Eagle Watch

Phht! Phht! My Goodness things have become a little dusty around Timber Life...

Time has passed so quickly since the last post about the Drive-In over a year ago, I 'd better find something to talk about to get the dust put back in it's place - outside.

I have been keeping busy with my personal endeavor to capture our wildlife in this little section of Iowa.

Maybe you noticed the Eagle flying in the header??? I went out for a drive after being cooped up in the house after some very cold days and found the Eagle on a favorite perch, a dead spruce tree, next to a blacktop, not far from Hendrickson Marsh of which I speak of frequently.

It hasn't been very hard for me to become obsessed with capturing the huge black and white raptors.I have spoken of it before...One of my favorite verses in the Bible is "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40: 31    So, every chance I get I search out the calm, regal bird to quench a thirst to soar, even if it living in a vicarious moment.

I am often treated to their thermal riding activity above our house, visible from this perch off Marshall County E-63. Too often I don't have my camera at hand when they come to visit...I am glad to get every picture possible at close range.

That day the photo opportunity didn't last very long since I didn't go ahead and follow in pursuit back to the Marsh. This was the first of two pictures I took on January 11th, before heading back home.

 

I know there is a lot of air space here as I caught it lifting,  then falling briefly, before catching the wind as it's wings created lift to carry it home...

Sunday Morning Walk

This morning I decided to get out to check the farmer's pond adjacent to our pasture for the increased populations of migrating waterfowl passing through our spring  flyway.

                  Light of day was just beginning to rise as I caught these pictures in a valley like setting.

           Coming out of the house I spotted the Eagle across the cornfield perched in a fence line tree.

Then in the opposite direction I caught this Red-tailed Hawk making use of the frequently used Cottonwood perch. It's brilliant white contrast against a darkening cloud bank was awesome.

It turned out I was not alone in surveying the activities of our little part of  Iowa. Sadie and I had company peering over the fence at the opposite side of the pasture. I only became aware of our visitor when I turned to look around before moving to a different location for pond viewing; adding another member of the fauna to put in the daily picture log.Once it realized it wasn't alone it disappeared.

The temperature was extremely frosty just after sunrise - I didn't stay out for long. Snow is showing up on the weather map since I came back to the house, but again not a huge event.

Spring temps this week should continue to add to the return of Timber Life residents that call the south home for a few months. So far I have heard Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds,heard and seen Robins during our fluctuating weather.

What really signals spring for me is the return of the hummingbirds,orioles, and vultures. Keep checking back...I will let you know when that happens.

Sad News on the Wildlife Front

Please be informed this Post may include a picture that could be disturbing to some people.

This winter we have been treated to Eagles flying over almost daily. March 5th, gave me the opportunity to see more Eagles in one place than I had ever seen until that day. There was a positive count of 13 between two different locations. Others were spotted; I didn't stop driving again to see how many more...

This particular Bald Eagle was sitting across from a pasture watching its comrades.

Even yesterday,the 19th ,I caught two magnificent birds visiting in the neighborhood when I returned home from watching a couple of grand-kids before school. Both Eagles were doing what they do to fill their niche in nature.




I had been seeing deer gathering in some fields close to our county blacktop. The scarcity of food has brought about hunger,starvation and even death to many four hoofed brothers of the Timber. Falling from exhaustion wherever their bodies give way to solemn slumber. It truly brings sadness...

Then I checked out a story over at the Iowa DNR site after I heard that someone shot and killed a Bald Eagle in a county south of here. It was doing what raptors do to help cleanse the landscape.

This was one of three deer that fell visibly close to traveled paths by both man and wildlife.

It is one thing when animals become victims of their habitat.A happening that has repeated itself over and over this season.

However, you wonder what the story is of the person who felt it was their right to end the life of America's National symbol a Bald Eagle?....

Dancing Eagles

Saturday brought some nice temperatures for spending time outside in the last days of November.

We have been gifted with seeing Bald Eagles using our vicinity as a feeding area for the last 17 years. Sightings are becoming more numerous and we have come to believe they may have set-up a nesting site not far away.

Friday morning I caught a single raptor sitting in a cottonwood after seeing two adults at tree top level on several occassions, as Hubby & me continue working on our Timber Life Lodge.

It never loses its AWE power when we see a creature God speaks of in his scripture. One of my favorties -

Isaiah 40:31. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint....

We listened and watched for the sounds and sighting of the eagles that had shown themselves the last little while. First seeing one, then another,eventually we saw 2 adults and two immature younsters darting and circling together enjoying the warm thermals above.

The adult to the right, left the dance earlier than the others to seek new territory to enjoy while the daylight still allowed for exploration....