Bald Eagle - Our National Symbol

Another photo image with a red leg band. Could be the same bird ?

For alot of birds here we just report band colour for tracking purposes or a siting of an unusual but don't hear back unless that bird is out of recorded range. Then they might contact you for more specifics on the siting. I don't know if they would respond if you asked for info on origin of band colour but its worth a shot to email? I think its important to report to support the studies but because we have so many migratory birds here alot are well documented. When I lived in the Arctic that was a different ball of wax. That is where I saw my bald eagles in person. Breathtaking although I still think the snowy owls were the most significant for me because they're habitat was so remote from human access where I was. Thanks so much again for sharing this linthicum. They are so beautiful.

Thanks, dahlianut. In the past, I have reported a number tag on a Canada Goose to a bird reporting site here in Maryland, at Patuxent Research Refuge. They told me that it originated from Ohio. I don't know if the colored band on the eagles is unique to a certain state or region. I think someone saw an eagle with a blue band and they said that it came down from New York.

Since looking closer at some of these photos I'm finding additional ones, I think. Here is one that looks as though there is something on his back with a wire showing ?

No noticeable leg bands or transmitters. Just another in-flight shot .....

Another in-flight photo ..... with a red leg band. Trust me !!!

Last photo for now. This photo was taken at 700mm and is 100% crop, so sharpness is basically non-existent. Setting was 1/800 sec, F8 aperture priority, ISO 400.

O that last shot is breathtaking! Look at the expression and posture you've captured! I really hope you consider putting some of your shots in the photo contest next year so all the members can see them.

Oh MY God!!

What an Incredible shot!! Oh I am so glad I have been watching...This is spectacular as though I am right there.

...Yes, Indeed I sure am right there hoping you will submit your photos in the next Photo contest!

My night is now complete...

reminds me of another story...Ever see an Eagle literally swim? I haven't but a friend has!

Seedtosser, I haven't seen an Eagle swim but I have seen an Osprey enjoying the water ..............

Linthicum, Awsom..Osprey are real cool to watch too...Until your photo haven't ever seen one swim either.

Very Cool Shot! Aren't they Pretty to watch as well?

Fabulous images of spectacular birds , Linth.

Fabulous pics Linth! This is an outstanding thread.

Okay...have to clean my drool of the desk now.
The shot with the two passing is sooooooo cool!

and the rock shot and....

Seedtosser, that is a great memory to have about your mom. I have walked in that pair of shoes and know how it feels.

Curious. How do they capture the Eagles to tag them? Or are they raised by humans and tagged at that point or both? Somenone educate me.

Thanks

Methodical, most, if not all, of the Bald Eagles are tagged while they are still in the nest, as eaglets. Someone who is skilled in doing this will climb up the tree and bring the eaglet down to be banded, blood tests, measurements, etc. and then taken back up. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has an Eagle Cam that will probably start operating in December. Periodically, they have had problems with the web cam while the eagles are on the nest and have climbed up to make repairs. Here is a website to Blackwater that you may find of interest. You should make an effort to visit during the winter months. They have a nice visitor center, a number of walking trails and a nice wildlife drive of several miles. Many waterfowl congregate here during the winter months.

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/

Linth, I haven't been around much lately but happened upon this eagle thread of yours - and I can't possibly come up with the proper adjectives. So I will just say that they took my breath away and make me want to get out and about again with my camera.

WOW! (One of my more eloquent terms!)

Hello, Murmur . Nice to hear from you. Getting out into nature is good for the body and the mind. I'm sure you have areas around you that you could visit and take photos out of the car window, if necessary.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I took a lot of photos this past weekend. I mean a lot. Many are distant shots but I still look through them for perhaps something a little unusual, like the shadow in an above photo. When one eagle catches a fish, activity tends to pick up. I took about 10 images of two immature Bald Eagles in a chase. You can see a nice-sized fish in the talons of the lead eagle.

After a long chase, the event ends up like this ...... a dropped fish, or a "flying fish". Surprisingly, for whatever reason, they tend to drop a lot of fish.

What is basically a silhouette, the photo shows the fish in the air .......

Actually, I captured two photos while the fish was "flying" though the air .......

O the flying fish looks funny. Linthicum is it just the juveniles you notice dropping alot of fish or the adults too?

I ditto what Murmur said....wow

dahlianut, obviously the immature Bald Eagles are less experienced but the adults drop them also. You wouldn't think so with those talons ...........

Thanks, evie_beevie.

Over the weekend, it was quite breezy and the eagles took advantage of the air currents. I would follow an eagle through my viewfinder and all of a sudden, a quick turn, and it would just disappear, only to have to find it again, and refocus. They glided swiftly through the skies with unparalleled splendor undaunted by the strong breeze.

I still remember sitting in my car at a stoplight and seeing a fish land on a sidewalk nearby...then an adult Eagle swoop down to retrieve it! Not sure if he was being harassed or just had slippery talons! Great pics!

Thanks, gardenpom ....

I see eagles in my sleep ........... here's another shot. I'm trying to not duplicate the "flight pattern" as much as possible.

A slightly different flight pose .....

A little change of pace. Off in the distance, a small flock of Double-crested Cormorants floating below an approaching adult Bald Eagle. The adjacent rocks provide individual perches for the many vultures, both Turkey and Black, and the Crows and Blackbirds among other species. Great Blue Herons are seen in large numbers. Last year, I counted over 50 while standing in one location.

Wow, Linth. This continues to be an amazing thread. That first shot you posted today is a stunner, complemented by that beautiful sentence describing their journey through the sky.

Nice pictures. They are such majestic birds. I'm so glad to see these increasing in the wild again.

I was fortunate enough to see one up close at one time. I was on a camping trip in the mountains outside San Diego. I had gone out to look over the small pond that was nearby early in the morning. I was sitting on a small rise when I heard something in the tree near me. There sitting on a branch 20 feet away, and looking at me, was a Bald Eagle. It took me about 3 seconds to go through the "no, that can't be, but what else could it be, it has to be" thinking to realize that it really was. It turned as swooped off the tree to glide over the pond and land on a tree on the opposite shore. There were 2 trees, so that was what it was using for a landing. I told people about it and they didn't believe me. Two weeks later there was an article in the newspaper about one of the pairs of Bald Eagles that were released into the wild taking up residence in the mountains East of San Diego.

Thanks, Margaret. You're doing pretty good yourself with the Osprey thread and other Australian bird life.

dparsons01, thank you for sharing an awe-inspiring experience that I'm sure remains embedded in your memories forever.


The eagles love this wall .... when I arrived on Sunday morning there were 15 sitting on the wall. Here are 10 of them. I couldn't get them all in one photo.

Last one for tonight. Looks like a 3 year old (estimated) Bald Eagle .......

I gather that is a great "swooping" wall.

Don't worry about duplications!, I love every shot. Thanks so much for sharing this experience.

OMG the wall shot is amazing. I'm going to believe that the signage is to protect the eagle habitat (although probalby not but work with me folks).

Okay, here's a few more images taken this past weekend ......

Another ......

And another .........

You can see the band around the Eagles ankle and a wire in post #5788891. I gather they are being monitored.

This one has a red leg band and a fish tucked away underneath .........

It's hard to pick up a band number while in flight. The best opportunity is if you can find them perched close by which some photographers have done. I'll inquire to determine if the red leg bands have a definitive origin.

A small group of Bald Eagles in the distance ......

One more ...............