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Along the Mississippi during the winter there are literally 100's of Bald Eagles. They have started arriving now and will continue for the next 30 days.





This picture was across the Mississippi River. Those dots in the trees are all Bald Eagles. (At least 12 birds)



I am thinking of taking a ride across the state to view the Eagles sometime in mid to late January. My plans would leave Friday afternoon and ride to the Louisiana, MO (or some other town along the river). Saturday take about a 170 mile loop to Grafton or Golden Eagle Ferry across the Mississippi then up the river on the IL side to about Hannibal. Head home on Sunday. Anyone interested in joining me?

I could do it before mid January if that would be a better time.

I had a male and female Bald eagle land in a tree less than 50 ft. from my bathroom window three days ago. I'm not going to say what I was doing in there, other than to say the birds were great to watch and I felt much better when I was done I live on the Wakarusa river south of Lawrence, and have seen many splendid things. I had a nesting pair of Barred Owls set up their nest 25 feet from my back door so I got to see them raise that years young.

TROY did a Superman stunt on his DR 350 a couple of years ago at my place. He came up about a 10 foot long, steep hill climb and launched into the air. Problem was his feet were about 3 foot behind where they should have been. I won't go into more detail, cause Troy should finish up that story.

I might tag along if you do that ride and It's going to be above 40, David

Thanks, Dave, for the recap, the memory, and sharing with everyone. Thanks a lot.

Eddie, I'd love to join you on this trip. Bald Eagles are delicious! And now that they are off the endangered species list, I don't have to sneak around as much.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/06 ... index.html

david h wrote: I might tag along if you do that ride and It's going to be above 40, David

That was the temp I want as well.

troy wrote:Thanks, Dave, for the recap, the memory, and sharing with everyone. Thanks a lot.

Eddie, I'd love to join you on this trip. Bald Eagles are delicious! And now that they are off the endangered species list, I don't have to sneak around as much.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/06 ... index.html

^ lol

I always thought they were really rare but I've heard them several times. It's kinda neat.

Emma, mo. and Ive heard there are quit a few by Sibley power plant.

Looks like the weather is going to be in the 40s. I think I am going to try this ride. Anyone interested?

You talking about this week or the weekend? Weather looks good for this weekend. I may be busy on the Monday holiday, though.

I assume you are thinking road ride that includes a good deal of gravel? I ask because I have a rider with a pavement-only machine who'd be interested if it was compatible. Of course if you told me the ride was all pavement, I'd be less interested!

I REALLY need to get my new rear tire on the Vstrom.

I need to be back by Sunday. I have a meeting on Monday so will be busy as well.

On Friday it would be mostly asphalt to get to the area. One Saturday and Sunday we would ride both depending on the conditions of the roads.

I AM IN!

troy wrote:I AM IN!

Anyone else?

Best of luck Eddie. We haven't seen many Bald Eagles along the Kaw and Missouri rivers as we usually do. Probably because of all the ice. Watchin' those big birds pull fish out of the water is truly awesome....

It looks like Troy and I will be leaving a little after on. I will have my "Spot" activated if anyone wants to follow our progress. http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... 0t3lpSo4ho

I'll post pictures when back.

I called Clarksville, MO one of the towns we are visiting. The City Clerk said they have approximately 150 Bald Eagles along the Mississippi River at their location.

There is still time to join us.

Weathermen lie. They said 38 degrees, it never got over 31 most of the way was 28-29 degrees.

Troy cries when it gets below 30 degrees.

I can't feel my toes! :shock. Turns out wind chill is not just caused by the wind blowing. If you move 70 mph in 30 degree air, you got wind chill. Who knew?!

Most folks do seem to think we are a bit looney. You should head SOUTH in January, Eddie, not North!

ajayhawkfan wrote:I will have my "Spot" activated if anyone wants to follow our progress. http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... 0t3lpSo4ho

You aren't making any progress yet today? Don't tell me you both are waiting for it to warm up or something!

Wow, I can't imagine riding at that temperature at any fast speed!! You guys must be wearing heated clothing I assume?

curado wrote:I always thought they were really rare but I've heard them several times. It's kinda neat.

Back in the early 80s I would go with my Scout troop up to Squaw Creek NWR (NW MO) and we might see 2 or 3 bald eagles, and that was through a spotting scope at a mile or so distance. By the mid 90s I could count, without optics other than my contact lenses, around a hundred. And I parked under a tree holding 10 or so. Amazing recovery.

I am pretty sure that DDT was responsible for the decline in that it is fat soluble so it accumulates in the food chain and stays with the animal. So a duck with DDT gets eaten by an eagle and the DDT stays with the eagle. The DDT caused the bird egg shells to be so thin that a nesting bird would crack the eggs.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT
"DDT, DDE, and DDD magnify through the food chain, with apex predators such as raptors having a higher concentration of the chemicals than other animals sharing the same environment. They are very lipophilic and are stored mainly in body fat. DDT and DDE are very resistant to metabolism; in humans their half-lives are 6 and up to 10 years, respectively. In the United States, these chemicals were detected in almost all human blood samples tested by the Centers for Disease Control in 2005, though their levels have sharply declined since most uses were banned in the US.[32] Estimated dietary intake has also declined,[32] despite it still being commonly detected in food samples tested by the FDA.[33]"