Southeast Colorado Bird Watching - Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles

Description: An adult bald eagle soars over John Martin Reservoir.

Southeast Colorado Bird Watching - Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles

by Sue Keefer

An immature golden eagle (bottom) and immature bald eagle soar over John Martin State Wildlife Area. Note the golden head and white wing patches of the lower bird. The wing patches are common to immature birds. The immature bald eagle has a mottled white and brown belly. This bird also is missing a couple of primary wing feathers and is probably molting.

I’ve encountered people who live in the lower Arkansas Valley who are amazed when I’ve told them I’ve seen golden and bald eagles in the area.

This is not a rare experience. Especially in the winter, bald eagles are seen hanging around open water such as area reservoirs. On a Colorado Parks and Wildlife waterfowl count on John Martin Reservoir in early January, 54 bald eagles were seen. They like to sit on the ice or in trees, frequently in groups, or you may see them flying, searching for prey. They’ll eat fish, waterfowl, rabbits, prairie dogs and other small mammals, as well as carrion such as roadkill. Immature bald eagles lack the white head and tail of adults. Instead, they have mottled white and brown under the wings, belly and under the tail.

Golden eagles are larger birds. Body length can be as much as three feet and wingspan as much as seven feet. They have light brown or golden heads and dark bodies. There may be small patches of white or gray. They’re more likely to be seen soaring or sitting on power poles in open areas, and feed primarily on small mammals, although have been known to take a pronghorn or deer.

On a recent visit to John Martin Reservoir, I had the pleasure of seeing an immature bald and immature golden eagle soaring together over the state wildlife area, and also saw several mature bald eagles sitting on the ice, perching in trees, or soaring over the dam.

Both species have been known to nest in this area, but it is rare. Goldens are more likely to nest in canyon country.

For more information, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/SpeciesProfiles.aspx and search for bald eagle or golden eagle. On that site you can view a video on bald eagles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxtr02RiQAk&feature=youtu.be

Check out the Decorah Iowa Eagle Nest Live Cams Here: https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagles/decorah-eagles-north-nest

https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/JohnMartinReservoir/Documents/JohnMartinEagleBrochure.pdf

It is a crime to disturb an eagles nest and it is illegal to possess eagle feathers or parts.

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