Date: 1/2/26 8:05 pm From: Clayton Will <willcfish...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Re: eagle activity below Red Rock Dam
A pair of Eagles in SW Florida survived covid and currently raising two
young after loosing chicks in 2024. They have a flat white eye that is
typical of birds that have survived covid. Tje link is to tje Florida
eagles.
On Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 19:22 <ghr...> <ghr...> wrote:
> Thanks, Paul, and everyone for their newsy comments. Happy birding!
>
> ------------------------------
> *From: *"Paul Brooks" <paulbrooks27944...>
> *To: *"IA-BIRD" <ia-bird...>
> *Sent: *Friday, January 2, 2026 4:10:50 PM
> *Subject: *[ia-bird] Re: eagle activity below Red Rock Dam
>
> The kettling activity is because most of the rivers are still pretty open,
> and there is no snow cover on the ground. They are normally fishing from
> the trees near the dam and dont have much open river. They are likely using
> the trees for rest at night, and then spreading out to search for other
> food sources during the day that would be easier than fishing. Warmer temps
> also slow their metabolism allowing for more "playful flight" opportunities
> than they would normally have, as they aren't burning as many calories
> trying to maintain body temperature. The large numbers are likely because
> of plentiful dead geese and other migratory water species above the dam
> from hunting and avian flu. If we get snow cover, and colder temps to
> freeze the rivers up, they will go back to their normal fishing close to
> the dam with many staying right below the outlet all day. But forecasts
> don't have any long stretches of cold weather in the next 2-3 weeks, so
> this behavior may continue for a while.
>
> On Friday, January 2, 2026 at 3:09:36 PM UTC-6 Martha Jane wrote:
>
>> Anyone else seen the enormous number of eagles "kettling" below Red Rock
>> dam? Sometimes mixing with gulls, and flying very very high? We've been
>> here this time of year before and not seen this behavior, plus this is the
>> most eagles we've seen congregated here in years – and usually the higher
>> numbers correspond with a super hard winter, which this has not been. Any
>> feedback welcome. Good birding in 2026!
>
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