Surprise visitor at tower site

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71340Duster

71340Duster

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
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Oak Harbor WA
I don't know if this eagle hit the communications tower and landed in the site or what. I didn't want to get any closer than what I did to snap this pic. Going back tomorrow, if it's still in there I'll likely call Fish and Wildlife. I've seen bear, deer, and eagles going to com sites, just never had any IN the site.
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I'm no expert, but it looks like it's stunned. I have seen birds that ran into a window or got hit by a car and if they were still alive that is what they looked like. Not really alert. Some make it and some don't.

Jack
 
I'm the furthest from an expert, I agree though this eagle did not look right or act right standing inside the fence. I've learned that the eagle came off the endangered species list in 2007, they are now considered "sensitive". I found the phone number for a representative for eagles in Skagit county, I'll call him but am doubtful he will respond, even the rehabilitationalists don't have the facilities to pick up animals/birds. I'm hoping he's flown, but if not I'm going to try to corral him out through the open gate, that ought to make for an interesting start to my day!
 
It was dark when I got to the site and I almost missed her but saw her in between the last building I checked.
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I called it in and the WDFW's Skagit county eagle expert showed up with a dog kennel and a blanket, gloves etc. We devised a capture plan and he caught her. He told me she was a juvenile golden eagle, said I could tell by looking at how the feathers on her legs went all the way down to the talons. He said it didn't appear to have a broken wing but was in "bad shape" as far as weakness. He took the raptor to Sedro Woolley to meet up with a rehabilitationalist from Whatcom county. I hope it makes it. It's possible I've been told that it's just not a good hunter, that can happen and does more frequently and in larger numbers than I knew.
 
Great job in helping rescue the bird. And thanks for telling us what kind of eagle! Been over thirty years since I've seen either one in the wild. Magnificent creatures.
 
I spotted this bald eagle on the way home on Feb 25th, 2013.
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An eagle with a mullet. LOL
 
I put the photo out there & it turned out that a former classmate of mine was a bird rescuer. Leah & her daughter were able to capture it & it was sent to the Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska. It was nursed back to health & released back into the wild on April 1, 2013.

They named it Barry.

Leah Connor photo after she got him home.
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Was it here where there was the video of a deck hand at Dutch Harbor feeding a whole bunch of Baldies on the boat? Pretty cool to see that.
 
Glad you helped the bird out. We have a few nesting about half mile from us. Nothing like being outside cooking and seeing them circling the lake...
 
inkjunkie said:
Glad you helped the bird out. We have a few nesting about half mile from us. Nothing like being outside cooking and seeing them circling the lake...
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There is a resident eagle living across the small lake our property is on, I'm waiting for the day to see him nail a bass or crappie.
 
71340Duster said:
There is a resident eagle living across the small lake our property is on, I'm waiting for the day to see him nail a bass or crappie.
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I used to walk the trail by the lake. Was down there right as the sun was coming up...seen one of the Eagles flying with a large snake in his feet...Pretty neat to watch. Have to get over to Cour'dalene (sp?) Lake when the Eagles are there this winter. Last time we went we saw dozens flying...cruising above the water....hmmm...sounds like justification for buying a good lens for the camera...
 
inkjunkie said:
I used to walk the trail by the lake. Was down there right as the sun was coming up...seen one of the Eagles flying with a large snake in his feet...Pretty neat to watch. Have to get over to Cour'dalene (sp?) Lake when the Eagles are there this winter. Last time we went we saw dozens flying...cruising above the water....hmmm...sounds like justification for buying a good lens for the camera...
Click to expand...

The first time I saw an American Bald Eagle was when I was stationed in Lewiston, Idaho. I saw them all the time along the Clearwater River, east of Lewiston. Awesome!
 
For a while the bald eagles were so scarce in the US that they would import them from Nova Scotia, Canada...where they had too many of them. Those American bald eagles you see might be Canadian bald eagles. Just an FYI
 
stopped traffic in our little town. Sat on a pole on main street.

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I received a phone call questioning the event/particulars from someone in my company who does nothing but birds. We are a utility with windfarms so this person is in constant communication with the environmentalists etc. He said often he's talking about a dead animal and he's glad in my situation it was brought in alive. I'm not sure what all this person does, but I know he's involved with where they install devices that keep birds from getting electrocuted, do things to keep them from hitting the vanes on the wind turbines etc. He's involved with all of the rehab people and he said they are about to release an eagle back into the wild that made it. I was surprised on how powerful of an effect that this eagle had on me, it truly was an awesome bird and again I hope it makes it.
 
This is a great story, thanks for sharing it with us and all of you who posted pics!
Yeah, i hope the bird makes it too.......
 
Thank you for all of your efforts in saving this magnificent bird.
I've been fortunate to see bald eagles wintering at Big Bear Lake here in SoCal.

 
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