And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Once as a teenager I was stomping around in the woods and fields of Northern Michigan and a Golden Eagle in a tree about 20 yards in front of me fully spread his wings and just dropped into flight and flew away. It easily had a six foot wing span. I don't know how long I was standing there with my mouth hanging open.
In the cove I live on we see Bald Eagles 6 or 7 times a year, usually a pair. I thought they were big till a Golden came in one day. Now that's a big bird.
I crossed a ford at the ranch one day, not knowing there was a Golden Eagle on the ground 25 feet downstream. When he lifted off after he saw me I could feel his prop wash, even at that distance. It was awesome.
On a bright, clear, cloudless day, I was driving near Las Cruces NM headed to El Paso back in about 1973 when two big birds lifted off from just off the shoulder as the car went by. My first thought was, "Turkey Vultures ", but then I realized they were too big for that. I pulled over, and my girlfriend and I watched two Golden Eagles climb in an updraft in a somewhat lazy circle. On each circle we saw a flash as the sun reflected off those golden feathers, until they climbed so high they were out of sight. It was a mesmerizing and special time.
The technical term for what you were witnessing is 'Dynamic Soaring'. It's what allows Sandhill Canes to migrate thousands of miles while barely flapping a wing.
I saw a Golden Eagle once (on the Oregon coast), it's a BIG bird!
ReplyDeleteOnce as a teenager I was stomping around in the woods and fields of Northern Michigan and a Golden Eagle in a tree about 20 yards in front of me fully spread his wings and just dropped into flight and flew away. It easily had a six foot wing span. I don't know how long I was standing there with my mouth hanging open.
ReplyDeleteIn the cove I live on we see Bald Eagles 6 or 7 times a year, usually a pair. I thought they were big till a Golden came in one day. Now that's a big bird.
ReplyDeleteI crossed a ford at the ranch one day, not knowing there was a Golden Eagle on the ground 25 feet downstream. When he lifted off after he saw me I could feel his prop wash, even at that distance. It was awesome.
ReplyDeleteSaw a Golden that had taken a fawn, with it's mom in the background. Bird close to 3 feet tall.
ReplyDeleteOn a bright, clear, cloudless day, I was driving near Las Cruces NM headed to El Paso back in about 1973 when two big birds lifted off from just off the shoulder as the car went by. My first thought was, "Turkey Vultures ", but then I realized they were too big for that. I pulled over, and my girlfriend and I watched two Golden Eagles climb in an updraft in a somewhat lazy circle. On each circle we saw a flash as the sun reflected off those golden feathers, until they climbed so high they were out of sight. It was a mesmerizing and special time.
ReplyDeleteThe technical term for what you were witnessing is 'Dynamic Soaring'. It's what allows Sandhill Canes to migrate thousands of miles while barely flapping a wing.
Deletetried to convince a co-worker that immature balds were not goldens. he knew better.
ReplyDelete