The Golden Eagle
July 25, 2007
I walked Neist Point recently during a rather grim and cold day. Neist Point is a local beauty spot on the northwest shores of Skye. The main features are an old light house and some very impressive cliffs. It’s only a 10 minute drive away from our house. The walk to the shore requires descending and later ascending well prepared but very steep stairs and paths, so this walk is a very good daily exercise.
On that specific day, while waiting by the car, catching my breath after the climb back to the car park, I heard a “wooshing” sound and saw a massive bird from the corner of my eye landing on a fence post, only 3 meters from me. I didn’t know it then, but I was eye-to-eye with a golden eagle. A massive bird of prey with a body - head to toes - of about 50 to 60 cm, maybe more and impressive claws. It sat there and looked at me for about 5 seconds then it flew away. It was an astonishing moment and - of course - I didn’t have my camera at hand.
Later, back home, I tracked the bird back to a golden eagle. Here’s some detailed info on the species:
Scientific Name: Aquila chrysaetos; named for the Greek words for golden eagle.
Life Span: Based on banding records, most birds live less than two years, although some wild birds have lived to be 11 years old. One captive bird lived to age 48.
Measurements: Males range from 6.5- 9.5 pounds, females from 8-13 pounds. The golden eagle is 30-40 inches in length with a wingspread of 60-80 inches. Females are generally larger, although there is some size overlap.
Diet: Rodents, such as ground squirrels and marmots, are important golden eagle foods, as are lagomorphs, such as cottontails and jackrabbits. Golden eagles sometimes feed on deer and pronghorn fawns and domestic livestock. Golden eagles commonly feed on carrion, or dead animals. Since these birds are large and visible, many people assume they have killed what they are eating, which is commonly untrue.
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