One of the most majestic birds in Lake County and California is the golden eagle. Most bird watchers consider themselves lucky if they see one or two in a lifetime. In Lake County, golden eagles have been spotted at the State Park, Anderson Marsh and at Lakeside County Park. They are also present in the Mendocino National Forest. In fact, a pair of the birds have been at Indian Valley Reservoir for years.
The Cache Creek Wildlife Area in eastern Lake County has a small resident population of golden eagles. There is also a resident pair in Scotts Valley outside of Lakeport. They are considered to be a top predator and will attack and eat anything from other birds to a variety animals. They even have been known to kill sheep and small deer.
A few years ago Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Ed Smith of Gridley was fishing at Lake Oroville where he noticed a yearling deer feeding along the shoreline. A eagle appeared overhead and attacked the deer, killing it. Within seconds the eagle’s mate joined it and fed on the dead deer.
Another wildlife biologist, Jack Booth of Upper Lake, was in the Cow Mountain Recreational Area near Lakeport during a past Audubon Christmas bird count when he spotted a golden eagle circling overhead. He then saw the eagle go into a steep dive and attack a buck that was bedded down. The eagle hit deer in the back. The deer ran off and the eagle flew away.
A few years ago I was deer hunting on Cow Mountain when I spotted a golden eagle sitting in a large tree. A few minutes later a large rabbit hopped out and the eagle took to flight and circled the rabbit before diving on it and killing it. He flew off with the rabbit in his talons.
An adult golden eagle can weigh up to 20 pounds and features a 7-foot wing span. The female is larger than the male and they often mate for life. They are very territorial and will drive off other eagles. Their primary food is rabbits, ground squirrels, mice and small animals. Years ago farmers would kill golden eagles because they preyed on their young sheep and other livestock. They are now protected by federal law.
Golden eagles can live as long as 20 years. They are extremely fast flyers and have been clocked at speeds of over 200 mph when in a dive. A pair of golden eagles will hunt rabbits as a team. One draws the attention of the rabbit and the other sneaks up on it and attacks it. They build huge nests and will lay up to three eggs. The eggs take 45-50 days to hatch. The largest nest ever recorded was 20 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
Like all wildlife, eagles have a high mortality rate. About 50 percent of the young eagles die during their first year of life. Another 30 percent die before they reach age 5. They are extremely shy and most people can be in eagle country and never see one.
Golden eagles have been on this planet for thousands of years. Despite the fear they would become extinct, they have survived. This is definitely one wild bird we need to protect.
