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Wild bald eagle in Alabama???

alabama

Well-known member
Last week I was on US 231 at the montgomery county and pike county line when a bald eagle flew over the road. I had no idea that bald eagles ranged this far south.
Is this normal?
 

TXTibbs

Well-known member
You must of been mixing them a little strong.................ease up a bit...next you'll be seeing pink elephants!

haha i dunno I assume they can dip that far south...they are in Texas.
 

alabama

Well-known member
I sent an e-mail to the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University asking about it and this is what they sent back.

I'm so glad you're enjoying Alabama's eagles. Eagles are not uncommon in the state, and it is normal to see them exactly where you saw them - or just about anywhere else in the state. I live in Wetumpka and often see Bald Eagles in Wetumpka and Montgomery. There are wild eagles nesting on Lakes Jordan and Martin, and also some here in Auburn. There are over 200 nesting pairs in the state -- that means over 400 adult birds that the state Conservation Dept is aware of (plus younger birds!). These birds eat mostly fish - so the many lakes, ponds and rivers in the state means that this is great habitat for them. We work hard to teach people about native raptors and hope that intentional killing is on the decline. In addition, awareness of these birds leads to more sightings!


Eagles are no longer an endangered species...habitat protection and pesticide control are among the things that led to there being healthier fish...which led to higher eagle populations (to put it simply). The birds don't have white head and tail feathers until they're 4 years old or so...which means that the big brown eagles you might see in that same area are also Bald Eagles - just immature (they're full grown at just a few months old - way before they get their white feathers). Keep watching for them...and keep in mind that an area might have "plenty" of Bald Eagles but they're still not as numerous as other species like crows and robins...the eagles need more space per individual/family than lots of other species....and thankfully there are plenty of eagles in Alabama and throughout the USA. Look for that same bird next time you're in that area...he's probably a resident - they're family-minded this time of year.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
We've got them here.

They are turning them loose from Yonah Mtn and Currahee Mtn. up here in the hills of GA

So yeah, I wouldn't doubt it.
 

hometowngurl

Well-known member
Those "brown" eagles are the immature ones and they are called golden eagles. We had a bald and a golden part of the winter this year, altho the bald almost became a hood ornament for a truck. :shock: :eek: :shock: Just had to try for the road-kill on the north side of the hill just north of town, (DUMMY) :oops: :!: :wink: I used to spot and keep track of some for the refuge south of Valentine. They sure are pretty but huge and awesome to watch when they are go fishin'.




:hat: that's the facts, guys.
 

per

Well-known member
When you are fishing and there is a Bald Eagle in sight or nesting on a tree on the shore, try taking a fresh caught fish, blow it full of air (with a dropper) and throw it back in the water. Often the eagle will swoop down to pick it up, as they are scavengers. They will see you coming next time and be happy to let you fish for them. Nothing more spectacular than hearing and watching an eagle dive and pick up a fish 10 feet off your bow.
 

Silver

Well-known member
hometowngurl said:
Those "brown" eagles are the immature ones and they are called golden eagles. We had a bald and a golden part of the winter this year, altho the bald almost became a hood ornament for a truck. :shock: :eek: :shock: Just had to try for the road-kill on the north side of the hill just north of town, (DUMMY) :oops: :!: :wink: I used to spot and keep track of some for the refuge south of Valentine. They sure are pretty but huge and awesome to watch when they are go fishin'.




:hat: that's the facts, guys.

Ummmm.... golden eagles are quite different from bald eagles.
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
They are two distinctly different birds.

Golden Eagle


Adult American Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos canadensis
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Subclass: Neornithes

Infraclass: Neognathae

Superorder: Neoaves

Order: Falconiformes

Family: Accipitridae

Genus: Aquila

Species: A. chrysaetos


Binomial name
Aquila chrysaetos
(Linnaeus, 1758)

******************************
Bald Eagle


Conservation status

Least Concern [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Falconiformes

Family: Accipitridae

Genus: Haliaeetus

Species: H. leucocephalus


Binomial name
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
 

Silver

Well-known member
gcreekrch said:
You're ALL right. Immature bald eagles don't get a white head until they are 3 or 4 years old.

Well, that being said, a bald eagle is a bald eagle regardless of age or colour. A golden eagle is no relation (not to mention substantially larger and more 'vulture like' in appearance).
We get bald eagles by the dozens here at this time of year, and some stay year around. Golden eagles are less abundant here, although I was looking at a pair the other day. They actually look like they're capable of packing a small calf away!
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Silver said:
gcreekrch said:
You're ALL right. Immature bald eagles don't get a white head until they are 3 or 4 years old.

Well, that being said, a bald eagle is a bald eagle regardless of age or colour. A golden eagle is no relation (not to mention substantially larger and more 'vulture like' in appearance).
We get bald eagles by the dozens here at this time of year, and some stay year around. Golden eagles are less abundant here, although I was looking at a pair the other day. They actually look like they're capable of packing a small calf away!


I was a Dear and check the bird book as well. Silver is right as Goldens and Balds are two different birds. The immature Balds don't have the white head but that doesn't make them a Golden.
We see more Golden's here then we do Balds. We have a Golden eagle on the wall in the living room. He tangled with a power line and lost. We were fortunate to get him before the coyotes.
 

gcreekrch

Well-known member
Big Muddy rancher said:
Silver said:
gcreekrch said:
You're ALL right. Immature bald eagles don't get a white head until they are 3 or 4 years old.

Well, that being said, a bald eagle is a bald eagle regardless of age or colour. A golden eagle is no relation (not to mention substantially larger and more 'vulture like' in appearance).
We get bald eagles by the dozens here at this time of year, and some stay year around. Golden eagles are less abundant here, although I was looking at a pair the other day. They actually look like they're capable of packing a small calf away!


I was a Dear and check the bird book as well. Silver is right as Goldens and Balds are two different birds. The immature Balds don't have the white head but that doesn't make them a Golden.
We see more Golden's here then we do Balds. We have a Golden eagle on the wall in the living room. He tangled with a power line and lost. We were fortunate to get him before the coyotes.

Well ......... yeah. :roll:
 

Silver

Well-known member
Big Muddy rancher said:
Silver said:
gcreekrch said:
You're ALL right. Immature bald eagles don't get a white head until they are 3 or 4 years old.

Well, that being said, a bald eagle is a bald eagle regardless of age or colour. A golden eagle is no relation (not to mention substantially larger and more 'vulture like' in appearance).
We get bald eagles by the dozens here at this time of year, and some stay year around. Golden eagles are less abundant here, although I was looking at a pair the other day. They actually look like they're capable of packing a small calf away!


I was a Dear and check the bird book as well. Silver is right as Goldens and Balds are two different birds. The immature Balds don't have the white head but that doesn't make them a Golden.
We see more Golden's here then we do Balds. We have a Golden eagle on the wall in the living room. He tangled with a power line and lost. We were fortunate to get him before the coyotes.

Man, do I envy you! A Golden would make an incredible mount, and I have just the place to put one should fortune ever smile on me and frown on one of them at the right time. How is it mounted? I saw one once with wings spread and feet out like it was about to grab prey and I sure liked it.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Silver said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
Silver said:
Well, that being said, a bald eagle is a bald eagle regardless of age or colour. A golden eagle is no relation (not to mention substantially larger and more 'vulture like' in appearance).
We get bald eagles by the dozens here at this time of year, and some stay year around. Golden eagles are less abundant here, although I was looking at a pair the other day. They actually look like they're capable of packing a small calf away!


I was a Dear and check the bird book as well. Silver is right as Goldens and Balds are two different birds. The immature Balds don't have the white head but that doesn't make them a Golden.
We see more Golden's here then we do Balds. We have a Golden eagle on the wall in the living room. He tangled with a power line and lost. We were fortunate to get him before the coyotes.

Man, do I envy you! A Golden would make an incredible mount, and I have just the place to put one should fortune ever smile on me and frown on one of them at the right time. How is it mounted? I saw one once with wings spread and feet out like it was about to grab prey and I sure liked it.


Go to our web page and find "hunting brags" the thumb nails will show up. Click on the one with the end wall of our living room with the antlers coyote rug and egale.
 

Silver

Well-known member
Hey, thats some mighty fine 'hunting brags' you got there. Some of those muleys must be 30".
That looks like pretty fascinating country you live in, I hope to see it someday.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Silver said:
Hey, thats some mighty fine 'hunting brags' you got there. Some of those muleys must be 30".
That looks like pretty fascinating country you live in, I hope to see it someday.

My daughter has the "Best" of the brags. :cry: :D


We only hunt our own place, Since Mule deer is a draw system about once every three years. :roll:
 
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