Maggie's Farm

Well, now, thanks you so very much for that. What fabulous birds. I saw one landing at the nest a few days back but have not seen he/she/it/them since. I expect I will see them hard at work doing home repair soon.

I just love to watch them operate. The nest near me is on an unusually high tower - over 180 ft. So hauling heavy materials up there to repair the nest, or larger fish for dinner, is a real chore for them. They fly back and forth slowly gaining altitude. When they finally make it they flop in, seemingly exhausted. I've never yet seen them give up their prize though. Once in a while they'll alight on a lower bit of the tower and eat a bit, but they always go back to the challenge as far as I can tell.

Their talons are enormous relative to the size of the body.

I've watched a couple males "dogfighting" - presumably over a female. They circle and circle, each looking for an advantage, and waiting for an error, testing the other's capbilities and mettle. Then the Big Move. It took three such Big Moves for the winner to chase away the loser. The loser hung around nearby towers for days but finally went somewhere else.

And one particularly prosperous summer I got to watch the three ospring playing around as they built their flying skills and strength. They would chase one another and dive at sticks and such shenanigans. I even got to see The Big Leap one year. When the parents are coaxing the ospring to take The Big Leap they'll sometimes hover over the nest squawking at the young'ns. Or they'll circle around it flapping like mad.

That year I got to watch them form up for what I am certain (or tell myself so at least) was the long journey south for the winter. First one in a wide circle, then two, three... until all five were set and then the entire group headed south. Other than the ospring playing and the dogfight I'd never seen them fly anything but solo.

Sounds corny but I find it absolutely joyful to witness.