Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on March 17, 2016, 07:42:26 pm
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Typically, a golden eagle will be bigger than the bald eagles. Typically. But some of these birds do not read the book that the ornithologists write and they, consequently, break some rules. Judging by the amount of white in her head and tail, I am guessing a 3 yr old bird.
I hauled this girl across the state to deliver her to the nearest rehabilitator. Uninjured, but showing signs of acute lead poisoning, confirmed by blood tests and an xray shows bullet fragments in the crop. It was further confirmed when gastric lavage flushed fragments of copper and lead, both. Good chance this bird will respond well to chelation therapy and could be back in the wild again in a month or two.
I wish I had taken pics of her feet...bloody HUUUGE meat hooks!
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/BAEA%20March%2016_zpsdwt8tn6g.jpg) (http://s365.photobucket.com/user/JW_Halverson/media/BAEA%20March%2016_zpsdwt8tn6g.jpg.html)
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Beautiful bird!
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That is abeautiful bird. I see bald eagles every day but the other day on my drive along the Mississippi River I saw a Golden Eagle sitting in a tree. The one I saw was bigger than the bald eagles. It was an impressive rare sight for this area. I was pretty excited.
I hope that bird recovers quickly.
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WOW! That's amazing.
You're a good man JW.
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Cool bird but doesn't have a beard. And they should know to swallow the good stuff and regurgitate the bad, heavy stuff.
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Good on you JW!
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Cool looking bird. I've been watching the live bald eagle camera. It's interesting to watch them care for their babies.
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Beauty! About a month ago, I was taking my Buddy's wife to the airport in Missoula, and on the way, we saw the BIGGEST Bald Eagle I have ever seen! There are a lot of bald, and golden eagles out here, but this bald eagle was as big, or bigger than a golden! Most of the Golden Eagles out here are pretty big, and much larger than the Bald Eagles, but this one would match any Golden! Huge wing span! Glad to hear that they do Chelation on birds also. I am doing that, and now on a maintenance schedule, I go in tomorrow for hydrogen peroxide iv, to clear up some congestion, in my chest, then back to chelation. That is a beautiful bird there. How did you come by her?
Wayne
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Woo, very commanding stare!
Del
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That 's some good work you're doing there! Thumbs up from me.
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Way cool JDub ! Bob
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Beautiful bird JW. :)
Pappy
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Good Work JW. I have seen them here in the park. They are beautiful!
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Wow, gorgeous bird! Also what a stink eye she has!
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what a stink eye she has!
Nah, she just has Resting Bitc...I mean Bird Face... >:D
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My sister and I have severe cases of that particular affliction. ;)
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Gosh, So the majestic predators? are scavengers too??
Send them up north here to get some lead free Stogies.
They would do the farmers a favor
Zuma
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They're opportunistic feeders, they'll eat carrion, steal food from other predators and birds, pretty much eat anything they can get away with. Takes a lot of calories to power that large a bird. I've seen five Bald Eagles gnoshing on a dead deer once.
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They're opportunistic feeders, they'll eat carrion, steal food from other predators and birds, pretty much eat anything they can get away with. Takes a lot of calories to power that large a bird. I've seen five Bald Eagles gnoshing on a dead deer once.
Yeah it's a shame. It seems the smaller birds are more sensitive
to the metals but the larger wolf like eaters get a craw full.
Are falcons the only pure predator?
Zuma
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I am doing that, and now on a maintenance schedule, I go in tomorrow for hydrogen peroxide iv, to clear up some congestion, in my chest, then back to chelation. That is a beautiful bird there. How did you come by her?
Wayne
Put on your sassy pants and eat that chelation therapy like corn flakes, Wayne! Life is good!
I got a call from a Conservation Officer. He would tell me the general area she came from but said he was unable to discuss further due to a possible ongoing investigation. No idea what he is investigating and I know to stop asking questions when that phrase comes up.
Wow, gorgeous bird! Also what a stink eye she has!
The bowed head is a side effect of the neurologic damage ongoing from lead poisoning. It is also a fairly natural threat posture for eagles and other raptors. It shields much of the vision from talons, or in the case of baldies...beaks. Few raptors willingly bite, but I theorize that because bald eagles live communally at times and will congregate on feeding sources, they fight over scraps and have evolved the biting response as a normal fighting technique. Most of the time, the instinct is to lay back and protect the eyes while flipping up your meat-hooking talons to do the damage!
This is eagle #18 for me, and still never been grabbed. (silently thanking any powers that be that have stood between me and them talons!)
They're opportunistic feeders, they'll eat carrion, steal food from other predators and birds, pretty much eat anything they can get away with. Takes a lot of calories to power that large a bird. I've seen five Bald Eagles gnoshing on a dead deer once.
Osage Outlaw has posted pics of a juvenile redtail hawk feeding on the scrap left over after boiling out a deer skull. Then a year later, posted pics AGAIN of the scraps from boiling out a deer skull, only this time it was an adult redtail hawk! Always avoid saying always, and never say never. The rule is more calories for less work. They will only repeat a behavior that had a rewarding outcome at the end.
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Too cool. Winters my area fills with them. Drove the river years ago and counted over 2 dozen bald eagles and 4 or golden eagles. Saw one yesterday attack something out on the hill. Pretty awesome sight
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Bloody good on you for making the effort! You met a kindred spirit there I reckon! :)
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Bloody good on you for making the effort! You met a kindred spirit there I reckon! :)
Yeah, we both have eaten fish and roadkill in the past!
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Lol! :P
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Don't be laughing at me, buddy! I guaran-doggone-tee I ain't the only one in here that has done both!!!