From RRP's FB page:
Northern lakes are sealing over with ice and eagles are beginning to migrate south in earnest - which means more traffic on the North Superflyway!
Of course, we're also seeing a lot of traffic on the Mississippi Flyway. Late migrators like tundra swans and bald eagles are arriving in number. We're also seeing northern pintails, some canvasbacks, some sandhill cranes, and of course Canada geese. Don't miss the great horned owl and bald eagle perched on the same snag - I found the footage fascinating!
11/01/19: More Swans-Lots of Eagle Vocals-Beautiful Sunrise -
https://youtu.be/8Jlds29_chY. Chickidee says: "It's another beautiful morning on the flyway. As the cams pan across the lake we see geese and ducks and some swans. The image is out of focus at the beginning of the video. Give it a few seconds it will get better. Due to the pre dawn lighting of the early morning the images are a little grainy. When the cam zooms in for a closer look at the swans, listen to all the eagle vocals. We have some Juvies and subadults flying into the communal dead log to perch. The November sky is aflame by the rising sun's rays castings of pink and gold hues which turn deep crimson. A great way to start the day! Thanks for watching!" Even if you don't watch, listen to this video. The vocals are absolutely incredible!
10/31/19: GHO and BE:
https://youtu.be/eciOHtriIrU. It's very early in the morning (around 6am) and very dark. The sky is cloudy, blocking moonlight, the first fingers of dawn, and ambient city light from La Crosse. An adult bald eagle (left) and GHO (right) perch on a snag in the river. At 1:25, the GHO takes off and circles above the eagle before returning to the perch, although it does not strike. I encourage everyone to slow down the video and watch - we can't see much, but the video effects are pretty cool! The two appear to be holding a stare-off starting at about 2:02 and the owl takes off again at 2:29, which seems to put the eagle on edge. At 2:40, the camera operator finds the owl on a sandbar. It moves a few more times throughout the video, eventually returning to the log perch we first saw it on.
Is this the GHO we've periodically seen at Great Spirit Bluff? GHO don't commonly migrate and they are ferociously protective of their territory. In a study done in 2005, Bennett and Bloom found that female owls had an average home range size of about 180 hectares, or 1.8 square kilometers, although territory size varied widely and owls used territory outside their home range, especially in the absence of young. She has been seen at Lock and Dam 7, which is about 1.7 kilometers from GSB. The Flyway island is about 4.7 kilometers from GSB - well outside a home range, but within a potential area of use. Unfortunately, it was too dark to see a band...but we'll keep watching!
10/31/19: Eagle & Owl Perch-4 SWANS A'Swimming-Ducks Bobbing -
https://youtu.be/q3XaxUW7Quo. This video covers some of the same eagle/owl footage, but includes some footage of northern pintail ducks and tundra swans!
Mississippi Flyway Cam~More Swans-Lots of Eagle Vocals-Beautiful Sunrise_11.1.19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jlds29_chY&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1iPs7HOEIiTmd9ePqYrDBy3LDliOOhYNKLgZZV9Qd8yQPK8eFRc-8uMMcMississippi River Flyway : GHO and BE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eciOHtriIrU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1hKOCiQCNPMv-lRP3nhaMhuS5p7so_b-8Az-pU6a7nZbnBPwBjT75CZqsMississippi Flyway Cam~Eagle & Owl Perch-4 SWANS A'Swimming-Ducks Bobbing _10.31.19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3XaxUW7Quo&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3zQJ0s6EvCtCTx2yM1W7aUT6VL9A0HR2vjom87Z3ykZxo3S7qcOSlSNjk