Bald Eagle

photo by mnlamberson

I sincerely wish I had pictures of what I SAW to share with you. It was one of the moments you don't expect to happen, and why would you. Sunday after Mass we met up with my Father In Law at the local pizza range. As we were pulling into the parking lot, I said oh look at the "Hawk", but then I realized that this hawk was much larger then any hawk I've seen. Not only that but it had a white head and a white tail.

DH parked, and I realized that there were several other people just starring at this bird too. This was a sighting that just made everyone stop dead in their tracks. We all stood there starring watching this bird circle and circle.

My Father-In-Law at first dismissed it as a turkey vulture. However, I questioned it! So he watched a little bit more intently. After several minutes he was sure it was an Eagle; but wouldn't call it a Bald Eagle. I just knew this bird had to be something specially because it wouldn't caused several people to stop and just stare at it. We see hawks and turkey vultures all the time. These sightings do not cause people to stop dead in their tracks and stare for long periods of times.

I'm sure what I seen here in Northern IL was a Bald Eagle. No other large bird to my knowledge has a white head and a white tail!  I know that we went a few hours west towards the Mississippi River and Galena, IL that bald Eagles can be spotted there. However, I've NEVER known them to be in and around "The Forrest City"!

I told hubby, this is one of those times I wished I had my camera. There have been several times where I've thought that perhaps I should just keep my camera on me at all time. This was one of those moments. Then again I just never think if it; I mean why would I need it just to go down the street to the pizza ranch?

UPDATE: To Nest Or Not To Nest!

When I made the post here I was certain that I was on the loosing side of my battle with these determine parents. They tried all day Thursday and were at it again on Friday Morning when I took the pictures.

However after the pictures I let it go: mainly because I was certain that I was on the loosing end and after a while I started to think what harm could come of it? Other then my fears of being attacked. After I took the pictures, on Friday, they hung out in the tree in the front yard. When we got up Saturday the birds were gone and there was no new signs of them trying to build the nest in the light fixture.

So I'm not sure what happened. They were determined on Thursday no matter what I did. They were here Friday Morning and determined until I stopped to take pictures of them in the tree, the light fixture, and the doorway. After the pictures, on Friday, they they stopped what they were doing and hung out in the tree in the front yard for the rest of the day. Then by Saturday they were gone.

Believe it or not, despite how I was feeling on Thursday and Friday Morning, I'm sad that they disappeared. I wonder other then be a little annoyed with me what made them disappear? Perhaps they didn't like the paparazzi (me taking pictures)? They were completely determined and still at it until I took pictures.

Birds: To Nest Or Not To Nest!

That is the question of the day! We got a pair of sparrows (not sure what kind of sparrows)that have decided to try to nest in our light fixture.I'm not sure if I should let them nest there or not. I asked the ladies at THL what they thought. Many of them said I should let them be! That I should raise the white flag and let them nest there. However, how do I let them just do that? Can you see how close that light fixture is to my front door?Not only is it close to my front door, but as you can see from the picture below I don't have front porch. I just have a stoop (step):My biggest issue with is location that they have picked is how close it is to the front door! What if Mama decided to attack (once there are babies/eggs)? Seriously I don't want to be barred from using my own front door!

If this was your house would you let them stay? Would you raise the white flag and let it be? Would you use this as a teaching lesson? How would you make this "work"?