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Desert Bald Eagles. [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-06-27
One of the reasons I like living in the Verde Valley is the abundance of wildlife. Particularly the birds. Arizona is home to the only desert dwelling and nesting bald eagles in the US. The first time I saw one, about twenty four years ago, I nearly ran my car off the road. It was one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen, that bald eagle. It was perched near the top of a cottonwood tree in Page Springs, near the little bridge that crosses the river there. I'd never before seen a bald eagle in the wild. Only in a zoo.
When I first moved here I had no idea that bald eagles also call this region home.
These desert nesting bald eagles are a small and unique subset of the North American Bald Eagle. They're a little smaller and begin nesting in December, a bit earlier than the majority of bald eagles. They prefer the trees that surround the Verde River and Salt River; the one I saw in Page Springs was not far from the fish hatchery there.
Adult at left and a juvenile bald eagles near Green Valley Lake.
Just to make it even more interesting, this small subset is further divided into two groups- those which migrate to Arizona for nesting and rearing their young while living elsewhere the rest of the year, and those which live here year-round. I suspect that the one I saw that day was a permanent resident.
Two fuzzy eaglets await their parents bringing food.
Each year during their nesting season segments of the Verde River are closed to vehicles and visitors on foot, to ensure that breeding pairs have the quiet and space they need. Kayakers and rafters can still pass through, but are prohibited from landing or launching near the nesting sites. Volunteer "nest watchers" are stationed at intervals to keep an eye on things.
There's some disagreement about whether these eagles are a subset or an actual subspecies. It's known that they don't mate and breed with the somewhat larger, non-desert bald eagle population. Every once in a while I see one soaring above my neighborhood; I always stop whatever I'm doing to admire them. It's just a thrilling experience, seeing them flying free...and right over my house.
Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.
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