??? Prob 150-180' up. Just circling and glidin.....effortlessly.
Just fascinating to watch.
My math must be wrong, 150', inches, is like, 12 1/2 feet. But, ain't much going my way anymore.....
I will say, as I used to travel the counties around here, I loved seeing the hawks. Mainly red tailed hawks. Usually sitting on a fence post, or telephone wire, but every once in a while I'd see one swooping down to get whatever, for a meal.
No....... 150' -180' up(altitude) in the sky.
Now the Jurrasic Park ones can get that big. I've heard even bigger.
My experiences with owls. There's more than a handful in our developement. Just like every house in the woods, at times we get mice. I would set up the traps(plastic rectangular, door swings one way....in). So, I got to thinking. Why set em loose in our yard?
Decided to set em loose in the street. Sorta like an equal opportunity thing for the neighbors.
Caught one. Walked out to the street and released it. The mouse took about 8-10 "mouse steps" and whooomp!!! Owl landed in the street no more than 5' from me. It sank the claws/talons in and all the while staring directly into my eyes with a "Thanks for the mouse, pal" look.
Another time, walked out of our 2 story great room. 2 guys working on the house next to me were staring directly at me. Then they pointed above and behind me. 18-20 feet above me.... 2 baby owls on the gutter just hanging around and, well, just being baby owls I guess. Then momma swoops by with it's talons sunk into a rabbit. She lands in a tree between our 2 properties...ours and the neighbors where the guys were working. Baby owls flew to her and momma ripped that rabbit to shreds for her and the little ones just like we hoomans do to turkeys on T-giving.
I was playing golf once and saw a hawk take a squirrel right out of the tree. It was weird, because I was really in the zone, but then was just like, "I should really watch this squirrel for a sec"... then maybe 5 seconds and BAM!
Pretty crazy to see. The hawk was coming in hot, and the squirrel presented the opposite of a stationary target... but the squirrel still didn't stand a chance.
2nd year at our house. late Spring. I was working in the yard, and a big shadow slipped across the grass. Before I knew what was happening, a Red-tailed Hawk blazed down, snatched a squirrel off the ground, and headed back up. Squirrel fought like hell, the hawk lost its grip, and the squirrel fell about 30' to the turf. I even heard the "ooooof!" when it landed. Laid there stunned for almost a minute, then wobbled over to hide under a bush for the next hour or so.
Drama in your back yard better than anything you'll find on TV.
That's exactly why I hunt. The sitting in the woods, watching nature thing. The laying in the field, watching nature thing. The being in a tree, with a squirrel 4-5 feet from you thing.
Watching the coyotes run/herd/hunt. Wood chuck hunting - watching the deer 100 to 500 yds away.'
And yes, even having to walk around a garter snake or 2.
That's exactly why I hunt. The sitting in the woods, watching nature thing. The laying in the field, watching nature thing. The being in a tree, with a squirrel 4-5 feet from you thing.
Watching the coyotes run/herd/hunt. Wood chuck hunting - watching the deer 100 to 500 yds away.'
And yes, even having to walk around a garter snake or 2.
Every now and then we'll see a dear in our yard. Lotta raccoons and a few skunks. Last year we had more than a few skunk sightings.
We have a "center hall split level". Built early 60s. The top two bedroom windows facing the street both have the 3'w x1'd x 1'h wooden flower pots/units underneath them. Nothin plantwise in em. There's a good reason. Theres a black squirrel nest in one of em.
Black Squirrels are rare and found in limited places in Ohio. Never heard of em till we moved here in 99. It's pretty cool. We've stood in the bedroom and watched em.....fairly close up...5-6' away from the window.
Actually found myself smack dab in the middle of a squirrel war. The blacks vs the greys. It was nuts. Had to be 80-100 of each type ROLLIN THRU the woods in the backyard.. NOISY. The greys def had the blacks on the run. Nuts. Wanna say...in the early the 2000s.
Saw 6-7 coyotes running thru an open field in the fall last year approx 1.5 miles from where we live.
Years ago there was also a black bear sighting 3 doors down from us. I've never seen one here but...??? Ditto on the supposed bobcat sightings here. If so, didn't even know they were in NEO-ville.
When we moved in in 1999......slept in a bit on a day off. 8:30? 9? Back bedroom facing back yard and woods. Woke up groggy, etc. Eyes for some reason foggily focused to the back yard thru the slider. Thought to myself: "Man, those are some pretty big dogs".
Then I wiped the sleep nerds outta my eyes.....
Thru the glass 12-15' from the slider.....3 full grown deer. I watched em for 10+ mins till they sauntered off to the neighbors yard. Seen "1" dear(2-3 times) since then but not 2-3 together.
Eagles are freaking big and yes, they are bad-ass.
Me and a buddy were driving in the country one evening when an eagle crossed the road about 100 yards in front of us. He was low because he had an animal in his talons. White, either a rabbit or a cat, and big enough to be a burden.
It landed in a field adjacent to the road, we got out of the car and walked slowly until we were about 40 yards from it while it was still on the ground. It took off again, but I was surprised by the size of that bird.
Good to hear. From dangerously low numbers and on the verge of, etc in the USA to....
Ohio has 707 bald eagle nests throughout the state: See how many are in your county.
Ottawa County has the most with 90 nests.
CLEVELAND — Ohio is filled with lots of hidden beauty.
Did you know there are 707 total bald eagle nests scattered throughout Ohio?
The Ohio Department of natural Resources Division of Wildlife released a map Thursday morning, which shows how many bald eagle nests can be found in each county. You can see that map at the bottom of this story.
Here's a highlight of the nest numbers in Northeast Ohio counties:
Lorain: 10 nests Lake: 7 nests Geauga: 7 nests Portage: 8 nests Summit: 5 nests Medina: 5 nests Stark: 4 nests Cuyahoga: 3 nests Two bald eagle nests in Northeast Ohio have gained quite a bit of attention throughout the last few weeks. One in Avon Lake and another at the Rocky River Reservation offer live streaming cameras with a 27/7 look at the nest.
I hope it's ok if I add a 'live feed' of an Eagles nest in Northern Iowa, referred to as the Decorah Eagles. Not looking to hijack the thread, just posting for those who enjoy watching Eagles.
Beautifull birds. Fascinating. With the not so distant "past threat" of bald eagles disappearing imo it's amazing to hear/see Ohio alone has 700+ nests.
Wasn't the threat a pesticide/chemical called DDT? as I recall.
Another good article. Mentions the "endangered species act and low population levels in the USA back in 1978. As I recall, the pesticide DDT was largely responsible and banned???
Bald Eagles Return to Nesting in Saguaro Cacti For The First Time in Decades
CARLY CASSELLA 24 APRIL 2020
A few years before World War II, an American trader by the name of Kermit Lee discovered something on the lower Verde River in Arizona that needed to be written down.
A record from his trading post in 1937 details a large and empty bald eagle's nest, tucked not in a tree, but in the arms of a massive saguaro cactus.
For decades, the incredible sighting was completely forgotten, and then in the 1970s, when bald eagles in Arizona reached dangerously low numbers, the historical account was re-discovered.
For more than three decades, biologists at the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) have kept their eyes peeled for one of these peculiar cactus nests, ultimately to no avail.
Now, for the first time in decades, we actually have photos of this behaviours. While bald eagles have been documented nesting in other species of cacti in neighbouring states, no such thing has ever been seen or snapped in Arizona.
So when state biologist Kenneth "Tuk" Jacobson first got the call tipping him off, he didn't necessarily believe it. It was only when he saw two adult eagles fostering their little eaglets atop a sprawling saguaro with his own eyes, he could finally accept the victory.
"It's been an 18-year trek for me, keeping my eye out for a bald eagle nest in a saguaro, so finally finding one is amazing," Jacobson said in a statement.
Arizona Game & Fish ✔ @azgfd How Arizona is this! Our eagle survey team captured this image of a bald eagle family nesting in the arms of a saguaro - a rare sight! In fact, it's the first time an image of eagles nesting in a saguaro has been captured in Arizona.
A bald eagle nest is actually called an aerie, and with enough effort, they can get fairly gigantic. It's not unusual for these structures to reach 1.8 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) in diameter and about 1.8 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) high, so a sturdy base is more than necessary.
Most of the time that means a tree of some sort, but in the Sonoran Desert, which covers some of southern Arizona and slips into Mexico, the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), the largest in the United States, is a nice alternative.
This species grows extremely slowly - a 10-year-old plant may only be a few centimetres tall - but because it can live for hundreds of years, individuals can get pretty large.
The one featured in these fly-over photographs is likely very old, so why are nesting eagles only turning to these habitats now?
Bald eagles in Arizona have had a fantastic recovery since they were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1978, and Jacobson thinks this rare sighting is a sign of their success.
Back in the 1970s, eagles in this state had only 11 breeding areas, confined to a relatively small area. In 2019, state biologists counted 89 nests.
"We've watched that population grow up through the entire river system to central Arizona," Jacobson told AZCentral.
"As this population continues to grow, we're starting to see them in more and more areas using more and more unique substrates."
But that doesn't mean bald eagles are in the clear. While the population has rebounded, state biologists are not revealing the location of this saguaro nest for fear it will put this eagle family at risk.
"We want to share the news, but we don't want to attract a bunch of people and cause problems for the birds," added Jacobsen.
Growing up in the 60s, here in corn country Ohio, we never saw eagles or nests. The only nest I recall was in a huge tree about a mile off the south end of Sandusky Bay, that could be seen when fishing in Sandusky Bay.
We would go fishing for catfish that spawned in the submerged rock walls located off the south shore of Sandusky Bay. The nest was located a mile or 2 inland but it was so large that it could be seen for miles.
I remember the DDT war that went on as the farmers in our area thought the chemical was safe while the EPA fought to have it removed for ag use.
Today, we have eagle nests located within a few miles of where we live, in corn country, Ohio..what a change..the long fight was worth it.
If anyone's interested, there's an Ohio Bald Eagles Facebook group. The discussions mostly involve photography, and there are some awesome eagle shots on there. There is a nest in Newcomerstown with an exceptionally photogenic family of bald eagle and people are getting some amazing pics there. You'll also find tips on locating and viewing Ohio eagles in the newsfeed.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
A little more info + some nice graphs on the Eagles demise and rise again.
What We Do: Repopulate
In the early history of our country, the Bald Eagle was perceived by many as a predator and a pest. Bounties were placed on eagles and they were shot and killed by the tens of thousands. Scientific research proved this line of thinking to be untrue. Eagles actually helped maintain the balance of nature, and they did not threaten the salmon population. But sadly, too many people felt otherwise and relied on misinformation to justify the elimination of this majestic bird.
In addition to shooting, the habitats of eagles were destroyed as settlers migrated west. Later, chemical runoffs polluted waterways, killing fish and the predators who relied on them as their primary food source.
Undoubtedly the most catastrophic threat to the eagle population as a whole was the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. As it entered the food chain of eagles, it caused their eggs to not develop properly. The shells were thin and misshapen, and babies were unable to thrive inside the eggs.
Years went by, and the eagle population in the lower 48 plummeted, with extinction eminent. One of the first naturalists to record the dramatic decline of the bald eagle after the introduction of DDT as a pesticide spray was a Florida naturalist named Charles Broley. Broley had been observing and banding bald eagles for years when in 1947 he voiced concern about the reproductive rate of the bald eagle. At that time, few records on bald eagle populations were kept. Therefore, Broley’s records tracing the number of nesting bald eagles in Florida provided some of the first evidence that the bald eagle population was declining at an alarming rate. His research gave solid corroboration to the information widely disseminated by the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, a clarion call to environments all over the world. The harmful effects of DDT were proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, and the government banned its use.
Decline of bald eagle population The chart above illustrates Florida naturalist Charles Browley’s findings regarding the Bald Eagle population in Florida from 1942 – 1958. The trend in this chart was verified around the country, and in 1963 the Fish & Wildlife Service recorded the dismal figure of only 417 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles in the entire lower 48 states.
Once DDT was banned, other steps were introduced by which Bald and Golden eagles were reintroduced into areas where their populations had been decimated. State and Federal laws were enacted to protect eagles, and innovative techniques were developed to boost their populations.
The American Eagle Foundation’s Captive Breeding Program, and subsequent releasing the young eaglets from an artificial nesting tower overlooking Douglas Lake, has resulted in 176 young fledglings flying free to aid in the recovery of the Bald and Golden eagle in the lower 48 states (through 2019). Success stories abound, and encourage us to continue our efforts to “keep America’s eagles flying strong and free.”
Bald Eagle restoration in New York is documented in this article.
A Bald Eagle Nest Is Confirmed on Cape Cod By MARK FAHERTY • JUN 3, 2020
After years of teases, of leads that didn’t pan out, failed attempts and clues gone cold, the news I’ve been waiting for has finally broken. At last, we have “smoking gun” evidence of a legitimate Bald Eagle nest here on Cape Cod, one with a real live baby eagle in it. The eagle has indeed landed. And if you want to know where the nest is, listen all the way to the end for the big reveal.
Apparently, the last Bald Eagle nest in Massachusetts, back when they went locally extinct in 1905, was in Sandwich. But here almost 30 years into the recovery of Bald Eagles in Massachusetts, a pair had yet to successfully breed again on the Cape. Not far away, Plymouth and Lakeville have had nests for many years, but nothing here - Massachusetts eagles were choosing to take their talons elsewhere.
The hints were strong – adult eagles were increasingly being seen at the right places and times – Mashpee-Wakeby Pond, the heavily wooded Brewster-Harwich ponds, even Lake Wequaquet in Hyannis, all during late winter. Like Great Horned Owls, these big, hardy birds lay eggs during the frozen days of January and February when many of our other local birds are still deep in Central or South America.
One feckless, undoubtedly young pair of eagles took over an Osprey nest on some powerlines in Brewster several years back, only to cede it back to the rightful owners come March. Similarly, eagles taking over an Osprey nest on Martha’s Vineyard this winter created a lot of local excitement, but they ended up accidentally cracking the eggs in the course of battling with the returning Osprey.
Weirdly, a pair built a shabby nest in an uncharacteristically small tree at the Brewster landfill last year, but nothing ever came of it. Years of sightings of adult birds at Mashpee-Wakeby have proven fruitless – I suspect a well-hidden nest, built years ago, has still yet to be discovered. It’s hard to believe that birds with a nest the width and weight of a Volkswagen could hide it for so long, but big woods can keep big secrets.
Then a couple of months ago, someone posted a Facebook photo of an adult eagle grabbing something from a grassy field. The poster insisted it was carrying prey, but it was clearly carrying nest material. But where was the nest? How far will they go in search of building materials? An eagle nest may ultimately contain more than two tons of sticks and other stuff, so they probably need to look far and wide.
Recently I got the news – Mass Wildlife had the location of the nest, though I still don’t know who initially found it. More recently, Cape Cod Community College student and Mass Audubon Long Pasture volunteer Josh Maloney independently found the nest and began photographing it, and one fortuitous photo revealed a good-sized chick craning it’s fuzzy brown neck above the rim of the nest. The first successful modern nest of a Bald Eagle on Cape Cod was thus confirmed.
It’s good to have them back – people love eagles and are often blown away to learn we have any at all around here. Ospreys, I suspect, are less enthused. Just this past weekend, my son and I were at a small pond in the woods of Brewster, where we watched a three or four year old Bald Eagle positively torpedo an Osprey midair, taking his fish in the process. But Ospreys will have to get used to it, because eagles are back.
I promised to reveal the nest location if you listened to the end, which I know isn’t always easy. So here you go: the nest is in….a pine tree. Good luck!
What kills bald eagles in Michigan? Most comprehensive study ever has the answers
KEITH MATHENY | DETROIT FREE PRESS
America's iconic national bird, the bald eagle, has made an impressive comeback from its days as an endangered species. But its leading threats remain rooted in human activity, the most comprehensive study ever of bald eagle mortality in Michigan finds.
Researchers with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with Michigan State University, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and others, reviewed a huge trove of bald eagle mortality data collected from DNR necropsies — surgical examinations of eagle carcasses to determine causes of death — from 1986 to 2017. Almost 1,500 eagles' causes of death were reviewed.
The results: The leading killer of bald eagles was vehicular trauma — being hit by cars. Second on the list was lead poisoning, related to eagles ingesting lead ammunition fragments from hunter-shot animals, or lead sinkers from fishermen.
"The bald eagle population in Michigan has made a tremendous comeback since the ban or phaseout of DDT and PCBs," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Kendall Simon, a lead author on the study.
DDT was a widely used synthetic pesticide from the 1940s until 1972, when the federal government banned its use over its impact on the environment and threats to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, were primarily used as insulating fluids in heavy-duty electrical equipment in power plants, industries, and large buildings from the late 1920s until the late 1970s, when their use was phased out, also over environmental and public health concerns.
In 1961, bald eagle populations in Michigan were at their lowest point, only 52 breeding pairs. But the chemical bans and protection on the federal endangered species list prompted a major turnaround. The federal government removed the birds from the threatened and endangered species list in 2007. The last full aerial survey of bald eagles in Michigan, conducted in 2017, found 835 breeding pairs.
But with that progress over the latter 20th century came a great deal of human development, Simon said.
"The good habitat along the waterways is being filled," she said. "New breeding pairs have to settle, breed and nest in lower-quality habitat. It's usually inland, not along the water where they can fish."
That leaves the bald eagles looking for alternative sources of food. And one of those main sources is roadkill, Simon said. The data showed vehicular trauma deaths increased in the fall, coinciding with deer hunting season and the rut, a breeding period for deer when they are more active and less careful. That's also when most car-deer accidents happen.
As ice forms in the Great Lakes and their waterways, as well as inland lakes, birds that rely on open water for survival fly south until they find it. One such place is the Monroe power plant, where warm discharge water keeps ice from forming at an inlet from Lake Erie. Eagles and other birds use the open water for fishing. Public access to the site is restricted due to security concerns.
"Eagles, especially bigger females, are a little clumsy taking off" from a roadkill carcass, Simon said. "It's such a big bird, it takes them longer than people would think."
The mortality data also showed lead poisoning was greatest in bald eagles in late winter and early spring months — when waterways are often iced over, hampering fishing, and the carcasses of deer shot by hunters but not recovered, preserved in the snow over winter, become a supplemental food source.
James Sikarskie, a professor emeritus retired last year from Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine — and Simon's stepfather — is a co-author on the Michigan bald eagle cause of death study. Sikarskie worked with bald eagles for 44 years at the university, and as a wildlife clinician.
"If they eat enough lead, it will kill them, just like kids with lead paint," he said. "Lead poisoning causes damage to the liver and kidneys, and the treatment to draw the toxin out, chelation, is also traumatic on them."
The federal government banned the use of lead shot in waterfowl hunting nationwide in 1991. Lead ammunition is banned for some other types of hunting, in particular states and areas. But only California bans its use for all hunting statewide.
As ice forms in the Great Lakes and their waterways, as well as inland lakes, birds that rely on open water for survival fly south until they find it. One such place is the Monroe power plant, where warm discharge water keeps ice from forming at an inlet from Lake Erie. Eagles and other birds use the open water for fishing. Only mature bald eagles have iconic white heads. Juveniles are mostly brown. Public access to the site is restricted due to security concerns.
"All of the (Michigan) DNR’s hunting digests recommend the use of non-lead shot and bullets, so we encourage voluntary hunter support for that practice across the state," agency spokesman Ed Golder said. "This is largely a hunter preference issue. One of the factors for hunters is cost. Non-lead ammunition typically costs more than lead ammunition, although copper bullets in many people’s opinions perform better than lead."
The study, published in April in The Journal of Wildlife Management, recommends moving road-killed animal carcasses to the far edge of rights of way, and a further transition from lead ammunition and fishing tackle to nontoxic alternatives.
As budgets tighten, removal of dead animals from roadways by county road commissions and others may become less frequent, Simon noted.
"We recommend just moving the roadkill further away from the road," she said. "This is an important food base, especially in winter, for eagles."
Anyone encountering a dead or injured bald eagle is asked to call the Michigan DNR's Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 or by email at DNR-Wildlife@michigan.gov.
Bald eagles serve as a sort of canary in the coal mine for the health of the Great Lakes. As apex predators, at the top of the food web, bald eagles are exposed to all of the same environmental contaminants, from the same sources — air, land, water, eating fish and animals — as people.
Another study authored by Simon this year found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in eagle eggs throughout the Great Lakes region — PFAS, the manmade, so-called "forever chemicals" that were once used in Teflon pots and pans, ScotchGard stain protectors, Gore-Tex waterproof fabrics and other consumer uses, that don't break down in nature and are now associated with cancer and other human health problems.
Bald eagles "are an incredibly important bio-indicator species," she said.
Eagles are beautiful creatures. And big up close - I wouldn’t mess with one.
Especially if you were a drone.
A bald eagle takes on a government drone. The bald eagle wins By Scottie Andrew, CNN
Updated 10:40 AM ET, Fri August 14, 2020 A drone fell from 160 feet and splashed down into Lake Michigan, state officials said. It was attacked by an eagle shortly before its splash landing. A drone fell from 160 feet and splashed down into Lake Michigan, state officials said. It was attacked by an eagle shortly before its splash landing. (CNN)Bald eagle versus drone, round one: Bald eagle.
When a bald eagle tangled unexpectedly with a government drone last month in Michigan, it won, emerging from the scene unscathed. And the drone? Officials say it is somewhere in Lake Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy disclosed the attack on Thursday, almost one month after the eagle sent the $950 drone into the Great Lake.
The trouble began when Hunter King, an environmental quality analyst with the department, sent a drone over Michigan's Upper Peninsula to map shoreline erosion, the department said.
His drone's reception started to sputter, so he commanded it to return home. He watched on a screen as his drone turned back to head toward him when it suddenly began to spiral.
Eventually, the drone disappeared -- and King saw an eagle fly away from the scene. A couple who witnessed the event told the environmental department they saw an eagle strike an object in the air, though they didn't know then it was a drone. They both confirmed, as did King, that the eagle looked unharmed as it flew away, the department said. Searches for the downed drone were futile. Telemetric data showed that the drone fell about 150 feet from the shore in water four feet deep, but staff couldn't find it after repeated searches by boat and on foot.
Data from the flight showed that the eagle struck the drone about seven minutes into its flight, and within a half-second, the drone started to spiral. Three seconds later, the drone's propeller was torn off, and it fell 160 feet into the water below. The attack might have been a "territorial squabble" between the eagle and drone. Or the eagle may have been hungry, mistaking the drone as a seagull or another non-electronic meal, the department said. Drones have become an increasingly mainstream research tool that give scientists a bird's eye view of the environment. But they can confuse actual birds -- especially the birds of prey closer in size to many drones, like eagles -- who may confuse them for prey or attack them for flying through their territory.
Bald Eagle Rescue and Release at Lake Auman Laura Douglass, Staff Writer Aug 18, 2020 4
Byron Wortham, of Holly's Nest Animal Rescue, releases a bald eagle at the Lake Auman dam in Seven Lakes West on Aug. 18, 2020. Laura Douglass/The Pilot
A bald eagle that was rescued Monday morning in the Seven Lakes West community was released back to the wild, a little more than 24 hours later.
The adult female was found in the water, waterlogged and exhausted, by Marge and Tom Holleman, who were kayaking near Pine Island in the 1,000-acre Lake Auman. As the couple approached, the bird’s mate flew away.
“We knew she was in distress,” Marge said, noting that she usually does not take her phone with her and was glad she had. “We took a video and started calling around for help.”
West End Fire & Rescue received the call and reached out to N.C. Wildlife for assistance. A water rescue followed and the bird was immediately transported to Byron Wortham of Holly’s Nest in Sanford, a nonprofit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility.
The adult, female bald eagle's feathers were soaked through and she was unable to pull herself out of Lake Auman without assistance. Contributed photo
The bald eagle was not injured but a veterinarian discovered silt lodged in the bird’s nostrils. Wortham said it’s likely the bird dove into a shallow part of Lake Auman while hunting, and had knocked itself senseless. Once its feathers were soaked, the bird was unable to fly away.
After a quiet evening with some TLC, the bald eagle was ready to be returned to its home territory.
“I feel patriotic just being in its presence. To have our nation’s symbol in my hand like this,” Wortham said. “Being a military veteran, I recognize this bird as a symbol of our freedom.”
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Wortham was joined at the Lake Auman dam by the Hollemans, firefighters with West End Fire & Rescue, and NC Wildlife Officer Garrett Gooch, who had initially captured the bird.
The release was filmed by videographers Rex and Susan Ballard, of Cary-based Ballard Productions. The couple produce the show “Urban Wild” and “On a WEM,” an online wildlife education initiative to help teach people how to safely respond to a wildlife encounter.
Byron Wortham established Holly's Nest Animal Rescue in honor of his daughter, who died in 2004. The Sanford nonprofit is the state's largest fawn rescue operation. Wortham is a certified wildlife rehabilitator and said this was his first bald eagle rescue.
Ofc. Gooch described the moment as a once in a lifetime event.
“To be able to rescue this bird and then release it healthy less than 24 hours later,” he said.
The bird was estimated to be about 10 years old, weighing just over nine pounds and she had a 7’ 3” wingspan.
“She is absolutely beautiful,” Wortham said. “It takes a village to help these guys. I appreciate the West End Fire Department and N.C. Wildlife. It is no exaggeration that they took their life in their hands getting into the water to save this bird. Their talons are like razor blades.”
WEFR firefighters Austin Puckett and Nick Stamatopoulos, and Lt. Matt Scott assisted with the rescue. Unable to safely disarm the bird using a blanket, they used an empty recycling bin to capture and transport it to Wortham.
“Our strong passion is helping out our community in any way we can,” said West End Fire Chief Erik Stromberg. “We do not see eagles often in the community and certainly not up close.”
WEFR eagle rescue West End Fire Chief Erik Stromberg and wildlife rehabilitator Byron Wortham watch a video taken of the bald eagle when it was rescued. Laura Douglass/The Pilot
When the eagle took flight, she was quickly joined by her mate who'd been quietly watching the release from a treetop along the water's edge.
In North Carolina, the bald eagle is listed as a threatened species. Under federal and state law, it is illegal for anyone to injure, harass, kill or possess a bird of prey or any parts of a bird of prey. This includes harming or removing a nest.
If you find an injured bald eagle, contact the Wildlife Enforcement Division at 1-800-662-7137, or (919) 707-0040 or the US Fish and Wildlife Service at (919) 856-4786.
Would love to spend a month up there. Some nice pics in the link.
Behold the Largest Congregation of Bald Eagles in the United States
Every November, hundreds if not thousands of the birds of prey gather in Haines, Alaska, to feast on salmon. The area is home to about 500 residential eagles that attract visitors year-round, most especially in the fall when migrating birds up the count to historic highs of 3,000.
By Jenna Kunze SMITHSONIANMAG.COM NOVEMBER 3, 2020 3:27PM
Despite pandemic-caused shutdowns and travel restrictions across Alaska, a small valley in the Southeast still expects its habitual visitors: bald eagles. In early November, thousands of the birds of prey gather in Haines, Alaska, forming one of the largest congregations of the species in the world.
Alaskans often depict their location in the state by using their right hand as a map. With just a pointer finger and thumb extended, thumb pointing down, the Chilkat Valley—also known as the Valley of the Eagles—is where thumb meets hand on Alaska’s panhandle.
The Chilkat Valley, a peninsula saddled between glaciated mountain chains and the Chilkat and Chilkoot river systems, is nearly 75 miles north of Juneau. The valley extends from the Canadian border south, past the indigenous village of Klukwan, to the small town of Haines, originally called Deishú by Alaska Natives, or “end of the trail.” Sitting on the deepest fjord in North America, Haines (population: 2,500) can be reached by small plane or ferry from Juneau or by car from Canada. The town draws tourists seeking world-renowned heli-skiing, hiking, local brews, a thriving arts scene and, of course, bald eagle sightings.
The area is home to about 500 residential eagles that attract visitors year-round, most especially in the fall when migrating birds up the count to historic highs of 3,000. Eagles flock to the Chilkat River flats along the Haines Highway in early November for its unique hydrology. Percolating groundwater keeps late fall runs of chum and coho salmon spawning well into winter months, providing food for the birds.
“The eagles still have access to the chum (salmon) well into November and December because there is upwelling in this area that prevents the river from freezing,” says Nicole Zeiser, the Haines’ area management biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
In 1982, the State of Alaska established the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, setting aside 48,000 acres of river-bottom to protect the eagle habitat and all five species of pacific salmon found there. That same year, a Haines local formed The American Bald Eagle Foundation (ABEF) to educate visitors on the region’s unique asset. The foundation serves as both a museum and live raptor center, home to several rehabilitated bird species called “avian ambassadors.” For the last 25 years, the nonprofit has hosted an annual four-day festival around the congregation of the eagles, consisting of a speaker series on local ecology, an artist bazaar and a film screening. For the grand finale, visitors are driven up the highway to witness a rehabilitated eagle release, followed by a banquet dinner.
Due to Covid-19 risks and stringent state travel restrictions, the festival, which typically draws around 300 visiting birders, photographers and tourists from all over the world, has been canceled. But the bald eagles, of course, haven’t gotten the message—and local residents never tire of the natural phenomenon.
One of those locals is Pam Randles, a now-retired high school science teacher and naturalist guide in Haines. Randles began counting the fall eagle migration 20 years ago as part of her teaching curriculum, and can’t quit.
“I watched them for so many years, I just have to go out to look,” she admits. On an overcast afternoon in mid-October, Randles drives her rig roughly 12 miles out to the Chilkoot River on the other of the peninsula, one of three rivers spawning salmon swim up before ending in the Chilkat River. Her binoculars bounce over potholes on the passenger seat.
“The eagles were everywhere, sitting in the trees waiting for the tides to go down so they could get some fish,” Randles recounts later that day. She laughs, describing an opportunist eagle who once snatched a fisherman’s pole with pink on the line. “It’s so cool to see them.”
The best viewing area for the eagles is the pullout off the Haines Highway at Mile Post 21 (marked by signs). The peak of congregation typically coincides, not incidentally, with the festival in the second week of November. Photographers line the river bed with tripods and all-weather gear to capture eagles in flight. When they spot salmon, the birds launch from their perch in the trees beside the river and land on their prey, dragging it to the adjacent shore to feed. Often, spectators catch a confluence of ravens and magpies that swoop in to squabble for the same fish. Late-denning grizzly bears sometimes join in on the fish feast.
The average high count of eagles is about 1,000 birds a year, counted from the ground, Randles says. That number is higher when aerial surveying is used, but plane data over the last 20 years is less consistent. The all-time high was in 2000, when Randles documented just shy of 3,000 birds. From 2009 to 2015, Randles’ counts averaged between 700 and 900 eagles.
The number of eagles in an area correlates with the abundance of fish, Randles says. In recent years, poor salmon returns in some stocks, or groups of salmon specific to certain areas, have meant a decline in eagles. This year, the Chilkat stock of chum failed to meet the healthy population estimate, or “escapement goal,” set by state biologists. State biologists measure the health of chum by counting those that come through a fish wheel on the Chilkat River, eight miles outside of Haines along the highway, then extrapolating from that number a goal population size.
Chum salmon missed their escapement goal range for 2020 significantly, by more than 50,000 fish, Zeiser says. She added that chum numbers across the state were a bust this year. State and federal agencies aren’t sure why this happened, though evidence points to environmental factors, such as poor ocean survival from fluctuating ocean temperatures or a lack of prey.
With less chum around, Zeiser says the eagles will have a harder time catching fish. Still, she’s confident the birds will survive one way or another. Missing the escapement goal one year is not a huge concern; falling short of it year after year is when it becomes an issue, according to the biologist. In 2017, the Board of Fisheries labeled the Chilkat king salmon a “stock of concern” after five years of diminishing returns. Since, more rigorous management has been put in place, contributing to a slight rebound in the stock.
“There are some coho salmon that also hang out and spawn in this area,” Zeiser says. “There should be something around for the eagles to eat, and if not, I’m sure they would adapt and eat a different food source to survive.”
When Tony Strong sips his coffee each morning from his home facing downriver on the Chilkat in Klukwan, he sees a host of animals who, like him, are indigenous to the land. Strong is Alaska Native Tlingit, a member of the Eagle-Wolf clan.
“When I see a large group of eagles, I’m seeing— emotionally—part of my family,” Strong says.
In the ancient village of Klukwan, salmon has provided sustenance as a primary source of protein for indigenous people for thousands of years. “This year has been worse than others,” Strong says of the fishing season. “Last year, you’d catch up to 100 [salmon] in one day.”
Typically, the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival’s eagle release takes place within the village, while a local group performs traditional Tlingit dances on the bank of the Chilkat River. Admission to the festival not only helps fund the foundation, but the influx of visitors helps support Klukwan’s museum, the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center, which in turn helps preserve traditional knowledge and important clan regalia.
Klukwan sealed itself off from outside entry in March to protect village elders from Covid-19 infection. While the American Bald Eagle Foundation will remain open to visitors who follow state protocols and arrive in Haines, director Cheryl McRoberts urges would-be festivalgoers to hang on until next year.
Until then, locals in the Chilkat Valley are enjoying the eagles all to themselves.
“They’re starting to accumulate on the trees next to my house,” says Strong, who goes on to talk about the natural world around him. “We share this home with the eagles and with the ravens. They’re our neighbors. I am happy that people recognize our home as the home of the eagles, as well.”
Bald eagle population thriving in Ohio, one of nation’s biggest comeback stories
WLWTUpdated: 8:36 AM EST Dec 11, 2020 Infinite Scroll Enabled
CINCINNATI — Once nearly nonexistent in Ohio, the state's bald eagle population is now thriving.
Our national symbol, the bald eagle displays many outstanding characteristics: exceptional vision, a striking appearance and a commanding presence.
Sadly, by the latter half of the 20th century, the bald eagle was classified as an endangered species. Through the diligent efforts of wildlife biologists and a concerned public, the bald eagle population is coming back and is no longer on the federal endangered species list.
Its federal and state status is now delisted, but it is still in a federal monitoring stage for five years.
In 1979, only four breeding pairs of bald eagles were reported in Ohio, according to officials with the state's Department of Natural Resources.
In 2019, a nesting survey revealed approximately 346 eagle nests within the state, with pairs producing an estimated 445 young -- showing unprecedented year-over-year growth, and a far cry from where the state was 40 years ago.
What caused the initial decline in the first place?
Habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source, due to use of the pesticide DDT, decimated the eagle population.
The bald eagle's stronghold centered around marshes and large bodies of water. Wildlife experts said about 90 percent of wetland habitats across many Midwestern states have been lost as urban centers expand, meaning our nation's symbol of boundless freedom was running out of room.
"If there's not enough natural habitat, I would assume that their only option is to make a nest in an urban setting," biologist Dan Wood said.
Wood said there is a way for man and eagle to live together. The key is remembering to respect the majesty of this amazing species -- from a distance.
Habitat protection afforded by the Endangered Species Act, the federal government's banning of DDT and conservation actions taken by the American public helped bald eagles make a remarkable recovery across Ohio and the nation.
The population within Ohio has been gradually increasing.
In recent years, the breeding populating seemed to have stabilized, with only an average 5 percent increase from 2013 to 2017.
But in 2018 and 2019, those numbers again soared. The past two years saw an unprecedented increase between 20 and 30 percent, wildlife officials said.
The bald eagle population across the state is thriving, wildlife officials said, but there's still work to be done.
Management by the division remains minimal, with primary duties including working with rehabilitators that help injured birds recover, and helping to enforce protective state and federal laws, such as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Total side bar here: Yesterday, we had the densest fog I can remember around here.
My first job was at 10 am. 23 miles away. I drove about 25-30 mph - I couldn't see.
Now, living in the country, it's not unusual for me to see red tailed hawks sitting on telephone poles or even fence poles.
It was so foggy yesterday I literally watched a hawk on the ground, walking. It wasn't injured, it had no prey.......dude just figured "I'm not flying in this weather, I'll walk."
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