Madera County Golden Eagle Fledge History 2022
Dale Matson
Click On Photographs To Enlarge
This is the third year we have followed the progress of a pair of adult Golden Eagles in Madera County. The nest is about 100 meters from a lightly traveled unpaved road.
I have watched photographed and videoed several pairs of Bald and Golden Eagle nests over the years but have never seen a pair of eagles so devoted to their offspring.
This year the couple only had one chick and we noticed the birds sitting in the nest about mid-February. In March a single chick appeared. At this age they seem so fragile that it is a miracle they can survive predators and the Spring weather. Buzzards seem particularly interested in young eagles with the adult Goldens setting up a “no fly zone” as they chased the buzzards away.
These Goldens usually provided a menu consisting of rabbits and ground squirrels. They initially fed the chick and then shared meals with the chick, letting the chick feed itself. There is no nearby water for fish or ducks. Today was both a happy and sad day for me. The chick had become a fledgling and the fledgling left the nest in the last two days. It is the end of the watching season for this nest of wonderful birds. The adults were patient with us.
I have included some chronological photos I took with my Sony A1 camera and Sony 200-600mm lens with a 1.4 TC. Hope the reader enjoys the photos.
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