Thursday, February 25, 2010

Thursday Walkabout: Our National Bird

The Bald Eagle became our national bird in 1782, and is the one eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea eagle with a white head. Bald eagles may be found throughout most of North America, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico.

Bald eagles were declared an endangered species in 1967 in most areas of the United States. In 1995, the US Fish and Wildlife Service upgraded the status of bald eagles in the lower 48 states to "threatened." In 2007 the American bald eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List. They are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in Bald Eagles in our neck of the woods. They’re literally in our back yards in this area now.  Until that time, I had never seen a Bald Eagle up close and personal. Viewing a Bald Eagle in flight makes my heart skip a beat!  This ‘eagle season’ I’ve had two meetings with them. A few weeks ago an eagle swooped my car (just saying hi?) when I was getting close to home. A few days after that encounter, I was feeding the geese and one flew just a few feet over our heads peering down on us. Awesome! (But, maybe he/she was eyeing my geese?!).

Mr. W and I were able to capture some photos of  “our locals” this week.  In the mosaic you will see an eagle in flight, and one roosting in the tree  – both of those eagles have a mottled appearance. That means he or she is a juvenile. They’re not the best quality pics – lots of zoom and crop here, but not bad! I’ll throw in my favorite shot of the day at the end.

eagle_mosaic2010

IMG_8902

Enjoy your day!

sig3

42 comments:

ain't for city gals said...

Wow....I had to call my husband in to see the pics...I woould love to see one one day...

Dog Trot Farm said...

Beautiful and majestic, puts a lump in my throat.

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

Aren't they beautiful? We see them on the river behind our house. Most every time we go up river in the summer we stop at the eagle's nest to watch (No not the gas station Eagle stop either)

Debbie said...

Isn't it exciting? I moved here from Dallas Texas 15 yrs ago where I had never seen a real eagle. Now we live just blocks from the Illinois River which is a winter nesting ground for hundreds. I never get tired of seeing eagles:)
Good photos!
Debbie

Down On The Farm said...

BEAUTIFUL!! I love eagles and you're right, we do see more of them now than we used to! I think your pictures are GREAT and yes, majestic. Sure hope this cold snap is our last one. I am SO READY FOR SPRING!!!!! Have a great day, Tammy!

GardenOfDaisies said...

They are such awesome birds. And I think it very likely that they were eyeing your geese. The biggest thing we see with any regularity around here are the hawks.

Deanna said...

Gorgeous pictures! Our drive home takes us along the Missouri River bluffs. A bald eagle swooped hubby's car (guess they do like to drop down and say hi) the other day. I was so jealous I wasn't there to see it. I want to go eagle watching this year. I guess it is about that time, huh.

Unknown said...

Nice finish shot! I've only seen this elusive bird a couple of times, too, and it certainly takes your breath away! So majestic! You are blessed to have such bird neighbors.

Unknown said...

Awesome birds! I love seeing them in flight but they are so majestic sitting on a branch or stone.
You captured them so beautifully. TYSM for sharing.

Have a beautiful day.
Hugs, Marydon

Girl Tornado said...

Awesome pics Tammy! I love that last one too. I saw my first one here in southern KS several months ago... as I was driving down our 3 mile gravel road toward home, one came swooping across some cropland to my right, and then over my car. I had to stop the car and watch its flight... sure wish I would have had my camera with me! It's the first and only time I've seen one around here, but we have the Arkansas River about 15 miles away, and I know they've been seen there.

Melinda said...

Very cool pictures--I'm not sure I'd be comfrotable with an eagle THAT close to me.
I'm fraidy of birds. They are beautiful to watch from afar though.

Enjoy your day.

melinda

Karen said...

Beautiful, especially the last photo. We have them in our neck of the woods, too, and it is always a thrill to see them. I just tear up to see one soaring.

Lynn said...

Nice pictures! How cool, to be able to see these eagles right in your back yard. We don't see them in our neck of the woods, but when we've been to the Pacific Northwest, we have. They are neat to see.

Laurie at Turner Farm said...

BEAUTIFUL Photos. We've had 2 mature and 2 young eagels in our back field. I watch them each day as I do dishes. My camera is not strong enough to capture any photos. LOVE watching them. Thank you for sharing, your photos are wonderful!

Ann On and On... said...

Are you serious? You continue to alter my natural breathing patterns. I love the photos.

Cheryl said...

Beautiful photos, I think I'd be nervous seeing such a large bird flying around my yard, keep those geese safe!!!!! I'm sure people who live on the river have them but I've never had a sighting here at my place. Lots of crows.......

The Urban Cowboy said...

Right on! Those are some great photos!

Kilauea Poetry said...

I get excited just to see an Owl or a hawk! But just to catch one of these fabulous creatures would be so cool! Your shots in flight of them are just powerful..you must be jazzed! I can bet they were eyeballing your geese too!! Anyway, I like the history and read somewhere they were a problem once long ago..I'm glad they're protected but aren't endangered anymore though. Great Thursday walkabout! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for your visit too-
Regina

Prim Rose Hill ©2008-2020 said...

Absolutely beautiful pictures! They are so majestic, aren't they? Hope you have a wonderful Friday and weekend! :)

Hugs,
Sheri

Lois Christensen said...

I've never seen one that close either! Amazing!

Tonia said...

COOL PICS!! I had never seen them until about 10 yrs ago.. Then we started seeing them more often.. Had one fly over the house the other day! My chickens scrambled for cover!!

Rural Rambler said...

Stunning pictures Tammy! Last capture, awesome. We have one in our little bit of country, very possibly two. Not sure on our sightings. It is a rare sight too. Nothing frequent like you are lucky enough to experience. Wow! Now that was a Thursday Walkabout.

V.L. Locey said...

Excellent photos!

We have some bald eagles that nest in our PA Grand Canyon, and we`ve been lucky enough to see these birds on wing. Truly a breathtaking sight!

Unknown said...

Great photos Tammy! I love, love, love eagles. Maybe it has something to with my maiden name..(it starts with Bald)

I own a little house that backs onto a river. One morning, while I lived there, I was sitting at the table eating breakfast and out of the trees across the river flew a bald eagle straight towards me before quickly turning to follow the river. I will never forget watching him. He was beautiful. Great post!

Have a wonderful weekend.
~Andrea~

Jackie said...

I've only seen Eagles a few times and they are amazing to watch. Beautiful!! I love the last photo. I just heard sad news that in Shelby County they just found one shot. I can't imagine why anyone would do that.

Jackie

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

Your pictures are breathtaking! I love to just look and relax when I'm at your blog.

Janet @ My Miniature Donkeys said...

Spectacular!

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

Amazing, are they not?! You got incredible pics of them. The last is breathtaking!

We have one that lives near the farm near the creek. It's nest is on top of a dead tree, about 60 feet up. Now my goal is to get some good pics of it!
Thanks for such a lovely post, Tammy!
xo, misha

Jayme Goffin, The Coop Keeper said...

How wonderful! All we have in NW Indiana are buzzards....
I'll be in your neck of the woods at the end of the month, I sure hope I see an eagle.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

How lucky you are to be able to see such beautiful birds. Here in west Texas, we only have hawks, owls and buzzards. Have a great weekend, blessings,Kathleen

Kilauea Poetry said...

Hi Tammy..thanks, I did leave a comment but I realize we don't always go back. We're about 10 roads fromt the coast but maybe the worst hit areas from that 1960 9.5 earthquake in Chili which generated the tusnami here (in the town of Hilo)(literally bending parking meter poles if you can believe)?! You know, you can never tell? I mean, first the one in Japan and now this..hmm? I can keep you posted as far as where I am though. Thanks for your sweet comments and concern! (Hugs) Have a terrific weekend!

Diana Ferguson said...

Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.

Elle Bee said...

Awesome that you got those shots!! So majestic. I love your new header, and the tabs at the top.

Down On The Farm said...

I don't think there will be fabric in our WalMart for much longer. We have heard they are taking it out. I told them that if they didn't have the new liquor section in the store there would be more room for all the stuff they are removing from the store. I don't think they appreciated my comment but it is TRUE. We just have an "old" WalMart, not a super store. And in Eldon there's just no place left to buy anything. We have WalMart, Dollar General, Orscheln and the grocery stores. I am not a WalMart fan, but there's really not much choice! Have a GREAT GREAT DAY! And I LOVE the new header on your blog :0!!!

elvira pajarola said...

Cara Tammy.........what marvellous creatures...so fascinating; and having them sooooo closly to photography them: what luck and how well you did it!!!!!! It is so very difficult to take pics of birds....! You did a fantastic work!!!!!!!!!

I love your blossoms....on your header....so sweet!
We are already touching spring...it is wonderful!!!!!!
I do appreciate so much your visits in my tuscany!!!!!
have a happy week!!!!!
ciao ciao elvira

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Love watching the hawks and eagles soar over our valley. Great post, enjoyed it greatly.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I was just droppin' in to see how ya'll were doing. I love watching these majestic birds soar above the Ponderosa.

You have yourself a fantastically blessed day!!!

Q said...

Being so near the Eagles must be inspiring.
We had a pair nesting not too far from our house a few years ago. I would detour when I was out running errands so I could drive by and hopefully get a glimps of the female sitting on her nest.
Beautiful birds...
Sherry

Missouri Gal said...

Wow, those are great photos! They make my heart skip a beat as well. Beautiful birds!

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

too cool tammy! they are very regal looking but not everyone wanted them as the national bird back in the day. love your blog header. so pretty!

Catherine said...

beautiful pictures of eagles Tammy! we don't have them here, glad to see them.

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