Today, I learned the reason why the Bald Eagle is the National Bird.
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() One time, I saw a car accident off the road. I went to go see what happened and a police officer urgently told me to leave the area. Ultimately, I knew what happened (and what the black bag was for) and why the officer told me to leave. I was young and did not give a second thought to the authority that this officer delivered to me. This morning I was on a bike ride. I came across a bald eagle in the middle of the trail. I slammed on my brakes and stopped. It just stood there on the ground staring at me. This Eagle had blood on it's face and it's feathers were ruffled as though it had been through battle. It just stared at me with a look that said, "I'm a [expletive] Bald Eagle. Back off." It was a show-down. We stared at each other for several seconds. Being 7 feet away staring in it's eyes, I realized it was not going to relent. I decided to get my camera out. This eagle was not going to give up it's prize to me. Without taking it's haunting eyes off me, It flapped it's wings, dug it's claws into a dead animal that was larger than it, and flew away hauling the oversized package up the Sammamish river out of my view. Last week we saw images of Brute American Force overpower terrorists. We dug our claws into them and without anybody else getting their share...mercilessly carry them away. There was no mercy. We watched police clear EVERY SINGLE HOUSE in a large town in search for their prey. We took some damage, but we were not going to give up until this mission was accomplished. This morning, I learned the real reason why the USA National bird is the Bald Eagle. I have seen many bald eagles flying around or nested before...but this morning I looked into this bird's eyes just after a battle. This bird would not flinch. I was a human...on a bike...traveling 20mph...and I was the one that slammed on my brakes. This bird would show no mercy to it's prey or anybody (me) that got in it's way. It looked at me (who is much larger than it) and I am pretty sure that it told me, "F#%k off." It probably would have dug it's claws into me if I tried anything. Today, I salute you, Bald Eagle, and the power that you symbolize for this country. You are a badass. Edited by lifejustice 2013-04-26 3:08 PM |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Great story! |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Kido - 2013-04-26 4:14 PM At one time, the preferred alternate was the wild turkey. I prefer the choice they made. Seriously, I love Ben Franklin, but he would have been torn apart if the 24/7 cable news networks were in business in the 18th century. |
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Iron Donkey![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Kido - 2013-04-26 3:14 PM At one time, the preferred alternate was the wild turkey. I prefer the choice they made. So true. Much better to be a bald eagle than a really stupid turkey. |
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![]() | ![]() They are amazing animals. I've had to learn a lot about them for my job. They can see their prey miles-away with perfect clarity and then they dive at hundreds of miles an hour and then place their talons exactly in the skull of their prey or into the water to pull a fish. That unfortunately makes them pretty tunnel-visioned. They get what's called "Target Fixation" so they ignore every risk between them and their prey which can be unfortunate if their prey is across a highway or a train track. If you do see a dead one on the road, you should call the Fish and Wildlife Service. They try to keep track of every eagle killed and they can use the dead for research (what are they eating, how are they breeding, etc.) Golden Eagles are even larger than Bald Eagles and have been known to carry-away mountain goats to their massive nests. I heard also that the "Bald" part of the Bald Eagle is why we chose him instead of his golden counterpart. White Hair being synchronous with a "crown of wisdom." There's a large Peregrine Falcon that hunts right outside my office window. I have yet to see him kill one of the pigeons that hang-out on the ledge, but he's pretty fat so he clearly is an expert killer. Bottom line, all Birds of Prey are awesome. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() 1stTimeTri - 2013-04-26 3:22 PM Kido - 2013-04-26 3:14 PM At one time, the preferred alternate was the wild turkey. I prefer the choice they made. So true. Much better to be a bald eagle than a really stupid turkey. My favorite stupid turkey story was from a hunting show where bowhunters in blinds were using decoys. The stupid Tom persists at humping the decoy and the bowhunter decapitates him from about 6 yards. ETA: sorry to continue the turkey hijack Edited by zed707 2013-04-26 4:10 PM |
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Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Kido - 2013-04-26 2:14 PM At one time, the preferred alternate was the wild turkey. I prefer the choice they made.
Good call. Not sure how good roast bald eagle tastes with cranberry sauce. Edited by Hoos 2013-04-26 4:10 PM |
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![]() | ![]() By the way, if you want to see something really cool, tune into the Decorah Eagles Ustream in the Spring. This nest in Iowa has been successful for several years. That's rare for Bald Eagles to have success every year. |
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Regular ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ChineseDemocracy - 2013-04-26 3:22 PM Kido - 2013-04-26 4:14 PM At one time, the preferred alternate was the wild turkey. I prefer the choice they made. Seriously, I love Ben Franklin, but he would have been torn apart if the 24/7 cable news networks were in business in the 18th century.
Bald Eagles acquire much of their food through kleptoparasitism, not a great trait to have associated with your national bird. Wild Turkeys, OTOH, forage for all of their own food. The Ben Franklin quote: Others object to the Bald Eagle, as looking too much like a Dindon, or Turkey. For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk [Osprey]; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him. With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country... I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For in Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on. And yes, I'm sure the cable TV stations would lambast Franklin. That, IMO, is just another reason to not watch TV :) |
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Sensei ![]() | ![]() But they have riskier sex. BOOYAH! |
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Sensei ![]() | ![]() But honestly though. Maybe because it IS our national symbol. But I have seen turkeys and "meh". Unless they are brined and cooked to a golden brown and delicious...When I went to Alaska and saw the bald eagles in the trees? Even the mangy ones? I was moved. |
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![]() Today, I salute you, Bald Eagle, and the power that you symbolize for this country. You are a badass. Suddenly I hear the budweiser jingle with the guy from Survivor singing , "you're a badazzzzzzzzzzzzz bird, bald eagle" |
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Regular ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Kido - 2013-04-26 4:23 PM I hear ya, they're majestic, but are looks the most important thing?But honestly though. Maybe because it IS our national symbol. But I have seen turkeys and "meh". Unless they are brined and cooked to a golden brown and delicious...When I went to Alaska and saw the bald eagles in the trees? Even the mangy ones? I was moved. |
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Sensei ![]() | ![]() switch - 2013-04-26 2:41 PM Kido - 2013-04-26 4:23 PM I hear ya, they're majestic, but are looks the most important thing?But honestly though. Maybe because it IS our national symbol. But I have seen turkeys and "meh". Unless they are brined and cooked to a golden brown and delicious...When I went to Alaska and saw the bald eagles in the trees? Even the mangy ones? I was moved. Absolutely. |
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Regular ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() DanielG - 2013-04-26 5:17 PMOne of my absolute favorite scenes:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4dv4IS0PM Musicals. I really hate musicals. I've tried, really, but they just irritate me. |
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![]() switch - 2013-04-26 6:40 PM DanielG - 2013-04-26 5:17 PMOne of my absolute favorite scenes:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4dv4IS0PM Musicals. I really hate musicals. I've tried, really, but they just irritate me.It fit rather well into the topic at hand ![]() |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() GomesBolt - 2013-04-26 4:02 PM They are amazing animals. I've had to learn a lot about them for my job. They can see their prey miles-away with perfect clarity and then they dive at hundreds of miles an hour and then place their talons exactly in the skull of their prey or into the water to pull a fish. That unfortunately makes them pretty tunnel-visioned. They get what's called "Target Fixation" so they ignore every risk between them and their prey which can be unfortunate if their prey is across a highway or a train track. If you do see a dead one on the road, you should call the Fish and Wildlife Service. They try to keep track of every eagle killed and they can use the dead for research (what are they eating, how are they breeding, etc.) Golden Eagles are even larger than Bald Eagles and have been known to carry-away mountain goats to their massive nests. I heard also that the "Bald" part of the Bald Eagle is why we chose him instead of his golden counterpart. White Hair being synchronous with a "crown of wisdom." There's a large Peregrine Falcon that hunts right outside my office window. I have yet to see him kill one of the pigeons that hang-out on the ledge, but he's pretty fat so he clearly is an expert killer. Bottom line, all Birds of Prey are awesome. What switch wrote is much closer to the Bald Eagle's nature then that of a fearsome hunter. In fact, if you want to see a really large concencentration of Eagles, go set up next to a trash dump in Alaska. In the winter, go to any lock and damn on the Mississippi......they "hunt" dead fish on the downriver side of the dams. They cannot, in any way, be compared fairly to falcons. Bald Eagles, as majestic as they look, much prefer food that is already dead to that which they "hunt". |
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![]() | ![]() Left Brain - 2013-04-26 9:16 PM GomesBolt - 2013-04-26 4:02 PM They are amazing animals. I've had to learn a lot about them for my job. They can see their prey miles-away with perfect clarity and then they dive at hundreds of miles an hour and then place their talons exactly in the skull of their prey or into the water to pull a fish. That unfortunately makes them pretty tunnel-visioned. They get what's called "Target Fixation" so they ignore every risk between them and their prey which can be unfortunate if their prey is across a highway or a train track. If you do see a dead one on the road, you should call the Fish and Wildlife Service. They try to keep track of every eagle killed and they can use the dead for research (what are they eating, how are they breeding, etc.) Golden Eagles are even larger than Bald Eagles and have been known to carry-away mountain goats to their massive nests. I heard also that the "Bald" part of the Bald Eagle is why we chose him instead of his golden counterpart. White Hair being synchronous with a "crown of wisdom." There's a large Peregrine Falcon that hunts right outside my office window. I have yet to see him kill one of the pigeons that hang-out on the ledge, but he's pretty fat so he clearly is an expert killer. Bottom line, all Birds of Prey are awesome. What switch wrote is much closer to the Bald Eagle's nature then that of a fearsome hunter. In fact, if you want to see a really large concencentration of Eagles, go set up next to a trash dump in Alaska. In the winter, go to any lock and damn on the Mississippi......they "hunt" dead fish on the downriver side of the dams. They cannot, in any way, be compared fairly to falcons. Bald Eagles, as majestic as they look, much prefer food that is already dead to that which they "hunt". Bald Eagles will Scavenge with the Vultures. But they actually eat far more fish than meat. Goldens eat very little fish, but they eat dead deer, elk, other animals all the time. Peregrines eat other birds almost exclusively so they are some of the coolest hunters. |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Yeah Gomes ....I can agree with that much more than your post in quotes. I watch Eagles every day where I live....vultures mostly, lazy hunters at best, when compared to other birds of prey. They are, however, majestic in flight and appearance. Edited by Left Brain 2013-04-26 9:36 PM |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() But why did a bird get chosen as our national symbol? Why not a Kodiak bear? Why not a moose or a buffalo? Why not a sequoia? Why did birds get the prime spot? As far as I'm concerned, America's symbol should be a 1963 Shelby Cobra. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Well at this point in our history... the Bald Eagle is probably a very fitting symbol. This country has grown fat and lazy and lives of the victories of others. Carrion. |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() powerman - 2013-04-26 9:42 PM Well at this point in our history... the Bald Eagle is probably a very fitting symbol. This country has grown fat and lazy and lives of the victories of others. Carrion. Sold. |
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