Eagles and Ducks

On Friday I heard the low call of the Golden Eagle along Modoc Rim above us. It is a sound that many people that have seen Golden Eagles have never heard. Here is the sound from eNature; click on the "listen" button when you get there.


It usually is not so close and loud, or frequent a call as of the Bald Eagle. It considered a rare sound to many and is usually kind of muffled and may be limited to their nesting territories.


Also, on Friday I flushed a hen Mallard in the sage and Rabbitbrush near our Eagle's Nest cabin. Mallards will usually nest in dense cover on the ground, often over 100 yards from water. Predators, like fox, coyote, and raccoon often follow the edges of water so that is not a good place to hide the nest, especially for ground nesting birds. (Wood Ducks, are partly called that because they usually nest in hollows up in trees.) The same day I possibly saw ducklings of unknown species in the wetland in our north pasture. I plan to look again to see if I can verify them and determine the species.


On Saturday in our north pasture a Bald Eagle was flying low and fast over the pasture toward the river. Quick behind it came a Golden Eagle moving very fast with his wings tucked in. The speed and demonstration of power of the Golden Eagle was impressive. The Golden Eagle, evidently was chasing the Bald Eagle out of his territory. When the Bald Eagle reached the Williamson River he seemed to relax and just swooped up and landed in one of his usual perches in the big Ponderosa Pines along the river. The Golden Eagle veered off at river, evidently content that he had defended his territory. I am reminded that Golden Eagles are primarily predators of mammals, while Bald Eagles are primarily predators of aquatic species from fish to geese. Evidently both like the Belding's Ground Squirrels that are abundant in some of our pastures.