Maggie's Farm

Love those birds. We have a nesting pair in our town park at the top of an ancient ship to shore radio tower. Two summers ago there were two males after the same female and I was lucky enough to watch the contest between them play out in the sky. It was like watching the dogfights I'd read about. They'd circle and circle with the trailing one seeking any advantage and when he found it he'd come screaming in on the lesser skilled one.

Each spring they need to repair the nest from the winter's damage. I love watching them use those powerful talons to cut live branches from treetops and then haul them back to the nest. The tower is approx. 180 ft. high and gaining that altitude under load is often a major challenge. Delivering a meal can be downright difficult at times.

Winter before last the nest had been wiped out completely so the rebuild was quite an effort. A second nest seems to be forming in a second tower nearby but I haven't yet witnessed the building.

They'll soon begin coaxing the young out of the nest. I love watching that. Mom and dad put on flying demonstrations that are a joy to see. I've seen them actually hover in place directly over the nest when the wind conditions are right. I had the incredible good luck once to see a youngster take the plunge - and it was nothing less than a plunge. If the fishing is good they'll have two or even three ospring and they get to working on their flying skills together.

I just love watching them and I'm hoping that second nest is operational next summer with a second pair.

If you see them just sitting it is understandable that people might mistake them for bald eagles at a distance.