Bald Eagle 2x's this week

[ROC4K]

Well for the second time this week I've been standing in the yard and had the bald eagle come over the top of the roof at treetop level. Today he landed in a tree at the corner of our property and watched us for 10 minutes. Over the last eight years we always likened the eagles visits to my father's spirit returning home to visit. Well from the looks of things he's been waiting to come back for dinner and chicken is on the menu! I'm going to move my camera out by the scattergun...this way I can still get a shot off even if only with the camera. The life of a chicken farmer

 

[iajewel]

I really wouldn't worry about bald eagles to much. they are scavangers not hunters and when they do hunt, they are follwoing water ways.
Im also into falconry, and anyone that has put in thier 10yrs and has the privlage to hunt with eagles, chooses the golden eagle.. the bald eagles just are not hunters..
My guess is you live by a river or body of water and he is resting, and hanging out. Now kill something and toss it out and ya.. he will be all over it LOL..

Owls, and hawks will do much more damage.

 

[aiwetir]

um bald eagles hunt plenty well. i would describe baldies as opportunists, they see one of your hens dust bathing and think it's hurt, they'll come get it.

specifically for falconry, a golden may be better, but don't be lulled into thinking that bald's don't hunt.

 

[iajewel]

No one said they don't hunt. I live by 2 bald eagle nests and worry more about other raptors then I ever will them.. They are not the cause for panic as others..
You are right.. they are oppertunists.. not "hunters" like other raptors.. (that doesn't mean they don't hunt.. just means they arne't as willing to)

 

[Linda in San Diego]

In my mom's last letter to me before she passed in her sleep, she wrote about fishing for salmon along a river in Alaska along with bears and bald eagles who were also fishing from the same river.

I hope your eagles just want to soar - feed them salmon...

 

[ROC4K]

Neither of my dogs sounded any alarm.... which is rare. He was throwing a wingspan. I do live along a river and do on regular see the eagles. They are nowhere near as scarce as they were thirty years ago. This however was a straight-line fly over of the coop and run. I actually might be thrilled enough for the chance to see the hunt that a chicken may be a good trade. I've seen them fish much bigger than my catches out of the lake and in Canada they will beat the flies to a fish skin.

I do have a covered run with 1# chicken wire and will eventually just let nature have it's way with the birds to range but through this season they have restricted movement...they are only around 7-8 weeks.

 

[aiwetir]

Quote:
actually you said "they are scavangers not hunters"

but yeah i agree they prefer not to hund

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Quote:
I think dad is hungry

iajewel, sorry but you are incorrect. My wife and I have witnessed a Bald Eagle swoop down and kill a pheasant and then eat it. This all happened about 200 yards from our back door. It was amazing to see. We've also seen them in the fields near our home having a fresh rabbit for lunch. Bald Eagles are opportunists. if they find a carcass then why bother hunting when an easy meal is at hand. The same goes for a bunch of chickens. Big fat and easy to catch, an opportunity they just can't turn down.

You are 100% correct though that I worry far more about the Red tail hawk we see hunting from a power pole 75 feet from our house all the time, the Great Horned owl that roost in a pine tree next to our house, and the frequent sighting of coopers hawks. Bald eagles are relatively low on my list of concerns.