BackYard and BarnYard Bliss: February 2010

The above is a young bird.... no white head yet.

Yesterday, February 20th, the Salamonie Interpretive Nature Center sponsored their 3rd Annual Eagle Watch. Information distributed there indicates that on June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress voted for the Nation's symbol. The Golden Eagle lost due to it also being native to Europe. The Turkey, which was Ben Franklin's choice, is a truely native American bird but lost out to the Bald Eagle. At that time there was estimated to be over 500,000 Bald Eagles that called North America home.

Because of the introduction and use of DDT, by 1963 there were less than 500 pairs. In 1972, DDT was outlawed and since that time the Bald Eagle has been making a brave comeback. While they have been removed from the Endangered Species List, they are still protected by the Migratory Bird Act (1918) as well as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (1940). If you should be fortunate enough to encounter one of these majestic birds please remember to give them the respect and space that they deserve.

Just a few Bald Eagle facts:
1. They are 4 to 5 years old before getting the white head and tail. This is also when they reach mating age.
2. Eagles mate for life.
3. Pound for pound, the Eagle's wing is as strong as an airplane wing.
4. The Bald Eagle has a 10-plus square mile hunting range.
5. Vision is six to eight times better than humans. They have both binocular and monocular vision and can see color, but they cannot see at night.
6. They may build two nests...... just in case.
7. Both parents incubate the eggs but it is mostly done by the female. The male does brings food to the female.
8. New nests can be 4 feet deep and 5 feet in diamter. The largest ever recorded was 10 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, weighing 4,000 pounds.

Our day out watching for Eagles started in mid-afternoon. While a little on the gray side, the weather was near perfect for February. We originally had concerns that incoming weather might prevent us from being able to participate...... but that was not to be the case. John and I met up with my very good friend from work and his wife.

After a brief tutorial on Eagles we joined one of three caravans. They had a much larger group than in the previous two years and were kind of overwhelmed with the number of cars they were going to be dealing with.

We couldn't have been more than a couple of miles from our starting point when we spotted an Eagle flying. Sorry that I didn't get a picture of it but it was a good indication that we were indeed going to see Eagles. We saw some awesome winter scenery also.

And we did see more Eagles! It was truly spectacular and quite an experience. We were able to view a nest and there were two birds occupying it - one actually in the nest and the other on a limb.

At the roosting spot John counted twelve birds in the tree line. It was breathtaking - to actually see them flying in for the night! We had no idea that there were that many Eagles in our area. Do you see them? Sorry that we couldn't get closer, but as I said before, these bird deserve their space.