It was a sight I have waited thirty-eight years to see....a mature Bald Eagle in the field adjacent to my back yard. The eagle was sitting next to a puddle of water less than 100 yards from my door. Futher investigation showed that the melting snow had revealed a deer carcass. Voila! Chow time for our national symbol.A short personal history of the fall and return of the Bald Eagle:
Late 1950's - I bought my first canoe for fishing trips down the beautiful St Croix river and into the BWCA. When the eagles disappeared from the St. Croix Valley, it happened in such a way we didn't really notice it at first. Their were still a few eagles in the BWCA and the Superior National Forest. Then I read Silent Spring.... and noticed.
The Clean Air and Water Act, the EPA, the banning of DDT and an Endangered Species list followed and began to turn the tide. Finally then we gradually saw them return to the St Croix. Increasing numbers were wintering in the Mississippi River Valley. And then they began to appear here in Fillmore County, about sixty miles from the Big River. I began to see more and more on my trouting days along the streams of Bluff County. Then maybe 15 years ago the first nesting was spotted here on a canoe trip down Bear Creek. Now birds are overwintering here as well.
Today there was a mighty eagle sitting confidently in the field behind my house. Wonderful!
My friend Angel from the
National Eagle Center in
Wabasha Minnesota
I have yet to see an eagle in the wild. I hope I do before my days are done. I have visited Rachel Carson's Wildlife Area. It's a very well done nature trail in Wells, ME. I visit there everytime I'm staying in the area.
ReplyDeleteTruly wonderful and thrilling! Thanks for recounting how the birds returned.
ReplyDeleteWOW, that would totally make my day to see an eagle from my yard!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome photo and post!!
Take care and I hope you get many more pics of this awesome eagle.
Cool! It is nice to read an ecological success story now and then to give me hope that humans haven't irreversibly screwed up everything!
ReplyDeleteThat is just toooo cool. That was a great little, informative post. I saw a Golden Eagle on top of a power pole today when we were out driving, and caught a few pics of him. Go visit my blog and check them out. I didn't have my Canon EOS 40D with me (darn it). But the little Panasonic didn't do too badly.
ReplyDeleteCongratualations! Bet you were beside yourself with excitement. I know I would have been.
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So cool that you saw it from your yard.
ReplyDeleteThat makes it a yard bird!!
It sure is nice to see them everywhere now!
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful success story TB. Here DDT had the same effect until it was banned. If I were you I would spend all day just seeing if another one landed in my yard. :)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you!! Thanks for sharing with us. :c)
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting moment! Happy for you!! Seeing an eagle is a complete thrill!
ReplyDeleteIt is exciting.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
I can't imagine having an eagle in such plain sight. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteIf I had seen an eagle that close, I probably would have frozen in place and not been able to move until it flew away. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteOMGosh, How wonderful to open your door and have that sight greet you! WOW! I'm so happy for you to have had this experience..maybe he will return again..so that you can get another pose from him! Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteHow great to find your blog. My husband was raised in bluff country, facing the Big River in the town of LC. My daughter now lives in the state to the east, in coolie country. So this area has become dear to my heart. But even in far N MN, where I live, I've seen a few eagles the last few years. It puzzles me to see them away from water. I wonder what they have been eating or doing. What a wonder! and how wonderful that they've been restored to a bigger population.
ReplyDeleteWe live sixty miles from LC. The eages are mostly scavengers here. The fall hunting season leaves many unfound deer. And farms also have intesting tidbits.
ReplyDeletemost have been great to be that close to an eagle...i've only seen them at the zoo.
ReplyDeleteI like and agree whith your reply to Fram's blog. Will return for more.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
MOST excellent! Hopefully the first of many more sightings!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I am lucky enough to see them up here regularly, flying overhead and fishing in the river next to the house. It's a thrill to spot them...EVERY time. It never gets old!
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