Golden Eagles on Russian River

[soarman]

Photo from Golden Eagle Wikipedia entry

As I floated down the Russian River downstream of Healdsburg early in the spring, I thought I could see what looked like an eagle's nest perched high in some trees. Finally two weeks ago, I spotted an eagle sitting at the edge of the nest. It was large and had no signs of being a bald eagle. At that point I guessed it was a golden eagle, since I had spotted one several years earlier.

Since then several of our customers have confirmed that it definitely is a golden eagle. Yesterday, I again saw the large bird hanging out close to the nest, and then I spotted a 2nd eagle, much smaller, in a different part of the same tree where the nest is. I am assuming that this is the female.

It's exciting to know there might be a breeding pair of goldens here on the Russian!
We've also had several bald eagle sightings this summer.

Hope to see more waccos on the river this summer!
soarman
russian river adventures

[Claire]

[IMGR]
Yesterday, I again saw the large bird hanging out close to the nest, and then I spotted a 2nd eagle, much smaller, in a different part of the same tree where the nest is. I am assuming that this is the female.


russian river adventures

Isn't it great? The female raptors, by the way, are generally larger than the males.

[broadbandersnatch]

Isn't it great? The female raptors, by the way, are generally larger than the males.

where?!

[Claire]

where?!

Not sure I get the question, but female raptors are larger than the males. ( the faster the prey, the larger the female, up to 50% larger! )
Also, a distinguishing characteristic of the juvenile golden eagle is the white tail with a broad, dark terminal band. This is pretty easy to spot if they are flying and no other bird around here has that marking.

[sd gross]

I find this all very exciting and I'd love a chance to see this Golden myself. Just a couple of quickies - female raptors are larger because they need to be, in order to accommodate their eggs. Immatures reach full size rather quickly, and because they don't have to burn as much energy as adults (who are out hunting for the family), it's easy to mistake them as adults. Immature Bald Eagles don't sport an all-white tail and head until they're 4 or 5 years old, so immatures, because of their size and coloration, or sometimes mistaken for Goldens. Baldies eat fish, riparian birds and carrion, and tend to hang near water, whereas Goldens are more into jack rabbits and small mammals.

Just wondering if there's been a POSITIVE I.D. re which bird you and your clients have been seeing.

I'm heading up to Healdsburg tomorrow, and if you don't mind, I'd love to know the location of your sighting, so I can attempt to get lucky myself!

Thanks for your attentiveness, for getting out there and for caring!

appreciatively
stephen

p.s. Did you know the words "rapture" and "raptor" both suggest something lifting something else "Heavenward"?

p.p.s. Have you heard about the 5 California Condors recently seen about 10 miles east of San Jose?!
What a sight THAT would be!!

[Claire]

Eagle-spotting 101

When spotting a large bird in flight and trying to identify it, I first check for wing stability.

~Most birds are going to be turkey vultures, who within about 3 seconds will have tilted a bit or teetered from side to side. If it hasn't done this I look further to see its wing tilt: the bald eagle is usually flat as a plank in flight, sometimes not, but never really correcting itself. There is the same heft and stability to the golden, but usually with a bit of a 'v', but not as much as the vulture.

~The next most common bird is the redtail hawk, whose solid rusty tail is a give away but even the dark-tailed juveniles have that shorter and broader wing ratio. Eagle wingspan is long! There are many hawks around but the wings look more rounded.

~The next less common bird could be an osprey along the river and nearby hills, but they clearly have white breasts from a distance and that definitive crook at the elbow. It's always cool to see an osprey.

~So, look for the white markings of the bald eagle, the white tail feathers with broad dark terminal band (Indian chief feathers) of the juvenile golden or the speckled dark with light spots all-over of the juvenile bald.

Having lived in Alexander Valley, I can tell you there are a lot of eagles that frequent the area year-round. We had an eagle tree that is an old Douglas fir that grew next to the spring up the hillside. Since it was the oldest and tallest tree around, they perched there all the time and I could watch them silhouetted against the sky. Spectacular!

[stuartdole]

I find this all very exciting and I'd love a chance to see this Golden myself. ............

Saw a flock of crows harassing a golden eagle last week in Santa Rosa - just off W College. No question about ID - it was HUGE, compared to the red tails we sometimes see. Those crows were having a fit!

[Dixon]

Saw a flock of crows harassing a golden eagle last week in Santa Rosa - just off W College. No question about ID - it was HUGE, compared to the red tails we sometimes see. Those crows were having a fit!

Are you sure it wasn't a vulture, Stuart? I live near College Avenue and recently saw crows harassing one of them. I'd be surprised if there were eagles here in town.

[stuartdole]

Are you sure it wasn't a vulture, Stuart? I live near College Avenue and recently saw crows harassing one of them. I'd be surprised if there were eagles here in town.

Yep, no question. While I'm not a true "birder" I do recognize most of the more common and charismatic species. And yes, I was surprised too.

I've seen the vultures too - very different - there are several in the area.

This bird does not seem to be a resident (haven't seen it since, or before) - I spend a good deal of time outside in my backyard, and the open space behind that (adjacent to the City's ponds on Stony Point, just north of Santa Rosa Creek). I listen for the bird chatter even when I'm inside - the jays, crows, and mockingbirds all report on various issues - cats, hawks, each other - and the eagle was way off-scale.

[Ernieman]

I was working on my place on Ross Road last Month and I looked up and saw a Bald Eagle crusing around. He circled for awhile. I suspect he was watching the agriculture ponds and Atascadero Creek nearby.
EC

[Claire]

p.p.s. Have you heard about the 5 California Condors recently seen about 10 miles east of San Jose?!
What a sight THAT would be!!

My brother was down in Big Sur yesterday and had the sighting of a lifetime. There in a tree were two California Condors next to the road. One flew by about 15 ft from him and he just about lost it. He said it was huge beyond belief.
I cannot wait to go myself.