If you want to see Bald Eagles, you gotta think like Bald Eagles. And they’re usually thinking of one simple 4-letter word. What is it? We’ll get to that in a second.
First, speaking of 4-letter words, here’s one that does not make sense when it comes to eagles: “bald.” The Bald Eagle’s head is covered with feathers.
Maybe Ben Franklin didn’t like the idea of this bird being America’s symbol because he didn’t like the word “bald.” He was pretty bald himself; maybe it bugged him.
Franklin suggested the Wild Turkey as our national bird. He was on the wrong side of an issue for once. Especially if he didn’t like the word “bald,” because the Wild Turkey has a bald head! It should be called the Bald Turkey. And the Bald Eagle should be called the Wild Eagle. Can this be switched? Is it too late?
Anyway. Back to the simple 4-letter word that eagles are thinking of: It’s “fish.” If you want to spot a Bald Eagle, try looking near water.
The first time I saw one, I was in Northern Michigan in the woods around Lake Gogebic. The eagle flew to a tall tree where its mate waited on a nest of sticks. I drove up a logging road to get a better look, then stood on the roof of my car amid black flies and took pictures while the eagles ignored me.
After your first sighting, you understand that it’s not impossible to spot Bald Eagles, so they become easier to find. Driving past mud flats near the Everglades I saw two sitting with crows and gulls. In Yellowstone I saw a Bald Eagle swoop over the lake like it was posing for a travel poster.
And while rafting on the shallow Chilkat River in Alaska I saw so many that the sightings got cheap. I was in danger of Bald Eagle boredom. Our raft kept getting grounded and night was falling. We didn’t see brown bears but knew they were there. I was way more interested in getting back before dark than I was in eagles. Every tree had them. Young ones with mottled brown coloration. Adults with bright heads. After a while, who cares?
In all cases, the eagles I’ve seen were near that 4-letter word: fish. This might be helpful to remember. I’m thinking of heading down to the Illinois River at Starved Rock State Park this winter to look at Bald Eagles over the open water near dams. They’ll be there; fish are there.
When I think about making this drive I remember Chilkat’s eagles and wonder if I really want to look for something I once saw in excess. The answer is a simple 4-letter word: yeah.
I totally agree. To see & find Bald Eagles, you gotta think like a Bald Eagle. My first, when my son was about 4, was after a bitter snowstorm in Missouri. Our group tip-toed out into Lake Mingo where they were wintering. The cold & snow for my son was too much & he threw the greatest fit. We stayed behind to let the group find the Eagles. As my son wailed & kicked in a snow bank, with me desperate, he silenced…I thought he truly had a stroke….He just gasped & gasped & pointed. There above us in the tree, about 10ft up was an enormous eagle, looking down on this little squirming boy like bait. I laid down beside him & we watched him watch us for 15 minutes…Our group only saw a few from a great distance… Years later my son & I tracked nesting Eagles in East Texas along several rivers with TP&W. My son had the formula down pat. Look for the tallest tree in a semi-open area over the river, & there will be the nest – End of this Story…*note: my son has never been eaten by a raptor…to date
Here in Florida we have an active Eagle Watch program. I monitor a nest about a half-mile from my condo in Martin County, on the East Coast, about 100 miles north of Miami. They just had a chick last week and I’ve posted a few photos, taken with a pocket camera through my spotting scope. You can view them and other bird pix at my blog, http://birding.kearman.com/ Thanks. — Jim