12/17

[Gavin]

There are breeding pairs of bald eagles all over MO now. Plenty around the big lakes and trout parks.

[fishinwrench]

3 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Wrench - when they state that a species is there year round that does imply that there is also breeding in those areas as well.

I read and interpreted it to say that they migrated to breed.  

Even if that's innacurate I have seen many MANY nests outside of areas not designated as "year round".    I expect there to be exceptions, but I can't buy the "rare" Golden Eagle thing.   I've been seeing them for ever, even back when bald eagles were kinda scarce.  There's nothing else they could have been but Golden's.

[MOPanfisher]

I have never seen a Golden Eagle.in MO, but to be honest I don't really pay that much attention to it.  I would think something as large as a Golden I would notice but not necessarily so.   I don't doubt that there are some around though, heck I would like to see one around the lake here.

[tjm]

54 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Wrench - when they state that a species is there year round that does imply that there is also breeding in those areas as well.

I think wrench is right, but any map like that is reliant on verifiable field input  or birder reports. I'm 99 44/100 sure that Baldies nested in my front yard about 20+ years ago, but I never reported it and  now only see them occasionally. Goldens only rarely in winter. 

>>On a second look, I see what Johnsfolly means; up the Mo. River drainage for fishinwrench and up the Ar. River drainage for me  it does show a year round population, and if they are year round that would mean some breed here even if they wintered some place south and the winter birds go north to breed.

Those links do have other info/pages linked to them. Cornell is the best bird site on the net, even if they sometimes miss something.

[fishinwrench]

Back when the group of us were shooting Golden Eagle bows we thought it was cool to see a GE, and although we didn't see them regularly, it was far from rare.   Saw plenty along Salt river and its tribs as a kid also. Saw one pluck a muskrat off the river once. And my old marina boss and I saw one snatch a keeper bass (solid 2+pounder) from the mouth of Mill Creek during late fall while winterizing boats.   Nothing rare about Goldens in MO.....unless I'm badly mistaken.

[ness]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

Wrench - when they state that a species is there year round that does imply that there is also breeding in those areas as well.

I thought it meant they were there all year, except they went somewhere romantic to breed. 😄

[BilletHead]

              More cool migrating birds of prey info,

  Do you all know what a group of them migrating is called? 

  A kettle,

    BilletHead

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, ness said:

I thought it meant they were there all year, except they went somewhere romantic to breed. 😄

That's the way I interpreted it too, even after reading it the second time.  🤔

They might screw in Canada....but I know for sure that eggs hatch right here within 2 miles of my house.  😅

I darn sure wouldn't travel that far to get laid.   Well wait, maybe I would....since having talons might make masturbation rather dangerous 😣

Lots of willing chickens, turkeys, or Emu's though, you'd think.   

[Johnsfolly]

10 hours ago, ness said:

I thought it meant they were there all year, except they went somewhere romantic to breed. 😄

Those maps are for active birders and not the birds. These are folks that will travel to see birds or want to confirm a sighting by referencing those maps. So the map is actually more about the time of year when you will find birds in that area than the activity noted. So breeding will refer to the typical time of year when the bird breeds and fledges its young (e.g., Feb to Sep). You should expect to encounter that species during those months in that location. For example you would not go to northern Canada to see bald eagles in Dec or Jan. You would go and expect to see them during spring to fall in that area during the breeding season.  If there is an adequate year round food source like fish from unfrozen or only partially frozen lakes or rivers like LOZ, Missouri and Mississippi rivers then you can expect to find eagles anytime of year which is why you see the year round designations in those areas on the map. That will mean that there are likely to be breeding populations of eagles in those areas. It does not mean that there is no migration going on. Many of the eagles seen in MO in the winter are migrants from Canada. Some of the birds that Wrench sees in his area in the spring and summer may migrate to TX or LA in the winter. There may also be resident birds like some resident Canada geese that will no longer migrate very far or at all since they have adequate winter feeding and suitable locations to nest and fledge their young.

[Fish24/7]

This past summer I saw a GIANT Golden Eagle on Bull sitting in a dead tree along the bank.  Was shocked by the wingspan and overall mass of the creature! I tried to take some pics of it but my camera settings were all wrong and the pictures sucked . By the time I made the camera mods it was no where to be seen.