Eagle Journal

Hello everyone,

After a few days of beautiful weather we are now paying for it — 71’ at 7:00 am. That can only mean one thing, 100’ for the day. As I write this journal it is 103.3! Yuck! I don’t mind flying in the heat as long as the bird I’m flying is willing. In fact, I believe it’s healthy to sweat but this might be at my limit. Widow’s weight is down by one ounce. I was hoping for more but with the heat I guess I’m not surprised. Today is Sunday so I figured there would be no trucks to distract Widow from hunting in the small alfalfa field. The moment Widow made one peep I could see jacks leaving the alfalfa, running under the cyclone fence and out into the dry field. This happens each year. The rabbits figure out that the moment they hear the eagle it’s time to get out of Dodge. fast. I walked the whole field and did not get one slip. The mind games between the hunter and the hunted begin, and I will change tactics. I could have followed the stampeding herd of jack rabbits out into the big dry field but, honestly, not today. It’s too hot! So I went over to the train tracks and walked the bank, and if any bird watchers go there they will see eagle feathers everywhere. It’s not hard to see where Widow left the fist — just look at the weeds and there will be a feather stuck there or on the ground. One thing I have been doing is, when I come up on a spot that looks particularly good for a jack rabbit to hide in, I grab a handful of rocks and throw them in the weeds hoping to flush out a stubborn rabbit. And that gives me a chance to do some deep knee bends, because lugging around a 9 lb. female golden eagle for two plus hours isn’t enough work! I could hear some movement in the dry weeds and saw a pair of ears move in the brush. I slowly bent over and selected a rock that fit my hand and crept forward, slowly.

Widow was on full alert. She knew what was about to happen. With my perfect rock in my hand at the ready, sweat running down my back and in my eyes, I moved to the spot where I saw the ears. Moving closer to the edge of the bank I picked out a spot that the jack might be hiding in and hurled a sizzling fast ball at the weeds..nothing happened! Another moment passed and still no jack. Hmm. The sweat now burning my eyes, I removed my hat to wipe away the sweat and, bang, a jack exploded from the same spot my fast ball had just ripped into. Maybe the hat removal was a signal. Widow reacted with great timing and was cranking hard off the bank, driving at the jack that was running straight away out into the hay field. Widow closed the gap quickly and was building speed. Mr. Jack Rabbit took two, maybe three, strides out in the hay field and instantly realized that the open hay field was not a good idea.  Right at the end of the dry weedy part and the beginning of the green alfalfa part there is one clump of green grass growing, almost a small bush. With Widow coming in like a runaway freight train, Mr. Jack Rabbit made a sharp turn to the right and instantly one to the left and dove head first into the small bush. Widow matched Mr. Jack Rabbit’s turn and when he threw himself into the bush Widow followed him in without slowing one bit! All I could see was dust, dirt, and grass flying everywhere. Enough so that I could no longer see Widow. But I did see Mr. Jack Rabbit slip away in all the confusion. I called it a day. Time for a cool drink. Next week I want to start letting Widow soar and I should have Jackhammer going. Remember when I said I’d change tactics on the rabbits? That’s my tactic, to reload with Jackhammer!

Hope all is well,

Joe 

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