West Nile Virus is Killing Bald Eagles in Utah, Bald Eagle NX's Location, Bald Eagles Killed In Montgomery County Md, Cold Weather Can Be Hard On Birds of Prey

Scientists have found that it's West Nile Virus that is killing Bald Eagles in Utah. The current count is 27 dead and many more in treatment. It's unusual for birds to get West Nile Virus this time of year because it is usually transmitted via mosquitoes. They are studying if the Bald Eagles are getting sick from eating Grebes that have died while migrating through the area. There is no cure for West Nile Virus. Rehabbers can only provide care and hope the immune system does the rest. 

Bald Eagle NX checked in on 12/28. She had flown 15 miles north of her previous location and is back in King George County.

Two Bald Eagles have been shot and killed in Montgomery County, Maryland. I hope they catch the people that did this.

Cold weather can hit birds of prey pretty hard. Having difficulty finding food can make road-kill more appealing. If you see a large bird feeding by the side of the road, slow down. Large birds can fly across the road and into the path of oncoming vehicles. It takes them a bit of distance to gain enough altitude to be out of the way.

Bald Eagle NX's Location, Bald Eagle HK - Mating or Bonding, NE Florida and SW Florida Nests Have Two Nestlings Each, Duane Noblick's Pictures of a Snowy Owl, Reese Lukei's Trip To Botswana, Bald Eagles Dying in Utah, Ron Dudley's Feathered Photography Blog

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Wishing blessings to all in the New Year!

Bald Eagle NX checked in on Christmas day. She is 14 miles away from her 12/14 check-in.

Pam Monahan had a visit with Bald Eagle HK and got pictures of mating or bonding... Check out her blog entry...

The Northeast Florida and Southwest Florida Bald Eagle nests both have two hatchlings now. And so it begins again!

Duane Noblick got some really great pictures of a Snowy Owl. So pretty!

Reese has a blog entry about a recent trip to Botswana.

Something is killing Bald Eagles in Utah. Scientists think it is a disease as opposed to a toxin.

I haven't looked at Ron Dudley's Feathered Photography blog recently. Here are some interesting posts:

• Female Kestrel - Twisting, Turning Take-off
• Rough-legged Hawk in a Frosty Wonderland
• Rust on Rust - Female American Kestrel
• The Phantom Pheasant
• The Menacing Talons of a Prairie Falcon
• A Barn Owl Hunting (and a Bald Eagle)
• Red-tailed Hawk Sucker-punched by a Kestrel

Bald Eagles at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area

The Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area is 20 minutes outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. Bald Eagles arrive there around the middle of November and stay until about the middle of March. Hundreds of Bald Eagles congregate there each winter. There's a short video here. It looks like it's advertising a TV show, "The Utah Bucket List" which will air August 8th at 8:30PM. I'm going to have to see if I can find it online after it airs.