Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-05-12

At the tops of tail old trees in the
heart Of swamps and heavy Woodland.
situated usually in the vicinity of water,
the bald eagle builds Its great mass of
tangled roots and decayed branches from
the surrounding trees. or driftwond
from the shores, is a conspicuous land
mark for many miles around. Several
carloads of wood arr frequently used in
thc construction and some 0r the eyries
are occupied by the same birds for years.
From Two 20 three eggs of Il duh white
color aud slightly larger than the domcN-
tic duck egg are deposited by the eagles
in February and March. and the young
birds come oct of the shells in time tu
Gct the benefit of the great run of fish
in the waters nf the hay early in the
spring. The food Of the young birds
consists mainly Of fish and fowls and
occasionally small animals.
The eagles habit of robbinc the fish
hawk IF its welLearncd prey is charac-
terlstic Of its foraglng propcnSiteS Ere
Uucntly when hungry the great birds fol
low the fshhawk. aud ms the hawk
arises FROM the water after a plunge,
with II cry the eagle sweeps downward
upon the unfortunate fisher aud, causing
hliu To drop his prey, Will. with Il sudden
motion, grasp the hSh in its talons and,
soaring upward leave the Inflated hawk
screaming with rage below him. The
eagles bully the hshhawk> to such an rN-
tent that The poor birds are afraid 10
Usct their tormeutors and begin To cry
~Ut IN most pathetic manner when the
eagles appear. AS ScuVengPrS about the
~1ss"s ot the bay aud its tributaries. the
1glPs are somewhat akin to the vu-
tUres, rs they appropriate the dead fish
"nd other 0csh which j. washed up by
the wares
Althouoh much Of the eagles prey
comes With but little eXertion there are
times when il becomes necessary for
them to work fer food The great birds
have been known. when pressed by hum
ger to Swoop down upon t0cks of ducks,
hraut aud even wild geese. selecting u
particular fowl rs the flock scattered,
and, giving chase, usually securing the
quarry after n flight Of several hundred
yards. Wounded ducks aud other small
er wild fowl are legitimate prey for the
eagles. and en- the fresh water marshes
muSkrat> which are left in traps after
sunrise are frequently appropriated. DO
nestle fowls also suffer from raids of h,
eagles, and as the farmers are constant
" on the watch for Il shot at the great
birds the species Is rapidly diminishing
Along the waterCourSeS of the Eastern
shore are favurlte hauutS of the eagles
and many nests are in the vicinity of tn,
streams, Marketing the large timber ha,
tN~tEbNtu NanN 81 the best NESTING sites
aud few very old nests now remain il
tho state.
The bird commonly known as blacl
eagles are the young during their frs
wear when the plumase lacks the whit,
head and tail which udornS the adult
During the second year the erroueon
name of gray eagles is commonly apple,
tn the birds. and they 10 not attain III
plumage marks of maturity until III
third woulting SEASON.
At the top Of tall trees on which IN
branches grow Sparscly mass OF sticks
leaves, moss and roots seem to he dumpe
pTomiscuously inta n great pile at the il
terSection of the highest limbs. We've
from the top the nest presents dtferoU
aspect and the skill and patient laho
manifested in the compact mass q
crooked sticks and roots have given
really artistic curve about the syn
mctrica cup in which the eggs are lait
In any large area nf heavy timber Sitt
ated somewhat remotely the birds bull,
and il disturbed aud broken up will bull
and lay again. The young remain in tn
nest until they become larger than thei