AMERICAN BALD EAGLE FOUND SEVERAL YEARS AGO AT...

 The Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Florida in 2014.

Hopefully I haven't shared this beautiful Eagle on my 2016 blog before.  I may have of another bird/animal from the same park and apologies if this is a repeat.  

I started on this post by saying:

I would obviously rather see these magnificent birds in the wild, but when we visited this rather amazing park, we were able to see a pair of Bald Eagles close up.  They had been taken there after being injured.  The staff try very hard to release them back into the wild once rehabilitated but I am not sure if these were set free.  I truly hope so.

 This park is a rehabilitation center not only for manatees but for all kinds of birds and if they are not able to be released, they will be given a home here for the rest of their natural lives.

 

 To be in such close proximity to them was a real privilege and one I will always be grateful for.

They are one of the world's largest raptors.  Bald Eagles can weigh up to 15 lbs and are between 28-38 inches in size. Their wingspan can reach up to 7.5 feet. (For comparison: an osprey’s wingspan reaches up to 6 feet, and a red-tailed hawk’s up to 4.8 feet). This expansive wingspan is ideal for soaring, keeping Bald Eagles aloft for longer periods without flapping their wings.

Their impressive wingspan is more than decorative: it allows them to fly at dizzying heights! Bald eagles soar 10,000 feet or more into the air, using thermal air currents to support their glide. This allows them to conserve energy for more important activities, like looking for prey and migrating long distances.

We call a person an “eagle eye” if they have 20/20 vision, but Bald Eagles have much sharper eyesight.  In fact, they typically have 20/40 or 20/50 vision, making them expert hunters. Not only can they spot a small animal two miles away with amazing clarity, but they have a 340-degree field of view, with even better peripheral vision than owls!

Bald Eagles aren't actually bald as their name would imply.  They have a white head of feathers. Where did the name “bald” come from? It is actually a translation of the old English word “piebald,” meaning “white” or “white-headed.”  Its head doesn’t become completely white until they are 4 or 5 years, with about four stages of feather shedding before that.   

Bald Eagles are said to have a grip 10 times stronger than a human. This comes in handy when they use their talons to pick up fish (their favorite meal) from a lake and keep hold of it while gliding through the air. It also allows them to snatch another bird’s prey midair (after hassling the bird to drop its meal).

Known for their dramatic "sky dances", Bald Eagle males will court females with a series of impressive feats.  From high-speed chases to tumbling together, talons locks from great heights as they hurtle towards the ground.  Less active courtship behaviors include sitting shoulder to shoulder, preening and even nest building.  And not only new couples engage in these activities.  Some mated couples perform these rituals to strengthen their bond.

Bald Eagle couples typically mate for life, meaning they can be coupled monogamously for 30 years. The mated pair breeds year after year, producing around 1-3 eggs each time. These eggs are incubated for about 35 days, during which time both the male and female of the couple will share the duty of keeping the eggs warm.  I found all my information at this website and if you would like to see more, click on this link.

Last night, once again, I had a dream

About an eagle in the blue,

And just like all the other dreams,

Right above my head it flew.

In every dream of it I had,

It landed somewhere close by,

And each time, I was so excited

For the beauty that caught my eye.

Our national emblem gracing the sky

For so long I yearned to see,

And envied those fortunate enough

To see him on the wing, being free.

When I awoke from the glorious dreams,

Some disappointment I did feel.

But then I overcame with happiness,

For the dreams had seemed so real.

Majestic Dreams

by

Stacy Smith

ROSEATE SPOONBILL

 We have learned that there are Roseate Spoonbills visiting Huntley Meadows, one of our favorite places we visit during the year.  There have been several photos local photographers have taken of them and shared on our local website.  I am not sure whether we will be able to get out there before they move on, and keeping fingers crossed!  In all the years we have been going to Huntley Meadows, this is the only time we have heard of them visiting.

Must be positive about it, however.  In the meantime...

I am resharing these shots of one we saw years ago in Florida.  You can read all about him at this link.  Such an extraordinary bird!

Did you know...

A group of spoonbills is a called a bowl.  Well, look over there, a bowl of spoonbills.  (I hope I see that bowl again one day.)

Just like Flamingos, Roseate Spoonbills get their pink color from their food.  They feed on crustaceans who in turn have fed on algae.

In parts of their range, especially in Florida, Roseate Spoonbills are sometimes confused with that large pink wading bird, the Flamingo!

There are six species of Spoonbill in the world; the Roseate Spoonbill is the only one with pink plumage.

The Roseate Spoonbill is also the only spoonbill species found in the Americas.

The beaks of chick Spoonbill are straight; the spoon-shape grows as the chick develops.

Spoonbills use their specialized bills to feed.  They sweep their open bills through the water, and when a prey item like a fish or insect comes between the mandibles, the bill snaps shut.

The oldest wild Roseate Spoonbill was discovered in the Florida Keys in 2006.  The bird had been banded in 1990, and was found to be 16 years old.  The previous known longevity record for the species was seven years.

Roseate Spoonbills are highly social.  They feed with each other and with other wading birds.  They also nest in colonies and fly in flocks.

The scientific name of a Roseate Spoonbill is Platalea ajaja, and is also known as Ajaia ajaja.  It is from the family Threskiornithidae, the family of spoonbills and ibises.

Roseate Spoonbills generally grow to be 23.6 to 31.5 inches (60 to 80 centimeters) in height, and have a wingspan of 43 to 51 inches (110 to 130 centimeters).

The plumage color of Roseate Spoonbills is a combination of pinks, whites and reds, and they often have some pale green, grey and orange features.

Roseate Spoonbills are wading birds and as such their diet consists primarily of aquatic insects, small fish and shrimp.

Something of the prehistoric when looking at these feet don't you think?  As mentioned above, Spoonbill are closely related to ibises whose fossil records are dated back 60 million years.  It is not known exactly when Spoonbills diverged from the ibises, since the fossil record is spotty.

A Spoonbill’s nostrils are located at the top of the bill, making it possible for the bird to breathe while the bill is under water.