Saw a magnificent, fully mature Bald Eagle out at the pond the other day. Hope that it stays and builds a nest, it's welcome to any fish it might eat!
At my place last year I think they liked feeding on the Tp that were slowing down due to the colder water temps. Makes them an easier catch. Last year, like you I was pleased to see one hanging around but after 90 days of it being at the pond everyday. The Tp were gone pretty quick with the cold water and the eagle but after that I had seen enough of it feeding on my hsb, lmb cnbg and res. "Majestic Birds" yes, but they are still a bird that eat my fish!! And now, after last years experience, I just consider them another threat in my plans of growing some nice fish. And another thing is I worry about taking my 7# Maultiepoo Charlie with me and walking him around the pond when the eagle is around. He is a white ball of fluff and could be an easy target of the eagle. I'm happy for you being pleased about the Eagle though, it's just not my cup of tea!
That’s cool…………… The primary reason I built a pond was for wildlife enhancement, so I’d be down for having an eagle around.
A couple of months ago I witnessed a red-tail hawk swoop down and attack a full grown duck, which was swimming in the pond. After a bit of commotion the hawk let go of the duck and flew away. The duck immediately swam to shore where it sat on the ground for the rest of the day, before flying away in the evening.
Not to high jack...but check out this video of a redtail hawk taking a screech owl out of it's nest-box:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5hfc2bfmOM
So much for worrying about snakes and raccoons!! How in the world do you capture that kind of video!!?? I was excited just to see a wood duck fly into mine!!
I know!!
I always think of owls as somewhat of an apex bird. I guess the Red Tail Hawk didn't get the memo.
Here is an eagle photo I took a while back... they are indeed majestic birds. Their voice caught me off-guard the first time I ever heard one though. I guess all those years of the movie and television industry dubbing in the screech of a red-tailed hawk for every scene with an eagle had my brain expecting that instead of the short, staccato, chirps that bald eagles actually make. Haha...
I haven't seen any on my property yet, but one flew over a couple years ago. Pretty cool...
/c
That bird looks bad ass!! A couple years back I took my wife out fishing on Lake Sam Rayburn. It is pretty rare to see a bald eagle even though they do nest around the lake. I spotted one and pointed it out to her. Her first siteing became very real as the bald eagle swooped down within 100 ft of our boat and grabbed about a 2 pound largemouth bass and flew off with it!!! A true thing of beauty. I have fished this lake for 40 years and that is the first time to see one actually catch a fish. She probably been on the lake a dozen times in her life and gets to witness that with me that morning. Great day!!