Creature Feature: Golden Eagle
December 1, 2008
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
One of the great thrills of being out in the desert is to see a golden eagle in flight. I’ve had a couple of memorable experiences – one, in early summer, three goldens in V-formation flew over my house at low altitude, Time slowed down as I gazed at the trio and I doubt that I breathed as I watched them disappear over a distant hill. I assume it was the mother bird giving flying lesions to her nestlings. Golden eagles generally mate for life, build large eyries of sticks – in trees or cliff faces – and lay two black eggs per season. Generally only one of the eggs will hatch and reach fledgling stage, but in good hunting years the chances of both surviving are much improved. .
Another time I was out at first light walking over the hills, fortunately my dogs had found something disgusting to sniff and so were not in their usual vanguard position. As I crested a hill, the scene before me was Mexican stand-off-esque. In a scrubby mesquite sat a golden eagle with three coyotes not far off looking at the eagle. Between the rivals was the carcass of a range cow, partly eviscerated – the Breakfast of Scavengers. I had approached at the eagle’s back, (they have visual acuity 8 times greater than a human), so it was the coyotes who saw me and decided a late breakfast was better. Their retreat alarmed the eagle and he left with a small bounce from the branch then a spread of his fabulous wings for a low swoop over the cow before elegantly rising.
In a quest for food, scavengers rarely do battle over remains, as even if they win any wounds sustained could later prove fatal. The stand-off would have probably lasted until one or the other got bored and left. However, the golden eagle is a formitible opponent and his presence is usually enough to intimidate rivals.. These eagles are reportedly capable of taking livestock, such as young sheep or small deer but generally hunt rabbits, mice, your cat. When food/carrion is scarce they have been known to hunt in pairs, taking down large hawks or owls. They are used in falconry and ca kill foxes with their first strike and will hold down wolves until the falconer arrives.
Golden eagles once called most of the Northern Hemisphere home, but their numbers have declined dramatically in most of its habitat and are extinct in some areas of Europe. This is due to a number of factors – hunting, habitat destruction, power lines and pollution being a few. We in the US are fortunate that stringent laws have been enacted to protect eagles and other raptors from being killed for their feathers.
The golden eagle is a sacred bird in some cultures and their feathers are central to religious ceremonies of some Native American tribes. Only they may harvest the eagles legally for their ceremonies. It is also a symbol of strength used in the emblem of many countries and is on the flag of Mexico.
With a wing-span of over 7 feet, this is a magnificent bird to observe. That it is ale to survive and thrive in the desert southwest is a testament to its strength and adaptability. And we fortunate to have it soaring just out of reach.
Their 7- foot wing span:
Photo by Joseph Birkett
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