2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, DesMoines, and the rest of Nebraska and Iowa

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Candleshoe
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2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Candleshoe »

Taken at Pier Park Lake, near downtown Grand Island with a 70-200 lens. Cropped considerably. I hadn't planned on finding a bird to shoot, was just cutting through the park on my way to an appointment. Note to self: always pack the big lens!

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skinzfan23
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Re: 2014 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by skinzfan23 »

Nice, that is a great picture.
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Coyote
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Re: 2014 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

Great photo - Breakfast of Champions!
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Awesome catch Candleshoe!
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skinzfan23
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by skinzfan23 »

Brad wrote:Awesome catch Candleshoe!
Looks like the eagle had an even better catch.
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Wow, 280 Bald Eagles at Squaw Creek!
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by EastCB »

Saw 6 eagles at Lake Manawa today.
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bbtran72
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by bbtran72 »

Was down in Harlan County Reservoir last week and was able to snap a few, most of the lake was froze over but there was a couple fly overs otherwise not much going on.

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Coyote
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

Sweet! :clap:
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Awesome.
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Rowe Sanctuary wrote:We saw our first cranes on Saturday here at Rowe Sanctuary. The excitement begins to build!!
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Coyote
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

Brad wrote:
Rowe Sanctuary wrote:We saw our first cranes on Saturday here at Rowe Sanctuary. The excitement begins to build!!
About right on time... First arrive around Valentines Day, the height at St Patrick's Day...
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Coyote wrote:
Brad wrote:
Rowe Sanctuary wrote:We saw our first cranes on Saturday here at Rowe Sanctuary. The excitement begins to build!!
About right on time... First arrive around Valentines Day, the height at St Patrick's Day...
And gone by tax day...
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

The eagle has landed, and it's nesting in record numbers

http://www.omaha.com/outdoors/the-eagle ... 14319.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
David Hendee 
/ World-Herald staff writer wrote:Continuing a soaring trend, Nebraska hosted a record 146 known bald eagle nests last year, with adult pairs actively incubating eggs or tending to young in 111 of them, according to the State Game and Parks Commission.
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bbtran72
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by bbtran72 »

Spotted a group of cranes in the middle of a field a couple mile south of the river on alda road, too far away for me to shoot.
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

bbtran72 wrote:Spotted a group of cranes in the middle of a field a couple mile south of the river on alda road, too far away for me to shoot.
They should really start ramping up now.
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RNcyanide
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by RNcyanide »

Saw an eagle over 144th near Stonybrook on my way to work out this morning.
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GetUrban
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by GetUrban »

A week ago Sunday, I saw 3 bald eagles in an open field along Pershing Drive, north of Eppley, just north of the Abbott/Storz split. There were quite a few geese hanging out on the small pond in front of the John Day Company across from Lozier. I assume the eagles were having some goose for breakfast.

Although they were at least 50-75 yards away, I couldn't believe how big they were.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

GetUrban wrote:A week ago Sunday, I saw 3 bald eagles in an open field along Pershing Drive, north of Eppley, just north of the Abbott/Storz split. There were quite a few geese hanging out on the small pond in front of the John Day Company across from Lozier. I assume the eagles were having some goose for breakfast.

Although they were at least 50-75 yards away, I couldn't believe how big they were.
We saw a similar situation near Hamburg, IA on Sunday, pond just full a geese and several eagles in the trees just watching.
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Coyote
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

Brad I were at Lake Manawa this late afternoon and saw a dozen or so Eagles, but not many wanted to come by to say hello:

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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Nice shots. I counted closer to 2 dozen. I was able to get a dozen in a single photo!

I went back twice yesterday. I would say Saturday the lake was still 3/4 covered in ice, by morning there was noticeably less and by afternoon, it was probably down to 1/4 covered. If there is any wind today, I bet its gone by even, not including all the broken pieces pushed to the shore.

I will try to get my photos posted up this evening.
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Coyote
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

A couple more (to remind Brad to post his...)
I needed to bring a tripod, the lens that I borrowed from Brad was heavier than it looked...

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GetUrban
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by GetUrban »

Very cool!...both literally and figuratively.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Coyote wrote:A couple more (to remind Brad to post his...)
I wish my Sitebuilder website building program was "In The Cloud". It would make it much easier to upload from where I am at (The Clink, Werner Park, The Gallery, Etc).

I will try to get them uploaded tonight.
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

If you didn't hear, the last living Eagle from Last Year's batch of Decorah Eagles died last week. Not sure how the others were killed, but the last one was electrocuted by a high voltage power line. Second Eagle in the area killed since last summer by electrocution.

As a result, they are adding "Swan Diverters" on the line as well as caps on top of the insulator to try to protect the eagles.

Here is a video of a helicopter adding the "Swan Diverters" in another location.
[BBvideo 560,340][/BBvideo]
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Ok, here are my Eagle Photo from when Coyote and I were out at Lake Manawa on Saturday 3/7/2015

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7. Sushi?
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9. 12 Eagled in one photo!
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skinzfan23
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by skinzfan23 »

Great pictures, Brad. Amazing to see it swoop down and get the fish. Nice work!!!
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Thanks! Hope to get a few more before they move north, but with these temps, I bet they don't stay long!
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Squaw Creek dropped from 53 to 5 Bald eagles in one week. Kind of interesting because the snow geese numbers shot up over 600K this week!
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Changing climate means sun might begin to set on sandhill cranes' migration through Nebraska

http://www.omaha.com/outdoors/changing- ... b30e2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
David Hendee / World-Herald staff writer wrote:A changing global climate could be a new headwind for sandhill cranes to battle in coming decades, according to the National Audubon Society.
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Candleshoe or bbtran72, Any updates on the number of cranes out there right now? I am getting worried all this heat will push them out...
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bbtran72
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by bbtran72 »

Brad wrote:Candleshoe or bbtran72, Any updates on the number of cranes out there right now?  I am getting worried all this heat will push them out...
They are not that high yet, last year about this time they were every where in the field feeding on 281, but every time i drive from Hastings to Grand island i'll see a small flock here and there and that's it. I probably will not have time to go out and shoot for another week, are you going to head this way and shoot anytime soon brad?
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Coyote and I will be out there in a week.
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bbtran72
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by bbtran72 »

Message me on facebook when you guys do and i'll meet up, according to a photog friend of mine who's son work for the game and park, he says that the cranes are a little late this year but is starting to pick up in numbers.

https://www.facebook.com/brianbtran" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Brad
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Sandhill Cranes arriving late?

http://neblandvm.outdoornebraska.gov/20 ... ving-late/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Joel Jorgensen, NGPC wrote:Any long time resident of Nebraska knows there is no such thing as a “normal” spring*. This spring provides more evidence. The bitter cold snap of late February extended into the first days of March and today (16 March) the afternoon temperatures are going to be bumping 90. Long time resident birders and birdwatchers know that weather in late winter/early spring will affect the progression (e.g., arrival) of the first waves of migrant birds. The bitter late winter cold snap, which extended well south of Nebraska, is likely one of the factors which has slowed down this year’s Sandhill Crane migration.
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

5 Reasons to Head to Nebraska Right Now

1) Experience the cranes. The Sandhill crane migration is one of the most accessible and magnificent wildlife migrations on earth. Our Rowe Sanctuary guide told us that the birds arrive in waves starting in mid-February and are gone by mid-April. Eighty percent of the world’s cranes pass through an 80-mile stretch of the Platte River valley. Each group spends three to four weeks feeding on waste corn in the farmland around the river to refuel for their journey north to Canada, Alaska and Siberia.

Book crane-watching experiences with Rowe Sanctuary or Crane Trust, or hope to see them on your own at places like the Fort Kearney State Recreational Area. You’ll have no trouble spotting cranes in local fields during the day (but be sure to observe crane-viewing etiquette).

2) Walk over an interstate—in a museum. The Archway, spanning Interstate-80 just east of Kearney, traces 170 years of transportation history along the Great Platte River Road. It takes about an hour to see exhibits that detail the area’s role as a gateway to the West for Oregon Trail pioneers, Lincoln Highway motorists and more.

3) Visit other local treasures. Love old homes? Head to The Frank House at the University of Nebraska Kearney for a free tour of a late-19th-century mansion. Into cars? The Classic Car Museum displays more than 190 gleaming vehicles; ogle the tailfins of a 1959 Cadillac or peer into a 1938 Ford four-door sedan.

4) Relax over pizza and beer. We’d recommend Thunderhead Brewing Company, where the Thunder Pie pizza (Alfredo sauce, chicken, bacon, jalapeños, pepper Jack and mozzarella cheeses) pairs nicely with craft beers like Cornstalker Dark Wheat. (Potato-lovers: Order the Thunder Spud!)
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by bbtran72 »

Couples of pictures from this morning, too nice to not go out and shoot

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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Brad »

Nice! Can't wait to get out there!
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

Nice! I want a shot like that tomorrow morning :lol:
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Re: 2015 Bald Eagle & Crane Thread

Post by Coyote »

Here are a few from the weekend to intrigue you before Brad posts his epic shots:

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