How many Bald Eagles can you fit in a tree

6 years ago
107

How many bald eagles can you fit in a tree? Well it seems that in areas of great supply of food, they are quite comfortable being around many of their own. This location near Vancouver British Columbia ,and near a land fill, hence the good supply of rodents it is assumed, is home to a very large number of these beautiful birds. When driving along the highway, which you see in the video Brent noticed “there were eagles everywhere, i could not believe how many were in the trees so i had to stop and collect some footage”. The bald eagle is an opportunistic carnivore with the capacity to consume a great variety of prey. Throughout their range, fish often comprise the majority of the eagle's diet. In 20 food habit studies across the species' range, fish comprised 56% of the diet of nesting eagles, birds 28%, mammals 14% and other prey 2%. It would seem in this area, the numbers of mammals consumed might be higher than the 14%. The bald eagle's natural range covers most of North America, including most of Canada, all of the continental United States, and northern Mexico. Bald eagles will also congregate in certain locations in winter. From November until February, one to two thousand birds winter in Squamish, British Columbia, about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. The birds primarily gather along the Squamish and Cheakamus Rivers, attracted by the salmon spawning in the area. The eagles tend to prefer tall coniferous trees around 60 feet for perching, roosting and nesting giving them superior visability of the area. When travelling their area, the bald eagle is a powerful flier, reaching speeds of 56–70 km/h (35–43 mph) when gliding and flapping, and about 48 km/h (30 mph) while carrying a catch. Its dive speed is between 120–160 km/h (75–99 mph) but rarely dives straight vertically.
The bald eagle has a body length of 70–102 cm (28–40 in). Typical wingspan is between 1.8 and 2.3 m (5.9 and 7.5 ft) and normally weigh between 3 and 6.3 kg (6.6 and 13.9 lb). Females are about 25% larger than males, averaging 5.6 kg (12 lb), and against the males' average weight of 4.1 kg (9.0 lb). The mature eagles of 4 years of age are the white headed and white tailed ones while the plumage of the immature is a dark brown overlaid with messy white streaking.
Bald eagles are sexually mature at four or five years of age. When they are old enough to breed, they often return to the area where they were born. It is thought that bald eagles mate for life. However, if one member of a pair dies or disappears, the survivor will choose a new mate. A pair which has repeatedly failed in breeding attempts may split and look for new mates. Bald eagle courtship involves elaborate, spectacular calls and flight displays. The flight includes swoops, chases, and cartwheels, in which they fly high, lock talons, and free fall, separating just before hitting the ground. This would be such an amazing display to witness.
Bald eagles are early breeders: unlike other raptors and nest building or reinforcing is often by mid-February, egg laying is often late February and incubation is usually mid-March and early May. Eggs hatch from mid April to early May, and the young fledge late June to early July.
“We will definately be watching for those little youngsters to be out learning to fly” Brent mentioned.
What an amazing area British Columbia is, and to have all this beauty and incredible birds so close is like nothing else.
Brent said he will definately be coaxing his wife out more often to watch these beautiful birds, they are amazing!

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