Ok, though Kimberly Warner has never tackled this particular topic , in her series ‘in defense of’, (given time she might have). I am taking up the cause , presenting ;
‘in defense of David Perry’s sighting’. Lending credence ; his eyes have not deceived his mind. I also found a few research articles siting Golden Eagles preying on skunks.
Sometimes due to their main food source in a particular area being on the decline, so they adapt. 🧐😊
An embarrassment of riches, Lor. I'll admit, I'm far more used to being taken down a notch or two than I am to being backstopped. With your helpful lead, I went and did a bit of reading, too, so thanks for that. I'm even a bit more comfortable with the possibility, given that skunks have been seen as occasional prey by others. I bow in gratitude and respect.
"It is up to us to respect our readers by letting them shoulder some of the risks, to trust them enough not to try to explain away all the mystery, or dumb it down to the point that their minds don't need to hold multiple possibilities in waiting, or wonder if we know how to get out of the mess we've seemingly created."
Well, sleep on it. I'm sure you'll be able to make better sense of your encounter than anyone else.
So did you go explore the place where the eagle landed with the black creature and then ran away? Are the results of that exploration coming later in the series?
Lovely encounter, David. Thanks. As you probably know, Golden Eagles in the West mostly take jackrabbits, other hares, or cottontails (Leporidae) or ground squirrels, marmots, or prairie dogs (Sciuridae). And I'm not sure they have much of a sense of smell anyway? Certainly not like vultures. In any event, I'm glad you stopped for these observations and shots!
So nice to see you here, my friend. Glad this held some interest for you and appreciate the input. I am aware of the more traditional mainstays of the Golden Eagle's diet which is part of the reason the dark-bodied mammal trailing beneath this immense raptor caught my 'what the heck' attention. Much too big for a mink. Too small for an otter, unless it was a pup, I suppose. Much darker than the eagle itself, so not a ground squirrel, prairie dog or even a rabbit. (Those are pretty easily spotted silhouettes). Definitely not a beaver, and not at all the right habitat for a Marten or a marmot. Then, when there seemed to be some sort of sudden surprise and need to escape, followed by the strange, wings out-airing out postures, well, a skunk in the grasp who managed to retaliate and either escape or die trying seemed the best possible fit, given the givens. I'm certainly willing to be proved wrong. As for the sense of smell thing, my direct skunk experience is some decades back, but it wasn't only a smell thing. That stuff is like tear gas. Watery eyes... throat clamping down and can't breathe. I'm guessing those deterrent effects would still hold sway even without a highly sensitive sense of smell.
Yeah, that was kind of a short-sighed and shitty comment on my part. (Too often I don't give good comment — I gotta work on that.) I like how you look at (and smell) the world!
"she looks entirely miffed. What a surprise that must’ve been..."
Indeed, this was my first encounter with a Golden Eagle when it did not seem larger than life itself and completely in charge of whatever the situation. I know better than to try to attribute human foibles and emotions to wild creatures, but there was a pall of WTF in the air as all of this unfolded.
Nature has such interesting ways for so many different creatures to live! I watched a skunk eating sunflower seeds I had tossed out for the birds near my house, alongside 2 hungry gray foxes doing the same. All the skunk had to do was occasionally lift its tail, and the foxes were poised to run. Nobody bothered the skunk!
There is great power in symbolism and perceived danger. Skunks have that going for them in spades. And yet, Bambi called his friend 'Flower.' Leave it to Disney to reimagine something, find its charm and make it a friend. Thank you for making time to share your thoughts!
David, Yes, I think you nailed the circumstances right on the head. That goldy is going to be one unhappy camper for quite a while. No matter how fast or far she flies she won’t be able to get away from that STANK. She may be hoping to find a big vat of tomato juice to dive into, but then, that will cause other problems.
30 or so years ago, at a fish cannery on Kodiak Island, a large tank of fish guts/slime was left uncovered. Scores of eagles landed in it to feed on the slurry, and were rendered slimed and flightless. At the Bird Treatment Center in Anchorage, I volunteered/helped for well over a week in caring for/cleaning/feeding those poor birds. We had a great survival outcome.
Excellent job on observing and describing what you saw.
I am, once again most grateful for your kind words, Gary. And for adding such a magnificently smelly dish to the potluck. Lordy, that fish gut/slime tank sounds simply dreadful. Good on you for helping ease the suffering of all those slurried eagles... Wishing the golden a speedy recovery, sans tomato juice and delighted that you came to play.
Wow! I sympathize with that eagle or anything (one) who has had to endure that smell which inflitrates one's nostrils and refuses to leave!
We had a memorably horrible episode with our Golden Retriever being sprayed by a skunk when she chased it under our camper in the pre-dawn hours..
I remember lying there in the camper, thinking, "Please tell me that smell isn't what I think it is"!!
Keep in mind that we had a 2+hour drive home that day with a skunked dog in our pick-up truck.... From that point on we have never camped without dish detergent, peroxide and baking soda!
Thanks for your eloquent writing and for sharing this great story!
The things we put up with for love, eh? Two hours in the cab of a pickup with a skunked dog sounds brutal. Not sure what remedies there are for wild animals. I wonder about dust baths in addition to their regular baths. A brutal lesson, learned the hard way. Some of us are drawn to those like flies to fish guts.
Thank you for adding to the picnic, and for the kind words.
Yes, I believe you, look at that forlorn expression . I think she is saying; “Oh, PU, quick, I need to get back to my nest and get out the ‘hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and mild dishwashing soap, I cannot stand myself.”
Unfortunately , she will smell that skunk the rest of her days, whenever her feathers are wet. ( My dog did, and so did we). It is an excellent story.
Waiting for the rest of the Oregon tales. However, or whenever you are so inclined.
If things are what they seemed, I would bet that this is a lesson that will only need to be learned one time, and, as you so knowingly say, remembered again and again.
Wow! An all black skunk may contribute to the eagle’s misidentification. And the following problem. Usually here, the only predator attacking skunks is great horned owls but I have never seen it happen. I don’t blame the eagle trying to clean its feathers in the wet grass, hanging its wings out, and leaving the scene. Thanks for sharing. Amazing!
I cannot say with any certainty that it was an all black skunk, Sue. It was a hurried glimpse, from but one angle through a bug-splattered windshield. Definitely larger than a ground squirrel and darker than the eagle… that’s what I can say for certain. Everything else is a bit of a blur. Thank you for weighing in…
Thanks for being open to the magic, David, and to sharing it when’er it chooses you! I’m here for it. 😊
Ok, though Kimberly Warner has never tackled this particular topic , in her series ‘in defense of’, (given time she might have). I am taking up the cause , presenting ;
‘in defense of David Perry’s sighting’. Lending credence ; his eyes have not deceived his mind. I also found a few research articles siting Golden Eagles preying on skunks.
Sometimes due to their main food source in a particular area being on the decline, so they adapt. 🧐😊
https://www.serpentina.khosravi.net/?p=1920
An embarrassment of riches, Lor. I'll admit, I'm far more used to being taken down a notch or two than I am to being backstopped. With your helpful lead, I went and did a bit of reading, too, so thanks for that. I'm even a bit more comfortable with the possibility, given that skunks have been seen as occasional prey by others. I bow in gratitude and respect.
Got your back… I’m available for hire as a researcher. Paid in compliments, gratitude or chocolates.
A wise and gifted writer once said:
"It is up to us to respect our readers by letting them shoulder some of the risks, to trust them enough not to try to explain away all the mystery, or dumb it down to the point that their minds don't need to hold multiple possibilities in waiting, or wonder if we know how to get out of the mess we've seemingly created."
Well, sleep on it. I'm sure you'll be able to make better sense of your encounter than anyone else.
After all, it was you to whom nature spoke.
I see what you did there.
Grinning and chuckling, Susan. Thank you for that. And for showing up so generously. I'm delighted.
Wow! Totally fascinating. I'm going with your theory of what happened, because it's so cool. Thanks for sharing it with us.
You're most welcome, Susan.
And I agree, it was pretty cool to watch and wonder.
Whatever the actual story, though, a tall Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks will still set you back six bucks and change, so, you know, there's that...
Hah! I'd rather watch a golden eagle any day than buy a tall Pumpkin Spice Latte. :)
Me too! Me too.
So did you go explore the place where the eagle landed with the black creature and then ran away? Are the results of that exploration coming later in the series?
I did not go check it out, but now that you mention it, I feel the need to smack myself on the forehead and do a Homer Simpson, "DOH!"
Lovely encounter, David. Thanks. As you probably know, Golden Eagles in the West mostly take jackrabbits, other hares, or cottontails (Leporidae) or ground squirrels, marmots, or prairie dogs (Sciuridae). And I'm not sure they have much of a sense of smell anyway? Certainly not like vultures. In any event, I'm glad you stopped for these observations and shots!
So nice to see you here, my friend. Glad this held some interest for you and appreciate the input. I am aware of the more traditional mainstays of the Golden Eagle's diet which is part of the reason the dark-bodied mammal trailing beneath this immense raptor caught my 'what the heck' attention. Much too big for a mink. Too small for an otter, unless it was a pup, I suppose. Much darker than the eagle itself, so not a ground squirrel, prairie dog or even a rabbit. (Those are pretty easily spotted silhouettes). Definitely not a beaver, and not at all the right habitat for a Marten or a marmot. Then, when there seemed to be some sort of sudden surprise and need to escape, followed by the strange, wings out-airing out postures, well, a skunk in the grasp who managed to retaliate and either escape or die trying seemed the best possible fit, given the givens. I'm certainly willing to be proved wrong. As for the sense of smell thing, my direct skunk experience is some decades back, but it wasn't only a smell thing. That stuff is like tear gas. Watery eyes... throat clamping down and can't breathe. I'm guessing those deterrent effects would still hold sway even without a highly sensitive sense of smell.
Yeah, that was kind of a short-sighed and shitty comment on my part. (Too often I don't give good comment — I gotta work on that.) I like how you look at (and smell) the world!
Oh dear, she looks entirely miffed. What a surprise that must’ve been, Oh yum, look at my tasty next meal, then Oh hellllllllllllll no…..
Always love your encounters with magic and whenever you choose to sprinkle them our way.
"she looks entirely miffed. What a surprise that must’ve been..."
Indeed, this was my first encounter with a Golden Eagle when it did not seem larger than life itself and completely in charge of whatever the situation. I know better than to try to attribute human foibles and emotions to wild creatures, but there was a pall of WTF in the air as all of this unfolded.
Thanks for playing, Kimberly.
Nature has such interesting ways for so many different creatures to live! I watched a skunk eating sunflower seeds I had tossed out for the birds near my house, alongside 2 hungry gray foxes doing the same. All the skunk had to do was occasionally lift its tail, and the foxes were poised to run. Nobody bothered the skunk!
There is great power in symbolism and perceived danger. Skunks have that going for them in spades. And yet, Bambi called his friend 'Flower.' Leave it to Disney to reimagine something, find its charm and make it a friend. Thank you for making time to share your thoughts!
David, Yes, I think you nailed the circumstances right on the head. That goldy is going to be one unhappy camper for quite a while. No matter how fast or far she flies she won’t be able to get away from that STANK. She may be hoping to find a big vat of tomato juice to dive into, but then, that will cause other problems.
30 or so years ago, at a fish cannery on Kodiak Island, a large tank of fish guts/slime was left uncovered. Scores of eagles landed in it to feed on the slurry, and were rendered slimed and flightless. At the Bird Treatment Center in Anchorage, I volunteered/helped for well over a week in caring for/cleaning/feeding those poor birds. We had a great survival outcome.
Excellent job on observing and describing what you saw.
I am, once again most grateful for your kind words, Gary. And for adding such a magnificently smelly dish to the potluck. Lordy, that fish gut/slime tank sounds simply dreadful. Good on you for helping ease the suffering of all those slurried eagles... Wishing the golden a speedy recovery, sans tomato juice and delighted that you came to play.
Another fascinating opportune encounter with nature. I can almost smell it! Thanks David.
'tis an easy scent to lock in on when sifting through one's remembered library of smells.
BTW, I've got a friend who wants to hear about your boat. His dad was a tugboat captain. His son is currently in a Mariner College program.
Currently in Lexington VA, heading back to Seattle tomorrow. Expect to be there ‘till Saturday AM. Hope to see you.
Well this was fun…waiting for the magic🙃
Wow! I sympathize with that eagle or anything (one) who has had to endure that smell which inflitrates one's nostrils and refuses to leave!
We had a memorably horrible episode with our Golden Retriever being sprayed by a skunk when she chased it under our camper in the pre-dawn hours..
I remember lying there in the camper, thinking, "Please tell me that smell isn't what I think it is"!!
Keep in mind that we had a 2+hour drive home that day with a skunked dog in our pick-up truck.... From that point on we have never camped without dish detergent, peroxide and baking soda!
Thanks for your eloquent writing and for sharing this great story!
Jady
The things we put up with for love, eh? Two hours in the cab of a pickup with a skunked dog sounds brutal. Not sure what remedies there are for wild animals. I wonder about dust baths in addition to their regular baths. A brutal lesson, learned the hard way. Some of us are drawn to those like flies to fish guts.
Thank you for adding to the picnic, and for the kind words.
I think you may be right about the dust baths. They might help to soak up some of the smell and neutralize it.
😮😮😮⁉️ (Yeah, that's all I've got!)
👍😊🙏
Yes, I believe you, look at that forlorn expression . I think she is saying; “Oh, PU, quick, I need to get back to my nest and get out the ‘hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and mild dishwashing soap, I cannot stand myself.”
Unfortunately , she will smell that skunk the rest of her days, whenever her feathers are wet. ( My dog did, and so did we). It is an excellent story.
Waiting for the rest of the Oregon tales. However, or whenever you are so inclined.
If things are what they seemed, I would bet that this is a lesson that will only need to be learned one time, and, as you so knowingly say, remembered again and again.
Thanks Lor.
I would definitely put money on the Golden E to never forget. Not the Golden R . He would go out and do it again the next day. 🐾
I'm assuming here that you refer to a Golden Retriever?
Snickering...
Yes, that’s my boy.
Fascinating to the max! Yeah, wow, those wet feathers are so tell-tale of dew or skunko...did you smell the skunk...?
I am in awe of what you witnessed...! How cool to observe this Golden Eagle mystery---WOW!
Love your encounter with the unusual...
I love wondering...!
Hey pal, thank you for making time to read and leave a note.
"I love wondering...!" seems like a perfect description of you and your approach to life.
One student to another, may your day bring something fine and weird. 😊
Wow! An all black skunk may contribute to the eagle’s misidentification. And the following problem. Usually here, the only predator attacking skunks is great horned owls but I have never seen it happen. I don’t blame the eagle trying to clean its feathers in the wet grass, hanging its wings out, and leaving the scene. Thanks for sharing. Amazing!
I cannot say with any certainty that it was an all black skunk, Sue. It was a hurried glimpse, from but one angle through a bug-splattered windshield. Definitely larger than a ground squirrel and darker than the eagle… that’s what I can say for certain. Everything else is a bit of a blur. Thank you for weighing in…