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Naturalist NotesEagles over the Ridgeby Heather LepinskiWolf Ridge Naturalist |
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Naturalist NotesEagles over the Ridgeby Heather LepinskiWolf Ridge Naturalist |
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It's a bird, it's a plane, it's…an eagle!!! |
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Late fall to early winter is a magical time of year at Wolf Ridge. This is the best time of year to see groups of raptors soaring overhead – red-tailed hawks, broad-winged hawks, harriers, and sharp-shinned hawks. But it is the bald eagle, more than any other raptor, that takes my breath away. |
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Wolf Ridge is a great spot to view bald eagles because we are both near Lake Superior and on a ridge. Most birds, when given a choice, will choose not to fly over such a large body of water -- there’s no place to land and not much food. So when the eagles and other raptors start migrating south, they mainly follow along the lake shore instead of flying over the lake – good for us at less than a mile and a half from the lake. Riding the WindAlso good for us is the fact that we are on top of a ridge. It takes a lot of energy for a bird to fly – about the same amount as when humans go jogging – so eagles have found ways to make life a little easier. They ride the wind. |
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When wind currents run into an obstacle, such as a mountain, hill, or a ridge, the wind is pushed upward into the sky. This is called an updraft, and eagles love it! On windy days they can soar for miles and miles on these updrafts, giving those who happen to be standing at the overlook at Wolf Ridge that day an incredible sight. |
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Another way eagles can soar effortlessly is by finding thermals. Thermals are warm pockets of air rising upward. As we know, warm air rises, so when the sun warms the air near the ground, that air starts to rise. Eagles can find these columns of rising air and soar circling upward easily for two miles or more. When the warm air gets high enough it begins to cool down again, the eagles must glide down until they find another thermal to ride.
Do bald eagles understand the principles behind wind currents, updrafts and thermals? Probably not, but they definitely know how to use them to their advantage. |
The state of the eagleBald eagles were chosen as our national symbol because of their commanding presence in the sky, beauty, and power. But as strong and powerful as they are, they are still vulnerable to actions by humans. |
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Bald eagles have long suffered from humans destroying their habitat, using pesticides and chemicals such as lead, mercury and DDT (DichloroDiphenylTrichloroethane), polluting the waters they fish from, and even shooting them. Their populations dropped down so far during the 1950s and 1960s that they were one of the first species to be put on the Endangered Species List when it was created in 1972. Fortunately, today bald eagle populations have been doing much better than in the past. They are still on the Endangered Species List, but they have been moved from “endangered” to “threatened.” Today it is illegal to hunt, shoot or otherwise directly harm bald eagles and we have banned DDT, but we still have a long way to go. We need to work harder to keep the air, water, and food they eat pollution-free, and we need to keep the forests they nest and live in healthy. Looking forward, looking back |
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What will our relationship with eagles be like in the future? Maybe we can look to Native American cultures for ideas.
Many Native American people hold bald eagles as sacred. Jim Jackson, an Anishinabe (Chippewa/Ojibwe) Medicine Man, told this traditional oral legend in "Bald Eagles: A Comprehensive Look at Bald Eagles." Revised and edited by John Mathisen. Published by Lake States Interpretive Association. |
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Long ago, when the earth was new, everything was going well according to the universal harmony that the Great Spirit set in motion. Then, the Anishinabeg did some disrespectful things, so the Creator sent a warning that all beings on earth would be destroyed. The eagle, a close friend of Anishinabeg, heard the news and volunteered to fly to the Creator’s world. This took much bravery, as the bird would have to fly close to the sun and could be destroyed by the heat. So, on a given day, the Eagle announced his departure and flew up, up and away towards the sun. Soon the bird was just a speck in the sky. The eagle flew around the sun, onward toward the Creator. Finally it landed in the Creator’s world. “Who is walking in my world?” boomed the Creator. “It is I, Mi-Ge-Zi,” the Eagle said in a trembling voice. “What is it you wish?” the Creator asked. “I have come because I love Anishinabeg and I ask that you consider something besides destroying them. Perhaps you could send teachers to instruct about the good life. Perhaps these teachers could teach about their old ways of respect and honor among all creatures large and small.” “You speak bravely and with great wisdom. Yes, I will send teachers. They will be called Elders. Some will be messengers; others will be teachers who have lived long, respectful, healthy lives. These will be the ones who have gained experience, the ones who live in harmony with all creatures and all earthly beings; the ones who tell the stories, the ones who remember our old ways when all creatures and beings lived and worked together like in the beginning. “Me-Ge-Zi, Eagle, you are a brave and courageous being. For your strong character and heroic act on behalf of Anishinabeg, from this day forth, everything that is yours will be honored and revered as sacred. Your image, your feathers, your claws will be as symbols and messages of connections and communications to my world. From now on, all those who respect and honor you will get special help from me. Those whom your symbols protect, I will protect. Those who seek refuge in your power will hear my message to all beings on Earth. “Go back then and remain with Anishinabeg. You will also be a messenger, a teacher, a symbol of courage and strength, respect, sacredness and honor.” This is why people must respect and honor the eagle. This legend is trying to teach us something. When I stand on top of the ridge, watching eagles soaring in the sky above me, I feel completely at peace. I can forget all my cares and worries, and just watch these magical creatures. What kind of a world would it be if eagles were not around? The bald eagle in the story helped to save people; will we be able to do the same for the eagle? |
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Fun Fact: Did you know that, pound for pound, an eagle wing is stronger than the wing of an airplane? Wow!
Zoobooks: Eagles. http://zoobooks.com |
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Do You Want to Know More? Check out these sources:
Visit our Raptor Program web page to learn more about our raptors. The Wonder Series: Eagles, Hunters of the Sky. Denver Museum of Natural History. US Fish and Wildlife Service Bird Web Page US Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Web Page Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Eagle Web Page The Raptor Center Raptor Rehabilitation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota Hawk Ridge Wildlife Viewing Area in Duluth, Minnesota The Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group A great site about how DDT affects Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons |