The Cellar - Feb 11th, 2018: Nooksack Bullies

The dividing of the United States into opposing camps is sad.
One effect is to embolden the racist nazi skinheads to come out of the hidden clubhouses and assemble in gangs to terrorize our trees.
Um…trees? Yes, here’s 55 of them hanging out in one tree.

http://cellar.org/2017/eagletree.jpg

What? White feathers? Not skinheads?..... nevermind.:blush:

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After a cold snap in 2011 made Skagit's fish inaccessible to the raptors, Hilliard decided to try another locale, the nearby Nooksack River. It was there that he photographed this spectacular sight: 55 eagles in a single tree! Taken aback by the spectacle, Hilliard sat with the birds for some three hours.
"It isn't unusual to see hundreds of them in that area during December and January. But the most I have since photographed in that tree is 25."

http://cellar.org/2017/eagletree2.jpg

Quote:

In the area of this tree, a small branch of the main river flows, and is a prime area for breeding salmon. As the salmon breed and die, they pile up on the shore and in the river. As I watched the eagles for over three hours, it appeared that the location and height of the tree gave the eagles a great view of the area. What seemed to be happening was the parents and their young would gather in the tree. Then the young would fly down to the river to feed with other young. Sometimes a stray single eagle would fly in and attack the young, to also feed, and some of the parents would attack it and run it off. This happened the whole time. It is my observance that the angle of view, slow and small state of the river tributary, provided a sort of kiddie pool area for the babies to eat and be safe from harassment.

Se, Hillary was right, it takes a village. :p:

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