Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE FALCON-LIKE BIRDS

THE KITES, BUZZARDS, EAGLES, HAWKS, AND ALLIES

Golden Eagle Habitat

The nest is a bulky affair of large sticks and is often used for many years. One found by Major Bendire near Camp Harney, Oregon,”situated in a large pine tree close to the trunk and about fifty feet from the ground, was three and one half feet high by three feet wide. It consisted of large sticks, some of them over two inches in diameter, and was sparingly lined with bits of juniper bark, pine needles, and green fir tops, evidently broken off by the birds.

”A nest described by a correspondent of Bendire's must have contained two wagon loads of material and was over seven feet high and quite six feet wide on its upper surface. The eggs arc generally two, rarely three, in number, being two and one half to three inches long, of a dirty white ground-color, and usually thickly blotched and spotted with various hues of brown and purplish.

The food of the Golden Eagle consists largely of prey captured by itself, though it does not entirely disdain animals killed by another, and under stress of circumstances will even feed on carrion.

This latter condition appears to prevail more among the Old World representatives of the species, whereas in America their food consists of small mammals, birds of various kinds, and an occasional young lamb. The following graphic account of the capture of a jack rabbit by a pair of Golden Eagles is given by Mr. W. L. Atkinson: “

The Eagles circled about him at a height of about thirty feet; first one would swoop down on the rabbit and then the other, but the result was always the same, for the rabbit was quick enough to dodge just as the birds struck at him. The chase was nearing the fence, and it seemed if the rabbit could succeed in reaching it, he could, by dodging around among the trees, baffle his pursuers.

The Eagles seemed to know this also, for when within fifty yards of the fence, the larger one of the two swooped down at the rabbit, and when he dodged, the Eagle pursued him, flying at a height of about three feet above the ground. The rabbit redoubled his speed and made straight for the fence, the Eagle following and both doing their best. This unequal race was kept up until the fence was reached, the Eagle having gained until she was but two or three feet behind the rabbit. When the rabbit passed through the fence,

I expected to see the Eagle give up the pursuit, but she had no intention of doing so, for without slacking her speed she raised herself just enough to clear the fence, and, dropping down behind the rabbit, continued as before. Instead of dodging around among the trees he was so crazed with fear that he ran in a straight line down the orchard.

The velocity with which the Eagle flew at this stage of the chase was something wonderful. Fast as the rabbit ran, the ' great black shadow' behind him drew nearer and nearer, until, poising an instant over its victim, the Eagle pounced upon him. A short struggle, a cry or two from the rabbit, and all was still."

 

 

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