I saw a golden eagle (at Eagle Valley Reservoir (coincidence?), Nevada) ****** a duck out of mid air and then fly over to a nearby cliff and proceed to tear it apart. That was some serious National Geographic stuff there. Pretty cool. -Steve

 

We go up to Lake of the Woods every year (at least we try) and there is always a pair of Bald Eagles up there with a nest on an island. I got dropped off on the island for a couple of hours, by my request, and was snooping around at the base of the tree. I've never seen so many fish bones, seagull feathers - a couple of beaks, too - I also found one a couple of feathers that were way too big for seagulls, maybe a pelican. I threw a dead fish out on the rocks and waited but they never came down to get it. It was gone the next day, though.

Most certainly the icon of America - excellent eyesight, extremely defensive of the nest, same mate for life, same nest for life (at least most of them) and incredibly powerful.

 

Bald eagles have really made a come back here in Nebraska also. They follow the migrating water fowl and stay near the rivers as long as they are open water. I fly along the river in the winter and they are very easy to see with no leaves in the trees and snow on the ground. If I get lucky I'll catch one flying and follow him for awhile. It doesn't take long to figure out who can fly better. In just a few turns they are GONE!

 

The eagles migrate and winter here along the Kansas and Wakarusa rivers.
Every year Kansas State university and the Federal WildLife folks have a big nest count to help determine national population levels. LAst year the count on the Wakarusa here was 250 nesting pairs
Since I live in the Wakarusa River Valley about a half mile from the river, I can set on the porch and watch them circling and all. It is realy an awesome way to start the day, step out with a cup of joe and smoke my days first while they are circling the river.
They will take cats and small dogs....I have found the remains of one of our cats and a blue heeler pup that didnt get out of the way fast enough.
Something I never expected in Kansas....