Peachtree City resident John Palmer photographed one and reported sighting two American bald eagles Sunday in the Lake Kedron area.
Here’s how Palmer describes the event:
“I was working [on] my deck late morning Sunday and noticed a streaking shadow across the trees adjacent to the lake. Our home off Southern Shores views Lake Kedron and it’s not uncommon to see herons feeding on small fish. This however, was more like a darting yet gliding bird, a rather larger hawk, I thought.
“These two birds landed in a tall pine adjacent to the lake shore and I immediately noticed the white head and tail. I really could not believe I was viewing an eagle pair. Later after reading the Georgia Wildlife website description, this was a mated pair since one was larger than the other.
“My wife and I watched for several hours as this pair would perch in the pine and then swoop across the lake and return.
“If you recall, it was a blustery day, so this pair was gliding all over the southern portion of the lake near the spillway. The lake is low and likely sighting small fish was their intention. We were careful to make sure our cat Grizzabella was inside just in case this pair was looking for more.
“As far as photographs, it was difficult to get close. Each time I made an approach I was spotted and off this raptor would fly. My camera gear was by no means professional: a Sony Cybershop 16.1 megapixel with a 5X optical zoom. It did, however, capture the moment and documented this unique experience.
“Later that night I researched the Georgia Wildlife website and notified their staff and received a note back advising that they would try and locate the nest as part of an ongoing effort to document the population.
“I guess this made up for the not so rewarding Auburn-Alabama game I attended and [the] season we experienced this year. War Eagle. — John & Dale Palmer, Peachtree City.”
According to the Ga. Department of Natural Resources, as many as one-third of the state’s 159 counties have bald eagles nesting in them as of last year.
“Bald eagles typically use the same nest, often built in the tops of tall pine or cypress trees. But each year some established pairs build new ones. If the new nest is near the old, it is usually easy to find. … But some nests are much farther away and more difficult to pinpoint,” according to the DNR.
Some DNR facts about eagles:
Size: Adults can weigh 14 pounds, with 8-foot wingspans. Males are slightly smaller.
Prey: Fish are a staple. Eagles also eat waterfowl, turtles, snakes, rabbits and other small animals.
Mates: Eagles mate for life. They often use the same nest, adding to it each year. (Nests up to 10 feet wide and weighing a half-ton have been recorded.)
Offspring: Pairs typically lay one to three eggs by December. The young fledge in three months and are on their own in about four.
Long-lived: Bald eagles live up to 15-25 years in the wild, longer in captivity.
Nest watch: Georgians who see a bald eagle nest or two or more eagles together are encouraged to download and fill out the form at www.georgiawildlife.com.
