Eagles galore

Thu, 02/11/2016 - 8:45am

Last weekend we were driving through a large expanse of open farm fields in the north end of Richmond when we noticed, in the distance, a number of large birds chasing each other around. As we neared the scene, we were surprised to see that the largest of the large birds were bald eagles, with ravens and crows in the mix as well. We stopped along the roadside and watched. It didn’t take long for us to surmise that, just behind a small ridge about 300 yards away, there was some large food source—we guessed maybe a dead cow.  Every few minutes, several massive eagles, would jump up and fly at each other uttering their high-pitched stuttering calls that seem so un-raptor-like. At one point one immature eagle flew off with a piece of food, with two young eagles in hot pursuit. It was an incredible sight to see as they wheeled around right over our heads. Before we left we had counted at least 15 eagles at the site, and there probably were more as it was hard to keep track as they fought and flew around.

As bald eagle numbers have rebounded over the last decades, sights like this in Maine have become more regular even if still unexpected and spectacular. Dumpsites have become one of the more reliable places to see large numbers of eagles. They seem to prefer to behave like pirates at dumpsites, waiting in trees around the edges of the dump and watching for the unfortunate gull, crow, or raven that digs up a bit of food from the debris. Once one of the smaller birds has secured a food item it typically tries to fly off with it as quickly as possible to it can swallow it in peace, but invariably it is chased by a mix of gulls, crows, and ravens. The chase is easily observed by the watchful eagles who then join in as well. When an eagle swoops in, most of the smaller birds decide it is better to stay out of harm’s way; in fact, often the bird that has the food item decides it is safer to drop it then to risk becoming the main course for an eagle’s dinner. Once the food item is dropped, the eagle quickly grabs it and tries to fly away with it, but inevitably, other eagles chase after it.

One of the first concentrations of eagles that we ever saw was perhaps 30 years ago in Jonesport at a site where tons of old rotten fish remains had been dumped. We drove over on a cold winter’s day and walked down an ice-covered dirt road to the spot and were amazed to see thousands of gulls and dozens of eagles swirling around. Unfortunately the visit became even more memorable when one of us slipped on the ice and fell into some of that rotten fish. It was a smelly ride home!

One of the largest eagle concentrations we have heard about in Maine in recent years has been up at a farm in Warren where there have been 50-100 birds some winters. A quick scan of records from Cornell’s eBird database shows another high total—70, reported from Lubec.

Of course, Alaska has always been famous for some of the largest concentrations of eagles that come in to locations where salmon are migrating up river. The area around Haines, Alaska, sometimes has thousands, along with lots of grizzly bears. Imagine seeing that! Whether one, or dozens or thousands, bald eagles are a breathtaking sight, no matter where they are.

Jeffrey V. Wells, Ph.D., is a Fellow of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dr. Wells is one of the nation's leading bird experts and conservation biologists, and author of “Birder’s Conservation Handbook.” His grandfather, the late John Chase, was a columnist for the Boothbay Register for many years. Allison Childs Wells, formerly of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a senior director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, a statewide nonprofit membership organization. Both are widely published natural history writers and coauthors of the book, Maine’s Favorite Birds.