Bald Eagles at Crystal Mountain catches my interest. Frequently I've seen pictures of Bald Eagles in some snowy mountain setting and I've always thought, "That doesn't match the places I see eagles." From what I know, Bald Eagles don't nest at such a high elevation in Washington. I would guess that birds at this elevation are likely in migration, following the Cascade Mountains on a north-south path. Eagles that nest way to the north, perhaps in Alaska, could be passing through at this time. That's my guess.

Kelly McAllister
Olympia, Washington
----- Original Message -----
From: Denis DeSilvis
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:14 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] Eagles at Crystal Mountain


Tweets,

A friend of mine sent a note regarding some Bald Eagles he saw last week at Crystal Mountain ski resort:



" I also saw a pair of eagles playing the thermals high above the slopes of Crystal on Thursday. I don't ever recall seeing any during the 40 or so seasons I have skied there, (although we have seen them there in the summer), and wonder how they find much to eat around there during the winter. Maybe they were just passing by - but from where to where?"



The summit at Crystal is about 7000 ft, with the base around 4000 ft - fairly high up, and with a very extensive snow cover: 425 inches of snow this year (350 inches is average), with a current depth of 97in at the base and 130in at the summit. Given the snow cover and altitude, I would doubt if they were foraging. But would they have been moving to a nesting area?



Ideas, anyone? Has anyone else seen Bald Eagles high up in the Cascades recently?



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com





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