The sanctuary is fortunate to receive regular visits from bald eagles throughout the winter and spring. While there are a few year-round pairs in our area, many are just looking for a break and a bite to eat as they migrate north. We often find them perched atop the pine and fir trees lining the front of the property, overlooking the Yakima River. It’s the perfect fishing spot.
While they do like to fish, bald eagles are also scavengers and you are most apt to hear them when they are scavenging larger animals like deer. Have you ever heard a bald eagle’s call? Before living here, I had assumed that they would sound every bit as majestic as they appear. Quite the opposite, in fact. They sound like a bunch of seagulls sitting around and laughing at each other’s jokes.
This morning, a couple of bald eagles were somewhere in the woods just above Young’s Hill, their calls echoing off the ridge behind the sanctuary. This is about the best chimpanzee enrichment you could ask for. The chimps weren’t scared, but they were intent on finding the source of that incessant laughter.
Jamie often walks the perimeter of Young’s Hill with her caregivers, but today the chimps also went on several patrols of their own.
By afternoon, we still hadn’t caught sight of an eagle. The day is not over yet.
How exciting !
ooohh…A puzzle that cannot be solved with tools! How exciting for them!
At least she let Burrito tag along……
What an enchanting environment to dwell among. If I were one of the eagles, I think that I’d just
stay in the treetops adjacent to Young’s Hill. (Note to Annie and other ophidophobes: bald eagles are very efficient at preying upon those pesky garter snakes who trespass onto your property in the warmer months).
Did you know they were removing buttons?
Hi Barbara – No, we learned about it as it was happening through social media. (For those who don’t know, our area was home to a tame elk named Buttons, aka Ellie. She was finally captured by Fish & Wildlife and relocated to a wildlife area southeast of Cle Elum. We will provide an update soon.)
Oh No. I am hoping this move was in the best interest for Ellie-Buttons. (Buttons?! She is such an Ellie to me.) Is this wildlife area a safe nature preserve? I only ask because I can’t imagine Ellie surviving on her own in the ‘wild’, she is so tame it could be a detriment to her. I know you have said that over the years she was never inclined to join another herd. Oh dear, I hope she will be Ok in her new environment. This is a big change for her. : (
Yes please, if it isn’t too much trouble, keep us posted. I see Ellie as part of your family. She fills a place in my heart.
I learn amazing things by reading your blog posts. This is so cool! The dog shelter where I volunteer is located on a 400 acre farm. This is the second year that bald eagles have been spotted flying about the property. I have only seen bald eagles in their natural environment 2 times and I was surprised to realize I had no idea what their calls sound like. I went directly to Cornell Lab of Ornithology to listen. Fascinating, and exactly as you described J.B.. Now I will keep my ears open to hear if they are about.
Wonderful the chimps found the eagles calls so enticing! I bet the eagles were calling and laughing to each other saying “Wow, take a look below. There are seven chimpanzees living along the Yakima River, who knew? And look, one is wearing cowboy boots!”
Hope the chimps finally saw one of the eagles fly overhead. Nothing cooler than that.
I am disturbed and saddened to read of the state’s removal — for her own good,
natch — Ellie the Elk. I do not understand the rationale. What is the problem, as
a free-range elk who prefers to not live in a herd, of being left to her own devices?
She seemed content to pay visits to the perimeters of Young’s Hill. What possible harm was her
presence causing? Please keep us informed as you are able to do so. I think that the DNR has untaken an unnecessary action which, failing a compelling reason otherwise, should be undone.
Ya, for such majestic birds, their calls are a bit “wimpy.” Surprisingly childish. But…one day one flew next to me as I was walking the beach at Edmonds Ferry Dock…he was just at a light angle up from my shoulder, only about 2 arm lengths away! Believe me, there was only majesty and a bit of “I’m an Eagle, dang it!” as I looked into his eye at and his beak. What a magic few minutes. He was soaring on the wind at my walking pace–then, with a flick of his wings, he dashed away. Would love for the chimps to have a magic (but safe for everyone) encounter like that.