Bald Eagles live by my house!

[Wag]

A few weeks ago I thought I saw a huge bird, much larger than the many Red Tailed Hawks that live in my suburban Boston neighborhood. I wasn't quite sure what it was, because it was too far away for me to make out clearly.

Today, as I was returning from a walk, I saw two huge Eagles land not 30ft away from me on a rock. Damn! I thought Red-Tails were big, these almost had 10ft wingspans. They must have been Bald Eagles because they didn't have the markings of Golden Eagles, and they were sort of a uni-colored speckled blackish-brown. According to the Sibley Guide these are the only 2 Eagles indigenous to the US. They definately were not Turkey Vultures.

This really surprised me, because I thought they were extremely rare. I've been living in the area for over 10yrs and never saw one before.

 

[Carbo]

As a rule, Bald Eagles aren't rare these days. Back in the 70's they became a threatened species due to the use of DDT.
Once the link was found, the use of DDT stopped and they came back in a big and successful way.
They are quite adaptable, which would explain their existence from Florida to Alaska. I must say I am very surprised to hear they are in a suburban Boston neighborhood, though, because they need a food supply. They will readily eat fish and small mammals, so unless there are many poodles missing, this wouldn't explain their presence.
Bald eagles are very distinctive in appearance. You would know with certainty if these birds were.

 

[4Lclovergirl]

Yeah, if it didn't have a white head, it's not a bald eagle. You say they were unicolored and black speckled. Bald eagles are called bald due to the white feathers on their heads. Very distinct.

 

[Wag]

Juvenilles do not have the "bald" white head look they're famous for. They don't attain this coloration untill their adulthood- approximately 3yrs old.

The Sibley Guide to Birds is an amazing book- hand painted pictures of every bird (both male and female) indigenous to the US, in various stages of development. The guy worked almost 20yrs on it.

There's lots of wildlife where I live, epsecially rodents (rabbits), so there's alot of predators. Many hawks, coyotes, etc. There's also alot of water around my area (a very big lake).

 

[hdeck]

pics?

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

interesting coincidence.... we were eating outside just last night and I saw a couple of eagles, presumable immature bald eagles soaring over our house...

beautiful animals!

 

[Wag]

pics?

Now there's a challenge. I'll definately attempt to get a picture- Hakws are relatively easy, because they're plentifull.

 

[dman]

Awesome. Don't see anything interesting in Suburban S.FL, well, some big reptiles I guess.

I miss the northeast, used to see all kinds of cool birds and mammals and such...

S.FL, just ugly lizards.

 

[Wag]

So, do you have baby gators coming out of your toilet?

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: Wag
So, do you have baby gators coming out of your toilet?

you mean baby ruths don't you?

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Wag
So, do you have baby gators coming out of your toilet?

No, but, funny you should ask... I once had a tree frog appear in one. Apparently it came in through a vent cap on the roof. I put some screening over the caps after that... not fun to get ready to sit down and find a frog staring back at ya. Better than a snake or a gator, but, still those tree frogs can jump AND stick to ya. Blech.

BTW, it was my house, but, my wife was the one who discovered it. That wasn't fun.

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: Wag
There's lots of wildlife where I live, epsecially rodents (rabbits), so there's alot of predators. Many hawks, coyotes, etc. There's also alot of water around my area (a very big lake).

Coyotes in suburban Boston???

 

[Wag]

Coyotes in suburban Boston???

They're everywhere these days. There was a sick one wandering around in the parking lot during the middle of the day- people have seen them in Boston proper.

I hear they range as far north as Canada.