It seems that the area ponds froze over sooner than usual. December was a pretty cold month that had almost all of the days below normal. This brought a lot more ducks and geese to the river. More than I had seen in the 14 or so years I’ve been paying attention.
Ducks and geese are food, at least to some predators. The top flying predators around here lately are the bald eagles that have been increasing in numbers with each passing year. This year it seems I started seeing them earlier than usual. That coincides with the increase in possible dinner items I guess.
It’s become an almost daily occurrence to be able to stand on my front porch and watch them cruising the tree tops along the river. Considering I’m at the top of a good 40 or 50 foot tall hill, these birds are cruising at tree top level for the river. For me, they are practically at eye level.
The river is just a two minute walk down the hill. A two minute drive gets me to the Yorkville dam, the thing responsible for keeping this stretch of the river relatively free of ice. I was hanging out there today for a bit. No particular reason. Curious to see what types of birds have been gathering.
The eagle came drifting up the river. I expected all the birds to bolt, but the geese just sat there. Strength in numbers I guess and it probably helps to be almost the size of the eagle. I’ve had some pretty pissed off geese chase me down and along the river. Not sure if even an eagle was willing to put up with that. But the flock of ducks sitting in the shallow rivers didn’t like the eagles presence at all. They gave out a simultaneous squawk and started to jump, but then thought better of taking to the air with that thing around and wound up hitting the water hard only 50 feet away.
Later in the day I was hanging out as usual on the porch. The eagle was heading down stream. The sun was waning and I guess it was heading home. If this is one of the same eagles, there seems to be 4 of them around this year, it’s cruising range for the day is a good 10 miles. I may have to try following it back and forth one day just to see how far they cruise.
So far no pictures. Either I don’t have my camera at hand or the eagle is too far away . . . see that black speck, that one right there!!! That’s the eagle!!!
The opportunity may arise yet.
The influx of waterfowl on the river seems to be attracting other predators. This week besides the eagle, I’ve seen a few red tail hawks, a great horned owl and a number of falcons. Considering the size of these predators, maybe it’s not the waterfowl there after.
Maybe that’s why I haven’t seen the rabbits in the last few weeks.
I am down to 3 squirrels every morning from the usual 8.
Bob France
16 Nov 2011A friend who lives on the river in South Elgin said there was an eagle and a turkey by his house the other day…
Last year after a photo journalist talked with me his pictures and article were on the front page of The Daily Herald (my 5 minutes of fame).
I would go to the strech of river just North of the Gail Borden Library in Elgin to view the eagles. Here is two very funny stories: one day there was this couple watching what they thought were about 8 eagles. As I walked up to them they were so proud of their find that they pointed them out to me. I politely explained that they were watching crows and that the eagles were about 100 feet North. the other time was a lady spotted me and asked “Are you that eagle watcher guy?” She then told me she has lived two blocks from the river for about 10 years and has never seen an eagle. on the day the article was in the paper, after reading it, she decided to go down to the river and check it out. As she walked out of her front door something caught her attention from above. She looked up and saw her first eagle, flying above her house on the way to the river!
I can’t wait till more show up…