Live data from Hacker News

America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

fws.gov

61–70 of 246 posts

Re: America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

#63
We have them on Long Island. In fact, a nesting pair has been in a nearby town for a few years. They have their own Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/baldeaglesofcenterportNY

Centerport is a fairly well-off community, so they have some powerful allies (and you see some expen$ive camera gear).

Their call is...unimpressive. I call it "The call of the sick gull."

The classic "eagle" call is actually a redtail (we have them, too).

Re: America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

#65
post #14

I just moved back to Arkansas after being in California for 20 years. Here's a picture a local took along AR highway 59. 7 bald eagles hanging out. https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/155912289_4304... I have some good shots of one eating breakfast behind my house as well. Kind of gory though.

I go birding in a spot near Astoria, Oregon and have counted over 70 individual bald eagles from one spot, some trees will have 20 alone perched in them.

Re: America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

#66
This remind me of a PlanetMoney episode from a while ago

> https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/02/03/513302816/epis...

> Over time, though, Harris's worldview changed. He started to see the downside to the industrial farming ... To replace the chemical fertilizer, he brought in chickens and let them roam free. Free-range chickens would fertilize the grass; the grass would nurture the cattle, and shoppers at Whole Foods would love Harris's organic beef. ... But then, the eagles started to descend on Harris's farm. Eagles eat chicken. Eagles love chicken.

Since eagles are protected by law, the farmer wasn't allowed to hunt and clear the eagles from preying on his organic operation.

No good deed goes unpunished?

Re: America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

#67

Bald eagles eat fish and other animals like squirrels and prairie dogs. The size and health of the bald eagle population is also an indicator of the health and size of the species they use as food.

You'll also see collars of domestic dogs and cats in raptor nests. This is a frightening new thing to watch for in the semi-rural area near my parents' house. They're used to looking out for coyotes and raccoons which can be dangerous to pets. It's comparatively harder to eagle-proof a back yard.

I know of someone who keeps hawks away from his chickens by interrupting flight paths into and out of his yard with plants of various size and spacing.

Trees and trellises should help, but if you want a tiny dog and a big playground for your riding lawnmower, you're in for some disappointments.

Re: America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

#68
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolute lies, they sound exactly like a red-tailed hawk.

You've been watching too many movies then! https://youtu.be/PQ2uMauyBow?t=35 I was doing some trail building this last fall and there was a red tailed hawk nest across the valley. It was pretty amazing to hear that classic "eagle" call every now and again while working.

lol, they definitely sound like monkeys.

Re: America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

#69

Bald Eagles are HUGE. You don't realize it until one drops out of a tree near you and flies off. Either that or you see them feeding on road kill deer.

Wait til you see Golden Eagles :) We have a mating pair of Balds and it is fun to watch their young get bigger and then take off. Every year around the same time, we have a giant Golden that cruises around the lake and forest. The first time I saw it, I couldn't believe how big it was. Like, over a 7ft wingspan. I realize Balds are close, but this Golden one is a monster.

There is variation, some balds are bigger too especially more north. Generally though the two are almost identical in size: https://www.avianreport.com/bald-eagle-wingspan-versus-birds...

Re: America’s bald eagle population continues to soar

#70

This remind me of a PlanetMoney episode from a while ago > https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/02/03/513302816/epis... > Over time, though, Harris's worldview changed. He started to see the downside to the industrial farming ... To replace the chemical fertilizer, he brought in chickens and let them roam free. Free-range chickens would fertilize the grass; the grass would nurture the cattle, and shoppers at Whole…

Which is why you have dogs to protect your livestock.

I think people forget that man's best friend became that way by doing jobs for us. Want your cattle and chickens protected from wolves, fox, eagles, etc? Train some dogs to protect them.

Post reply on HN