The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-07
EAGLES AND TURKEYS.
Pennsylvania Mountain Region Where
10th Arc still FIent..

The impression is general throughout
tile East that the Wild turkey and the
eagle have no abiding place in this coun-
try any more except tar out among the
mounta ms and will plains OF the great
West yet it is a fact, writes the Harris
burg ia. correspondent OF the New
ork SIN. that the mountains OF several
counties OF Central Iennsylvania are still
ihickly populated by the wild turkey,
rs the sporIsinen Of 1 ottsville, Reading,
Lancaster, harrisburg and other towns
well know, while instead of the eagle he
Ing extinct, except IN isolated and far
away haunts. ii is in fact more numerous
In the ranges OF tie counties OF this state
referred TO than the farmers care TO
have IL.
he great Elpe Mountain range, to-
gcthcr with all the many suhrances and
independent hills and ridges of the ad-
-acent counties, are Eatural bTeedin. and
iccGin" grounds OF the Wilt turkey. and
provide, several species of earie with
eyTles so ina -cessible and fields OF prey
so extensive and fruit nj that the adj
Nahces oil civilization made on every side
have as yet been insufficient to drive
them rom their chosen haun's.
fcis'ns "ho have never visited these
regions other than the large towns have
no l,iea OF the extent and depth of the
Il
short journey oi the biggest towns-evcn
the capital o. The State. Wild turkeys
are Killed IN lar-c numbers every fall
within fifteen miles OF Harrisburg, and
within the comfy within which the city
IS situated. IL requires but a short Jour
ney from Pottsyille or Reading to enioy
the same sport, while all OF the small
vlll?ccs are centcrs from which the
sportsman may find turkey hunting 10
ms heart $ desire, any time from early
lall until the deep SHOWS of winter make
the sport not only unpleasant but dan
gCroUs.
Any one who his ever tramped over
the lluc Mountains has noticed the great
number Of tail, dead and alroSt branch
less tree trunks that stand on the highest
and rocklcst SUBMITS, out OF tho reach
OF the boidest mOuntain-climber. Early
IN tho mornln@, or toward nshtfall one
or more great birds NAV be seen hover
lng about the tops of these dead and sen
tncl like trunks. The birds are bald
eagles.
The eagles select these dead trees on
the Isolated peaks TO build their nests
IN 1t is one of the superstitions of the
lluc Mountain woodsInan that il is the
prescnce OF the eagles and their nests
that kills the latter, but the fact is that if
tree IS not dead in the first place an
eagle will not select it for its nesting
iliAC- liA- D4Ih TIC Dare trunk
a post OF observation Sometimes tie
top Of naked and inaccessible rock
serves the purpose.
1t may be that tlic presence of the
wild turkey in such numbers NAV ac-
count Tor the eagle, so rare in similar To-
caities, retaining his home among these
mountains, Tor in all his predatory
rounds this great marauder OF the AR
could not find richer prize rs his prey.
The habits Of the eagle keep it almost
constantly away from the sight of man,
and IT Is only when the depletion of 4
shcep.old is begun Systematically and
regularly that the farmer is warned that
an eagle or two is near. and that by Ind
InS himself near the told he NAV surprise
the r0ng-bcakcd robber at his work
and finish his career with 4 weli-directcd
mile bail. bald eagle measuring over
seven feet from tip TO tip OF his wings
was recently shot by turkey hunter on
the Second Mountain, in Schuykill
County the eagle having dropped sud
denly down on flock of turkeys, which
the hunter, hidden securely, was calling
within closer range.