Bald Eagle in Poultry Area

[centrarchid]

I am setting up for prescribed burns today. When checking on barn from house I could see an adult Bald Eagle perched in tree behind barn. Chickens appeared aware of it, but where still out foraging. Eagle viewed through binoculars appeared to be looking at feeding station for Great-horned Owl used to keep owl from coming into barn. Currently the owl feeding station is provisioned with four turkey carcasses. Somebody has been eating off them, but I do not know who. The feeding station is in full view of Bald Eagles that fly over daily. Will post pictures shortly. Game camera will be positioned over feeding station. Eagle and owls present, but not after chickens might keep some bad guys away so will be watching for that.

Eagle flew off without coming down. I really wanted to see how the chickens would respond to eagle on the ground close by. One of the American Dominique roosters was messing very close to the feeding station but had cover to retreat to if needed.

 

[centrarchid]

First image shows Bald Eagle in largest tree behind barn to right. Tree appears to be between barn in background and shed in foreground.

Second image has my daughter looking at eagle with binoculars.

 

[centrarchid]

Burns complete. Will doing some heavy seeding and cleaning up. The more open look should help make approach more attractive to Bald Eagle.

I managed to spill a partial bag of corn gluten. Most of honey bees coming in for it do not appear to be mine even though my hive is close and strong. Someone in the area has a lot of bees that look Caucasion or Carnolian.

 

[50-45-1]

Very cool!
Is it possible the bees are wild?
30 years ago i had a couple large maple trees that were dead in my woods. When we fell them to use for fire wood. They both had wild bee hive about half way up inside a hollow cavities. I called a local bee man who came at night an got them, and he put the honey comb in buckets for me.
I ended up with 12 quarts of honey. It lasted me years, and i still have one jar that has not crystalized. None of it ever crtstalized like the stuff you get in the stores.
I can not see the bald eagle in your pictures. I see them here sometimes, circling. Usually way up. The chickens pay little attenation.

 

[centrarchid]

Very cool!
Is it possible the bees are wild?
30 years ago i had a couple large maple trees that were dead in my woods. When we fell them to use for fire wood. They both had wild bee hive about half way up inside a hollow cavities. I called a local bee man who came at night an got them, and he put the honey comb in buckets for me.
I ended up with 12 quarts of honey. It lasted me years, and i still have one jar that has not crystalized. None of it ever crtstalized like the stuff you get in the stores.
I can not see the bald eagle in your pictures. I see them here sometimes, circling. Usually way up. The chickens pay little attenation.

In my area it is likely most colonies are feral. I would not use the term "wild" for honey bees in the US as they are not native and they have close relationship with managed bees.