A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum Bald Eagles!!!

Our local paper had an article last week about some bald eagles that are wintering in some woods right on the side of a grocery store parking lot that is about 15 minutes from here. While this is not unheard of along the river here in the county, it's pretty unusual for them to be inland and in a busy business area. I had to go to the mall to return something this afternoon, and it is directly across the street from this grocery store. So I figured I'd do some food shopping there and look for the eagles - kinda like killing 2 birds with one stone, ya know? JUST A METAPHOR - don't get upset!!!

When I arrived, there were 2 men with the most GINORMOUS camera lenses I have ever seen! They hadn't seen the eagles today and were quite nasty to me when I asked about them. So I went inside and did my shopping, and when I came out there was a small crowd a few yards down from where the men had been.

YEP - I saw it! A HUGE, BEAUTIFUL male bald eagle in all his bald glory!!! Just sitting there in the top of a tree. People were talking loudly and taking tons of pictures and the bird just sat. I felt sorry for it a bit. But I was also very happy that I saw it - it's been many years since we use to see them regularly when we lived in Alaska.

There was a smaller crowd a bit further down so I went to look over there - a juvenile eagle was in a tree top there. Also just sitting and staring back down at the humans who were staring up at it.

I might be going back tomorrow with a camera. Of course I don't have lenses like those guys, but any picture is better than none, right? :wink:

that is fantastic, Lynne. yes please go back with a camera, becvause any picture is better than none. we live like 30 minutes from a river town & the eagles are there a lot--I have seen 1 eagle, one time--you would think being that close we would go once in awhile but alas we do n ot.
Having said that, if you have the opportunity, yes, go--that would be wonderful for you.

Lynne ~ Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner!

I have never seen a bald eagle up close and personal like that. You must have been thrilled despite the guys w/ the camera and the crowds.

I do hope you get some pictures because you always put up such nice photos. I'd love to see!


Merme

I have NEVER seen a LIVE eagle of ANY kind ANYWHERE in my life, believe it or not. And even more amazing, I have no desire to see one. For some reason, they just don't interest me like other birds do. Maybe because here in the U.S. you see SO MANY MILLIONS of depictions and pictures of them that they become boring and even a little nauseating. If one shows up, I will say, "Hey look, an eagle", I'll take a couple of pictures and then look for a more exciting bird like a Sparrow or Robin.

I don't know, thorny----in real life, so to speak, they are pretty magnificient.

but to each his own--that is what makes the world go round, right???

If you ever 'met' an Eagle, you'd change your opinion fast. They are anything but boring. There are six Bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle down by the river now, that I get to enjoy whenever I go to town!

A Golden Eagle must be beautiful, Bill! I've never seen one of them, either.

you are one lucky man, Bill. such a beautiful place to live AND wondrous birds too---

WOW Thorny - I never expected to read that from you. Even though we got used to seeing them pretty much daily in Alaska, I still think they are VERY majestic birds, and the fact that they are now here in an area where they've not been spotted before is a very big deal for our county.

There was another article in our paper today, but this time it was more about the people bird watching than the eagles themselves. I happened to be standing next to the reporter yesterday as she interviewed a man who bought a camera expressly for taking pictures of these birds.

She also wrote of a man who was there with his 2 young kids the other day who was bored with the fact that the eagles were just sitting in the trees. He started whistling at them, and when they didn't move, he went to his car and got out a set of toy cymbals and started clanging them loudly. He also threw 2 hotdogs out at the trees where the eagles sat. Apparently others tried to get him to stop. It is illegal to harass wildlife and he could have been hit up with a very large fine.

Another man apparently jumped the fence - against everyone else's concern and pleas to stop, and went running around in the woods trying to get the eagles to fly off - they did, and that angered everyone once again. He also would have been fined for harassment if authorities had been there!

that is just sad Lynne. why would anyone want to act like that.

Often such actions make me wonder what makes people tick

He would have gotten socked in the eye if I had been there. Eagles are my personal friends, and I will always protect them... especially George and Martha, the valley resident Eagles who live in Ms. Meima's Maple tree!
Some people are just JERKS!

I HAVE seen some spectacular pictures of 6 Bald eagles fighting over the carcass of a deer in the snow. A friend of mine in Minnesota took it. We do have Bald Eagles very close to my house. I have just never seen one.

I totally agree with you, Bill!!! I have the article here, and it states... "Harassing, disturbing or injuring a bald eagle is a federal offense and carries a penalty of up to $100,000 and one year in jail for a first offense."

Where are the authorities when you need one???

... at the donut shop?

I just realized the names of your eagles, Bill! Too cute!!!

Do YOUR local authorities know MY local authoritites, Bill??