[obol] Re: Eagle ID?

From: Jim Anderson <jimnaturalist@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Frank Isaacs <fbisaacs@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 08:47:38 -0800

Two more Bald Eagle observations to throw into the pot: the interaction of
various ages of Bald Eagles. Over here, on the dry side of the Cascades, in
Spring when the ground squirrels wake up, adult and young Bald Eagles are
waiting for them.
There's baldy playground east of Bend in the Bear Creek area that my wife
and I have been going by for several years in our work with goldens for
Frank and OEF. It's 80/160 acre irrigated hay fields where baldies come to
grab up the ground squirrels, take them to about 50-feet above the surface
and then play football with them.
We have witnessed yearling baldies actually tackling each other, and
adults, (violently) on the ground to take possession of the ground squirrel
and then when they have it in the air actually passing the prey (football)
from one to another by tossing it in air. The party only lasts for about a
week, but it's quit a show. Adults and young birds grasping feet in the
air, and whirling down, all that kind of interaction.
There's also the cleanup crew of baldies that appear with ravens when
shooters leave the hay fields where they've been killing/shooting ground
squirrels. We have witnessed eagles and ravens (and TVs) respond to the
noise of gunfire and gather in the trees waiting for the shooters to leave.
If lead ammunition is used it's tough on eagles.

Jim & Sue Anderson
Sisters

On Mon, Feb 11, 2019 at 8:50 PM Frank B. Isaacs <fbisaacs@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Thanks Judy. The perched eagle in the top picture is a bald eagle that
probably hatched last spring so is approaching 1-year old. The two perched
in the bottom picture are ~2 (left) and ~3 (right) year-old bald eagles.
The lower flying bird looks like a 1-year-old bald eagle and I suspect the
upper flying bird is an adult golden eagle. Are there any other pictures
that show that bird’s head? If so, I would like to see them. As Lars noted,
none of the eagles are adult bald eagles.

I have never witnessed an encounter between adult bald and adult golden
eagles near the nest of either species. By the time they have survived to
become nesting adults they apparently know to respect one another’s
defended territories. I have seen adults of both species chase subadults of
the other species away from the adult’s nest. That probably happens because
the inexperienced juvenile or subadult unwittingly wanders to close for
the adults comfort. I also have seen subadults of the same species visit
nests that have an adult pair in attendance. Sometimes that results in an
aggressive chase by the adults, sometimes the intruder seems to be
tolerated. Occasionally, a subadult will become part of a breeding pair and
subadults have been known to nest successfully in both species.
Consequently, they can be sexually mature and exhibit real nesting behavior
before attaining adult plumage.

The eagle world is complicated and getting more so each year as the bald
eagle population increases.
Thanks for sharing the photos.
Frank
______________________

Frank B. Isaacs
Oregon Eagle Foundation, Inc.
24178 Cardwell Hill Drive
Philomath, OR 97370-9735
541-231-1674
fbisaacs@xxxxxxxx
______________________

“Even the worst field notes are better than the best memory.” - Sergej
Postupalsky

On Feb 11, 2019, at 6:17 PM, Judy Todd <judy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Thanks Frank.

---- On Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:43:53 -0800 Frank B. Isaacs <fbisaacs@xxxxxxxx>
wrote
----

Judy,
I would like to see and comment on the eagle pictures you posted today.
For some odd reason, they would not download. Please send the photos
directly to my address and maybe that will work. Thanks!
Frank
______________________

Frank B. Isaacs
Oregon Eagle Foundation, Inc.
24178 Cardwell Hill Drive
Philomath, OR 97370-9735
541-231-1674
fbisaacs@xxxxxxxx
______________________

“Even the worst field notes are better than the best memory.” - Sergej
Postupalsky

On Feb 11, 2019, at 5:21 PM, Judy Todd <judy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

wrote:

A friend took these after watching the drama and chase. Does it appear

that the 'intruder' was a golden? What other eagle would chase or wound
resident bald eagle adults or juveniles near their nest? Any ideas? Near
ponds at Molalla, OR. Judy Todd, 503-260-4995

Judy Todd
503-260-4995

NatureConnectNW.com

--
Jim
Please note my new email address: jimnaturalist@xxxxxxxxx

References:
- [obol] Eagle ID?
  - From: Judy Todd
- [obol] Re: Eagle ID?
  - From: Frank B. Isaacs

[obol] Re: Eagle ID?

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