Show appreciation for area's large birds

The spring-summer season is rapidly approaching the Flathead. Ospreys and bald eagles will soon be returning. These species are two of our most majestic large birds.

Both are found, in spring and summer, in the northern mid-western states and particularly, the Rocky Mountain West, Alaska and much of Canada.

Both birds have paid a high price for the fish they consume for they often have a high level of pesticide contamination.

This trait results in decreased calcium metabolism and soft shelled eggs that are often infertile.

In the case of the bald eagle, (our national bird) it was estimated that there were a quarter million eagles in America before 1800. By 1963, the estimate of active nests in the lower 48 states was 417 because of the pesticide problem.

The bird was classified as an endangered species in most states. In 1995 the bird was down-listed as a "threatened species' and has now been de-listed.

The population has become too large to allow monitoring of every nest and specialists have had to go to random sampling to maintain accurate counts.

While the population has soared to the delight of sportsmen, it is still illegal in many states to disturb bald eagles.

Bald Eagles may move to the southern parts of mid-western states but they can be seen year-round in wet, marshy areas.

Young bald eagles are dark colored like the golden eagle and only acquire the white head feathers at about four years of age.

Adults are characterized by the white feathers of the head and tail and a large yellow bill.

They have an adult wingspan of 6.5 to 8 feet. The adult weighs 7 to 13 pounds. It can fly at up to 35 miles per hour and has eyesight that is three to four times that of a human.

People love to watch the eagles, spotted easily along rivers and waterways. Farmers and ranchers are especially helpful in identifying and protecting nesting sites. Nests are built from a mass of sticks usually in the tops of tall trees and less frequently on high cliffs.

The osprey is also found in the same general areas of the mid-west and Rocky Mountain West but differs in its migration of long distances during the fall.

To the newcomer, osprey appear to be just large gulls but this is soon dispelled when you see them dive for fish (gulls don't "dive"). Bird lovers attract these fish hawks by placing wooden platforms on tall poles near lakes or streams.

The osprey then build stick nests on the platforms. It is believed that the same osprey return each year to the same nests.

The yearly return is closely timed and occurs within two to three days each year. The ospreys mate for life and have a lifespan of approximately 20 years.

Ospreys are one of the few bird species to have very distinct body coloration with dark coloring on the top half of their bodies and white underneath.

They have a white head with a dark brown line through the eye and on the side of the face. The wing shows a distinct bend, unlike the bald eagle.

The mating season begins soon after the birds return from their migration and the eggs hatch 32 to 35 days later. The female incubates the eggs and the male fishes for the entire family until the young are able to leave the nest at about eight weeks of age. Then both sexes fish for the family.

The osprey is well equipped to capture surfacing fish, the nearly sole component of its diet. The soles of the feet have sharp projections that allow a firm grip on the fish.

There have been drastic decreases in osprey populations in the past 100 years also due to pesticide contamination. They have been making a comeback in the past 15 to 20 years due to efforts by bird preservationists.

The bald eagles and ospreys represent the beauty of our outdoor environment and also reflect the efforts of bird enthusiasts to preserve the natural habitat. As sportsmen, we must appreciate these beautiful birds.

Dukelow is a resident of Somers.