| Golden eagles are an amazing predator with a wing | | | | throughout the entire year. They will learn to hunt |
| span that can stretch over six feet. The females are | | | | together as a team, and when they do this they |
| larger, this is true with most birds of prey. A female | | | | truly are a predator to be reckoned with. |
| can weigh anywhere from eleven to fourteen | | | | Because of these bird's power people use to be |
| pounds, this doesn't sound like a lot but fourteen | | | | afraid that eagles would eat their young children, this |
| pounds for a bird that can fly with ease a lot of | | | | may sound funny, but true. These birds were |
| weight. the golden eagle gets its name from the | | | | persecuted because of this and with farmers using |
| golden feathers on the back of their neck. These | | | | DDT on their crops, which killed of many birds (bald |
| birds are found throughout the world, in North | | | | eagle, peregrine falcon, white pelican, osprey, etc...) |
| America they are mainly found in the west. There | | | | the golden eagle population declined. These birds are |
| are thirty six different species of eagles in the world, | | | | not a threat to people and will not stay in an area |
| but only two found in North America, the bald eagle | | | | where there are a large amount of people. I have |
| and the golden eagle. | | | | hiked up to view golden eagle's nests that I know of |
| The golden eagle is in my opinion one of the world's | | | | and as soon as I came around the parents would |
| most amazing aerial predators and by far the most | | | | actually leave. Many hawks and falcons will stay near |
| powerful in North America. Their eyesight is 9 times | | | | by and dive bomb you. I thought this was actually |
| better than ours and have been clocked at speeds | | | | intelligent for these birds to leave because it makes a |
| of over 120 miles per hour and pilots have reported | | | | nest much harder to find. |
| them as high as 20,000 feet in altitude. Their prey | | | | With each talon a golden eagle can apply hundreds of |
| mainly consists of rabbits, although I have watched | | | | pounds of pressure. It is amazing how powerful a 12 |
| them kill many sage grouse while spending time in | | | | or 13 pound animal can be. I have handled golden |
| Wyoming. When the rabbit cycle is down they have | | | | eagles for a long time and cannot even describe the |
| been documented of killing prey as large as prong | | | | strength of their feet when they apply full on |
| horn and mule deer. | | | | pressure. The golden eagle is truly an amazing and |
| The male and female have been known to establish | | | | respected predator. |
| a bond with each other and stay with each other | | | | |