Hi David - Got a kick out of your column this morning, and I must tell you about my most unusual bald eagle sighting. It was at the 520 Montlake exit several years back. Construction on the exit ramp hadn’t started yet, and I thiiiiiink there was still a narrow median between the two direction of cars. If no real median, maybe just a concrete barrier.
So, there I was, driving out to UVillage from downtown, and I was on the exit ramp heading east, maybe 8 cars back from the traffic light, waiting for the light to change. Suddenly from the opposite direction, an eagle, chased by crows, swooped down nearly to ground level between the two directions of cars. Everything happened so quickly - the light changed, the birds swooped up to the west, and I had to be on my way. Yikes! What a way to start the day - for all of us:-)
Thanks for your post on red-tailed hawks. We have a lot in the Denver area--I often see them perched on lights along parkways. Now I know they're looking for voles in the medians! I was excited to see a Cooper's hawk on my back fence a few days ago, and glad to know my yard is wild enough for it. The little birds that usually come to the feeder were nowhere to be found, of course :-)
Thank you for the lesson about patagial marks. That should help increase my identification skills of these hawks.
Hi David - Got a kick out of your column this morning, and I must tell you about my most unusual bald eagle sighting. It was at the 520 Montlake exit several years back. Construction on the exit ramp hadn’t started yet, and I thiiiiiink there was still a narrow median between the two direction of cars. If no real median, maybe just a concrete barrier.
So, there I was, driving out to UVillage from downtown, and I was on the exit ramp heading east, maybe 8 cars back from the traffic light, waiting for the light to change. Suddenly from the opposite direction, an eagle, chased by crows, swooped down nearly to ground level between the two directions of cars. Everything happened so quickly - the light changed, the birds swooped up to the west, and I had to be on my way. Yikes! What a way to start the day - for all of us:-)
Thanks for the great information and strategies for keeping wildlife safe. Always good driving advice!
Thanks for your post on red-tailed hawks. We have a lot in the Denver area--I often see them perched on lights along parkways. Now I know they're looking for voles in the medians! I was excited to see a Cooper's hawk on my back fence a few days ago, and glad to know my yard is wild enough for it. The little birds that usually come to the feeder were nowhere to be found, of course :-)
Not certain if I’m lucky or careful but in spite of logging 15,000+ Driving miles per year have never had a bird strike or come close to one.