This one should be known as The Big Chill or Better Late Than Never.
It was minus 21 degrees when I started out and needless to say the car wouldn't start. No problem, I called a neighbour with a portable re-charger and he agreed to oblige. Problem: the hood release mechanism was also frozen and I couldn't get to the battery. Right on cue my friend Mike drove by and offered to be a chauffeur for the chickens and me for the day, so we were off and running. There was no great delay in the eagles deciding to dine at the 8:30 session and the surprisingly large turnout was pleased with the display. It was mainly a ground display as they wasted no time in tucking in. I counted about 50 eagles. It was a similar story for the 10:30 feeding, though it took about five minutes for the action to kick off. I counted about 60 birds. We had a number of visitors from afar. The Millers from Utah were there and as they are in Nova Scotia for a while hope to return with their son. I also met a nice lady from Lockport who had two "daughters" with her. These were international students from Italy and Columbia respectively. Couples from Moncton and PEI also drove down for the day - the Moncton couple leaving at 4:00 a.m. to arrive in time for the 8:30 feeding. With so much success in the first two feedings I probably should have left well enough alone but as I had reserved buckets for a late feeding I suggested a return at 12:30 to feed again subject to eagles still being around. This I did and as there were perhaps 20 eagles still in the trees I proceeded with the feeding. By 1:15 these hadn't been so much as a flyby so I left to get my car started. I returned about half an hour later and there was still no progress. I suggested calling it a day and picking up the chicken but this was met with near rebellion. So I decided to go to put gas in the car and check the barns for new chickens. Before I drove off there was a promising aerial display of four or five birds but after several feints they returned to the trees and I went on my way. I returned at about 2:20 and still there was no progress and still the spectators wanted to hang in. They were rewarded when the action started shortly after 2:30. Once it began, eagles were flying in from every direction - in the end I counted 80 birds and the display was one of the best this year. All things come to them that wait!
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Malcolm LakeMalcolm lives in Sheffield Mills and is our resident eagle feeder. He feeds the eagles daily and has a unique relationship with these large birds. These are his adventures! Archives
February 2022
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