big white bird

[don cline]

Did anyone see the large white-headed, white-breasted, brown winged bird of prey flying between Jones Br & Rivermont Sat & Sun 8/14&15? Was it an osprey or some other species? It was an awsome creature

[Hooker]

Ospreys are fairly common on the Hooch, especially above McGinnis Ferry. Also, I've seen a mature bald eagle twice this summer below Six Flags.

[Rod]

Confirm on the national bird, used to see them at rogers bridge on occassion. A lot of red tailed hawks up that way as well.

[Windknot]

Don Cline,
Congratulations on the sighting! For quite some time now DNR has been hacking raptors in N. GA. They found themselves in a "catch 22" - wanting to spread the word of their good deeds, but wanting to hide the sites from the overly curious.

While living in the world-renowned nature preserve of Doraville, my wife and I had an up-close experience with a golden eagle in the back yard. Unbelievable how something that big can fly. That was maybe 15 years ago, and DNR said they'd been hacking both golden and bald eagles.

You described the bald eagle - goldens are shiny, gold/brown from head to tail. Immature bald eagles look like goldens. Peregrine falcons have a grayish back with a barred/dotted belly and under wing. I have trouble quickly discerning ospreys from hawks; need more practice!

When I was a kid, the soaring silhouettes overhead were either hawks or buzzards. We've got a ton of possibilities now, and I love it.

Tight lines,
Don Davis

[Rod]

Windknot,
agreed, I can't wait to see one of these planes scoop in the hootch and pull out a trout between its talons. Herons and kingfishes are fun....but they don't swoop down and pull 16" fish from the water.

[FFing Duo]

I think Jessica and I saw one of these last time we were on the Hooch. It was an awesome sight seeing the foot first dive. Either he missed or just got a small one, because when he came up, I didn't see a 16" in the talons. I guess 16" are just as elusive on the hooch for a bird of prey as they are for us.

[Pecheur]

It's amazing what happens when you outlaw shell thinning pesticides, isn't it?

The best way to discern the fish hawk (osprey) from its light bellied cousins (redtail, broadwing, etc.) is by the deep V that you will see in the wings of the soaring osprey. The other hawks will have a flat leading edge on the wing while the fish hawk's wing shows a obvious V-forming bend at the "elbow" of the wing. This V is, of course, exaggerated as the bird dives for prey. To differentiate the bald eagle from our local turkey vulture, the identification again comes from observing the wings. The vulture soars with a dihedral wing angle, where the wingtips point slightly towards the sky. When viewing the soaring vulture from the head or tail you will see a shallow V as the wingtips point upwards. The plane across the soaring eagle's back is flat. The adult bald eagle is of course unmistakable, even at distance, with the white head and tail and absolutely enormous size. The immature eagle takes three to four years to earn his whites.

Congratulations to all who get a glimpse of one of these magnificent birds of prey. If you keep your "eagle eyes" open, you'll see that they really are everywhere.

[jeffg]

an Osprey will also carry its fish headfirst to cut down on the wind resistance and an eagle carries their fish sideways (just one way to tell them apart.

I still like watching the kingfishers though. Talking about lightning fast!

I think some of the goldens I have seen could pick up a small poodle if it wished.

[J Byrd]

There are some Balds/goldens on Lake Oconee that will sit in a tree at mom's house. He sits there and watches the lake and the yard for dinner. She has to check outside before letting her dogs out (Yorkshire terrior) otherwise she might lose one of them. It's nice to eat breakfest over looking the lake to see an eagle land about 50 yards from and hang out for the morning. Beautiful birds! J. Byrd