I’ve been watching a pair of Bald Eagles at Independence Oaks County Park. It’s one of three eagle nests I have been casually monitoring in our area since the first week of November. Eagle-watching is a perfect way to start a sunny late autumn day. The chances are very good that today will be no exception.

Thankfully for me, the eagle nest at Independence Oaks is just a 10-minute drive from my house. Visiting that nesting site is becoming a part of my morning routine. I fill my thermos with coffee in the dawn’s early light, grab my camera and then head to the north unit of that flagship park managed by Oakland County Parks. Weather conditions dictate my viewing location. If it’s a sunny day, I sometimes look for a place to sit on the ground not far from the overhead powerlines. If the ground is moist or frosty, I lean against a tree near the small parking lot or try for good photo opportunities from the dock. On a rainy day, I do not search them out since they are, more than likely, hunkered down in their nest. Even if they are visible, the conditions for photos wouldn’t be good.

Thankfully for the eagle’s nesting success, close human access to their nesting tree is not possible since the north end of the Crooked Lake watershed creates a natural barrier between the nest and eagle-watching humans. For a close look at the eagles, binoculars or a spotting scope is needed, and a telephoto lens is a must. If you’re lucky, and the eagles are cooperative, you may witness an eagle fly over your location or perch on a branch near their nest.

If you do not see eagles during your visit, this is an excellent time of the year to look for migrating waterfowl that use the lake as a rest stop. There are other bonuses too. On my last eagle nest visit, bluebirds were flitting around in shrubbery near me, a red-tailed hawk perched in a nearby tree, and I had the unexpected pleasure of watching a buck at the edge of the meadow. My attitude is that any day in the park is a very good day indeed.

I am the first to confess I am a far cry from being an ornithologist. I call myself an “accidental birder.”  I rarely go out searching for any particular species with the exception of Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls when they appear in our “thumb” region. Most of my eagle knowledge is from personal observations at Independence Oaks County Park and Stony Creek Metropark and a much more unusual location — the catwalk of the South Manitou Island lighthouse of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. For the past six years, I have served a 40-day tour of duty starting just before Memorial Day weekend as the lighthouse keeper for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Eagle-watching from the catwalk is an exciting bonus. My pulse goes up when an eagle soars past or beneath my lighthouse perch, which is 100 feet above the ground.

However it’s my eagle-birding friend Joan Bonin, whom I first met more than 10 years ago when watching an eagle nest at Stony Creek Metropark, who has really fueled my passion for the eagles in our midst. That nest remains active today and signaled the return of eagles to our area. Joan remains my go-to contact on eagle activity and behavior.  

Bald eagles build very large nests. When sharing information at Independence Oaks with young children who ask what I’m looking at, I let them know I am looking at eagles and their nests are big —really big. Their excitement is palpable when I tell them truthfully, “The nest is big enough to hold you!”

You may be wondering why I am writing about nesting in these waning days of November. That’s what they are getting ready to do now, and Joan and I are witnessing eagles fly in with sticks to add to their sizable nests. This stick delivery photo is Joan’s and is inspiring me to upgrade my camera with a better telephoto lens.

At the risk of making predictions in writing, I think the Independence Oaks eagles have no plans for migrating south for the winter despite the fact that many bird books clearly list eagles as migratory. I follow the mantra that when a bird disagrees with a bird book, always believe the bird. With available food sources in winter, an ideal habitat and a secure nesting site not accessible by human activity or disturbances why migrate?   

After pulling back from the brink of extinction in the late 20^th century, Bald Eagles have made a significant comeback. Although no longer considered a threatened species, they remain fully protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Treaty Act. Both federal laws prohibit the “take” and or possession of the eagles or their eggs and prohibit any harm to their nest and forbid any harassment, which is equally important. Happily, the story of bald eagles has gone from conflict to coexistence.

Michigan’s bald eagle population dipped to 52 breeding pairs in 1961, sparking fear of extinction from DDT and other threats. It’s estimated our state now has about 900 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles. They are “habitat specialists” with specific needs and usually nest within a mile or so of water. Most nests that I am aware of in southeast Michigan are close to water, and they stay here all winter.  

A few weeks ago, an avid birder told me he saw a Golden Eagle over Oakland County. Although I have never seen a Golden Eagle in Michigan, that certainly does not exclude their presence.  Here’s what Huron-Clinton Metroparks wrote about Golden Eagles:

“Late October to mid-November is the best time to see Golden Eagles during the fall migration. These birds are one of the last raptor species to migrate over our area. The Golden Eagles that migrate over Michigan are heading south to states like Kentucky and Tennessee. It’s important to remember that any other time outside of the hawk migration seasons (September-November and March-May) you won’t see Golden Eagles in Michigan. If you see a bird that looks like one, it’s most likely a juvenile Bald Eagle which looks similar to an adult Golden Eagle. Fun fact: Bald Eagles don’t get their white heads and tails until they turn 5 years old!”

Looking for something to do with Thanksgiving behind us? Just head for the woods and wander. Even if you are not in an eagle habitat, nature’s way will greet you. Perhaps Wild Turkeys will too.  

Jonathan Schechter is the nature education writer for Oakland County Government and blogs about nature’s way on the Wilder Side of Oakland County.

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