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[glogdog]

You know how you see something a hundred times, but not REALLY see it?  Not really notice it?  How about the symbol of the U.S. Postal service?  Yep - it's the Bald Eagle!  There's been only 3 Seals of the Postal Service - Mercury, the Roman messenger of the gods, a Post Horse in speed with mail bags and rider, and a Bald Eagle poised for flight.  President Nixon signed the Postal Reorganization Act into law on August 12, 1970 with the Bald Eagle becoming the seal.  Then on October 12, 1993, Postmaster General, Marvin Runyan, unveiled the new corporate logo - an eagle's head in flight leaning into the wind.  On September 12, 1995, it became a registered trademark.  It has not replaced the official seal from 1970.   Here's two interesting links to read and see the 3 seals and the logo:

https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_082.htm

https://uspsblog.com/the-history-behind-the-usps-logo/ 

[gardengirl]

Very interesting information, glogdog! Thanks for researching and sharing! Eagle on!   

[glogdog]

Some Bald Eagle Songs:

The Eagle and the Hawk, by John Denver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R15vi55cJmk
Eagle, by ABBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoSy4ROZpg
Fly Eagle Fly, by James Rogers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAyTK5Q9tJI
Fly Like an Eagle, The Steve Miller Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnlTrq6wLf0
Rocky Mountain High, by John Denver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWooDCkkkVQg

[glogdog]

If you live in Kansas or Missouri, there are some Eagle Day Events coming up during these winter months.  These are two of the states where Bald Eagles from the North make their trek on down to warmer temps for the winter.  Here's some information on each state for places to view them. 

For Kansas: http://kswildlife.org/ww/events/

For Missouri: https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/events/eagle-days   

[glogdog]

Some Eagle watching events coming up next month in Iowa and elsewhere:

Clinton Bald Eagle Watch Jan 6, 2018 in Clinton, IA
http://stewardsumrr.org/tours-and-events/2015-clinton-bald-eagle-watch/

Dubuque Bald Eagle Watch Jan 28, 2018 Port of Dubuque, IA
http://www.dubuquecameraclub.com/event/2018-bald-eagle-watch/

Ferry Bluff Eagle Council Bald Eagle Watching Days Jan 12-13, 2018 Sauk City & Prairie Du Sac, WI
http://ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org/

Soar with Eagle Days Events along the Fox River Jan 13, Jan 20-21, Jan 27, 2018, Northeast Wisconsin
http://eagledaysalongthefox.org/

Bald Eagle Days Jan 26-28, 2018 at the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center in Crofton, Nebraska
http://soarraptors.org/event/bald-eagle-days-2018-lewis-and-clark-visitor-center-2/

Bald Eagle Watch Jan 5-6, 12-13, 2018 at Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge Jet, OK
https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147563006
 

[gardengirl]

Here is some good information from the latest Ia DNR newsletter. Lots of bald eagles converging in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota now.  I found the graphs interesting. If you click on IA Survey Results you can scroll around and read reports on all sorts of wildlife, not just eagles.  Fascinating.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/1d0810b

[glogdog]

Thanks so much, gardengirl, for this interesting information and it's good to see that the the Bald Eagle population in Iowa has increased over the years.  Looking at the National Survey results, I hope the states of Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska figure out why the eagle populations have significantly decreased.

For those venturing out who are trying to watch and photograph Bald Eagles, here are 5 hotspots to do that according to Audubon:

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah
Conowingo Dam, Maryland
LeClaire, Iowa (Lock and Dam 14 on the Mississippi River)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri
Skagit River, Washington

[e3forpresident]

Thank you Glo for all you wonderful information

[glogdog]

Thank you, e3. 

I'm going to deviate slightly here in that I came across something interesting on FaceBook the other day that I had not heard of before and that's an "Eagle Owl".  I then googled it and found some information on 'The Peregrine Fund' website.  There's one called the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, among the world's largest owls.  They're found in Europe, Asia, and parts of northern Africa.  At first sight of a photo, it reminds me of a Great Horned Owl because of those upright tufts of feathers on its head resembling ears.  Here's the link for more info:

https://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/Eurasian_Eagle-owl

[glogdog]

So are any streets across America named after bald eagles?  Well if you're lucky enough you live on one of the following:

W. Bald Eagle Boulevard in White Bear Lake, MN
Bald Eagle Rd in Clover, SC
Bald Eagle Rd in Weymouth, MA
Bald Eagle Rd NW in Albuquerque,NM
Bald Eagle Rd Lake Wylie, SC
Bald Eagle Rd in Rehoboth Beach, DE
Bald Eagle Rd in Ariel, WA
Bald Eagle Street in Murrieta, CA
Bald Eagle Street in Johnstown, PA
Bald Eagle Street in Lock Haven, PA
Bald Eagle Street in Blanchard, PA
Bald Eagle Lane in Wilmington, NC
Bald Eagle Lane in Kenly,NC
Bald Eagle Lane SW in Tumwater, WA
Bald Eagle Court in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Bald Eagle Court in Randallstown, MD
Bald Eagle Court Royal Palm Beach, FL
Bald Eagle Way in Douglasville, GA
Bald Eagle Way in Grand Prairie, TX
Bald Eagle Way in Belcamp, MD
Bald Eagle Way in Huntertown, IN
Bald Eagle Way in Mcdonough, GA
Bald Eagle Way San Antonio, TX
Bald Eagle Way in Carbondale, CO
Bald Eagle Way in Naples, FL
(can you believe all these names of streets?) lol.  Ok, I'll stop here. 

[glogdog]

Happy American Eagle Day!  It is celebrated annually on June 20 to commemorate the day in 1782, when the bird was added to the official Seal of the United States.  The Bald Eagle is the national symbol of freedom, courage, strength, spirit and excellence.  Today we also celebrate their comeback from the effects of DDT, habitat destruction, and environmental carelessness.  Bald eagles were listed as an endangered species in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act and later transferred to the list of threatened and endangered species under the 1973 Endangered Species Act due to their recovery.  It was finally removed from the Endangered list back in 2007 but is still protected under Federal Law. The number of bald eagles nesting pairs dropped to 417 in the lower 48 states back in the 60's but today there are over 15,000 nesting pairs.

If you happen to live near the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN, they are having some events this weekend called "Bald Eagle Days".  Here's the link with information: https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/bald-eagle-day/

Also here is one of my favorite videos titled, "Soaring Eagles".  You can see and feel the majesty of these beautiful, amazing birds.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g3LN9AxxzA

So Happy Bald Eagle Day, Mom Decorah and D29, D30, and D31 and you too, Dad wherever you are.

[glogdog]

Wow!  it's been a while since I've been here so let's get going again.  Have you all ever heard of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary up in Kempton, PA?  It's a Non-profit 2,600 acre wild bird sanctuary where hawk and other raptors can be viewed and are counted as part of a longitudinal study.  They partner with Hawk Migration Association of America, HawkWatch International, and Bird Studies Canada.  Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, MN is one of their participants too.  Besides hawks, many other raptor species are counted including Bald Eagles.  The Fall migration count at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary began August 15 and runs through December 15 for this location.  So far there's been 457 Bald Eagles counted.  At Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in MN there's been 4,348 Bald Eagles counted.  Spring and Fall Migration must be something to see at these places.  Here's a link to Hawk Count where you can get lost in all of their data: https://hawkcount.org/index.php 

[glogdog]

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! Let's start off the new year in a fun way.  January is filled with Eagle Watching events.  Here's a neat webpage telling of events up in the Midwest...places like Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois:

https://midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/nature/birds_wildlife/eagle_watching_mississippi_river.html

[glogdog]

For the month of February, here are a few more Bald Eagle Watching events/opportunities in Iowa and Wisconsin.  All information gathered from each state's Department of Natural Resources webpage (DNR):

Iowa - February 9 - Des Moines Bald Eagle Watch from 10AM to 3PM at the Fellowship Baptist Church 1503 SE 6th Street and on the SE 6th Street Bridge, Des Moines, IA.

February 9 - Milton, WI Milton Eagle Day.  Hoo's Woods Raptor Center presenting a program at the Northside Intermediate School in Milton, WI from 12:30 to 3:00 PM CST.
 
February 22-23 - Bald Eagle Appreciation Days in Prairie du Chien, WI.  Friday evening - free birding programs at Country Inn & Suites.  Saturday programs and exhibits at Hoffman Hall 9am-3pm  Hoffman Hall is located at 1600 S Wacouta Ave - Prairie Du Chien, WI 53821.  Information: 608-326-8555 x11
Toll Free: 800-732-1673
 
February 22-23 - Near Marquette, IA - Effigy Mounds National Monument, Bald Eagle Appreciation Event.  Contact Effigy Mounds National Monument: 563-873-3491 ext. 123.

February 24 - Saylorville, IA Bald Eagle Watch from 12 to 4PM.  Cottonwood Rec Area and Bob Shetler Rec Area will be open for viewing. Eagle movie at the lake visitor center.

[glogdog]

Let's jump on over to another part of the country - Oklahoma, home to several Bald Eagle's nests of which we've had threads here in the forum - Sequoyah National and Sooner Lake are 2 that come to mind.  Thanks to tulsaducati for posting this link on her FB page about the eagles in Oklahoma and some Bald Eagle viewing events coming up:

https://www.tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/scout-out-the-best-spots-for-eagle-watching-in-oklahoma/article_66e44bf1-0afa-5ec4-bd22-588762463c40.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR3mPQo1wvxq-lkaAkrwJd1L4oNEaKQ54bmHYbr14KIKVvePeosrFulqTVs