My Favorite Bird: The Golden Eagle

Dale Matson

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                Same Golden Eagle Photographed From Across

 Millerton Lake (From Fresno Side)

With 1200mm Lens

    I have plenty of bald eagle photographs from Haines Alaska but my favorite eagle photographs were taken just miles from my house.There is a pair of resident goldens on the Madera side of Millerton Lake which is about 20 minutes from my home. There is another resident pair north of my home off highway 41and there is another pair that visit Eastman Lake near Raymond CA. No one knows where their nest is located.     

I first became interested in golden eagles when a pair flew above the cliffs at Millerton Lake. I was on the eagle boat tour and Mike Smith the tour docent pointed them out. One did a stoop and descended like a rocket. Goldens are the second fastest bird.

I discovered their nest and climbed above weekly for one entire season from empty nest to two fledged eagles and one fledged adopted Red-Tailed Hawk. I have a video about this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R_d2KGmJAs I think of them as “latchkey” parents who spent little time in the nest. After dropping off food, they would perch together above the nest.

They have since moved their nest and Mike has possibly located the new nest, not far from the old nest. We probably won’t know until there are chicks. The newer nest is very concealed.

The second set of goldens comes to the outlet of the Chowchilla River as it exits from Eastman Lake. There are some snags they like to sit on and dive down to the river to pick off an occasional Coot.

Eastman Lake Eagle

The third set of goldens are the helicopter parents and have raised three sets of twins over the past three years. It is rare when at least one parent is not on the nest with the offspring. They don’t seem to be bothered by spectators and photographers and I have some video footage of them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5s22BcF6uo