Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Sunday, November 16, 2014

Angel's Wild Cousins


It was a small coincidence that last week when I writing the previous post on Bald Eagles Angel and Harriet  I got a phone call from my farmer neighbor Dick reporting a flock, yes a flock, of Eagles gathered in a picked cornfield along his sons driveway not far from our house.  To say this was unusual would not be an exaggeration in the least. Here’s the story…..

Many decades ago, when Rachel Carson published the book Silent Spring, the Bald Eagle was on the verge of extinction due to the pesticide DDT, across much of the American landscape. In Minnesota, a few survivors hung on in the forested far northern regions of the State.  In the rest of the State they were gone entirely.  The banning of DDT,  the passage of the Endangered Species Act and other environmental protection laws slowly brought the eagle population back from the brink.

Here in Fillmore County, sixty miles west of The Big River eagles historically were only rarely seen migrating through the area and did not nest nor winter here. That has changed in recent years and eagles are now resident and even nesting. Thus Dicks phone call showed how great that change has been. He had deposited several dead raccoons, who had met their fate while tangling with a combine, in the picked cornfield. He suggested I come over and take a look the next day with my camera…..
From the driveway.  Some circling, others hopping and squabbling, most busy eating "raccoon ala carte."
I counted 13 eagles on the ground at the same time while others circled or took breaks in the trees around the farmstead.
And then it began to snow heavily.
 
The American Bald Eagle is back!
 
 

31 comments:

  1. Oh WOW! This is fabulous, TB! I'm so behind in blogging, as I have gone to about one or two days a week posting and commenting. I came searching for your blog this morning to look at the books you've read. My husband is an avid reader.

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  2. Wow! Beautiful pictures. Yes the eagle is definitely back in full force. They are magnificent animals, aren't they? BTW, I just received notice that the Nazi book is available for me to pick up at the library. I look forward to reading it.

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  3. Eagles are certainly a success story thanks in part to Rachel Carson. Out free to roam is how I like to see my eagles. Lucky you to see so many.

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  4. Wonderful photos. Thank you to Dick. What a noble bird. Than you Rachel Carson and the US Congress. You and Mrs. T. keep warm, now.

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  5. I remember Rachel Carson's book and how it scared me so. What a wonderful sight you saw. I have shivers just looking at the photographs. Amazing.

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  6. Very nice! I enjoy seeing them. More are staying all year here. Along the DM River between me and the MS, they are fairly thick. I have been over on the big river and seen 20 -50 in deep winter.

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  7. Morning, Wow!!!!! that's fabulous, great pictures. Blessings Francine.

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  8. We see both bald eagles and golden eagles. It's only in the last 20 years I've seen them. some stay all winter where the river remains open.

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  9. How wonderful, Trout!!! I love these photos!

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  10. What a treat to see so many eagles so nearby. We need to keep an eye on eagles, because there are new threats. Wind turbines, desirable for other reasons, kill off eagles and other birds. So will the towering new glass-walled Vikings stadium being built right in the migration route. Can you tell I'm not happy that they refused to use the glass that's safer for birds (textured in some way that birds don't mistake it for open sky)? Sigh.

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  11. How exciting! To be able to witness these creatures in person AND to capturing them in photos, is a wonderful thing. I know you are used to the cold weather, but I don't think I would be able to get out in it, except for an emergency. So glad you did, so you could share!

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  12. WOW! That is so COOL! Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos and story today. Even my husband came running over to see the photos.

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  13. Wow, I can remember when seeing just one was a once in a lifetime thing. To see a whole flock had to be heartwarming. Comforting to know we can undo harm when we really try.

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  14. Lucky you! What a sight to see!

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  15. Nice pictures of the Bald Eagles. I have heard in the news the past couple years where the population is going up. It is go to see more pictures from none news sites.

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  16. Like Arkansas Pattie said, to see that many. My mind would have been boggled. I can recall each and every bald eagle sighting I've had - two! They are magnificent, though, and huge, and powerful. Thank you for getting out there and doing that.

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  17. WOW!! Amazing photos.
    I am so happy the Bald Eagles are doing well. We saw 5 today on our drive to the Blue Hills in Rusk County.
    YAY!

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  18. Wow you got some great shots! I bet the stray cats and squirrels were a feast too:)

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  19. Wow!! What a sight and great shots, with the snow falling. I need to re-read Rachel Carson. I remember doing a report on her for Junior High.

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  20. I would hate to think of a world without these lovely creatures. I remember the banning of DDT. Thank goodness it was banned.

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  21. Hi Troutbirder, What a great photo opportunity and amazing story. Well done post and neat blog ... thanks for sharing. Happy to have you stop by my blog and leave the kind comment. Regarding the mix of subjects on my blog: My grandmother kept a written daily journal most of her adult life and I have been fortunate enough to end up with those journals. They inspired me to get into blogging. So I blog about anything I encounter and often about some of the old memorabilia I've collected about railroads, ships, and National Parks. Hope you will stop by again. John

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  22. What an amazing experience! You got some very fine photos here. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  23. What a treat for you. One or two have returned to our region as well.

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  24. How wonderful that the eagle has made a comeback in Minnesota. It's even more wonderful that you were able to see and photograph so many of them.

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  25. How cool for you!

    Great that you got so many pictures. Sorry about the raccoons.
    I remember how we (ES Bird club) kept eagle nesting locations a big secret to protect them years ago. Now they show up in fields where there are dead deer or carcasses left to rot by our wonderful sportsmen who hunt with dogs, shoot and walk away.

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  26. Such good news for your area. This post is news worthy. Ever thought of sending it into your local newspaper? -- barbara

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  27. It's amazing the change in the eagle status over the years-same here in Connecticut. Love the atmospheric photos of eagles on the gray, snowy day and I've never seen eagles in those numbers-six is the tops I've seen. If I were them-I'd have to go with a side dish versus the raccoon ala carte.Super cool post!

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  28. Oh my goodness.....how awesome is that?!? What a beautiful sight. SO glad you were able to witness and take photos for us!!!

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  29. How exciting...I remember so clearly reading "Silent Spring" and realizing it had happened without my realizing it. I had wondered where all the song birds had gone but didn't realize the cause until I read her book. I hope she is looking down and reveling with the return of the eagles. Thanks for the post.

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  30. Wow, stunning photos! The eagles look so majestic in the snow but you've capture their true nature as scavengers. I would have loved to have seen that in person. Thanks for sharing your photos and the story. Rachel would be happy.

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