Haw River

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By Jordan Lake Dam: Close Fly-By 11-08-2018
I was on top of the Jordan Lake dam this morning.
A large flock of crows was mobbing a red-tailed hawk between me and down towards the tailrace and Haw River.
There were more than a dozen crows.  Between the crows’ shrieks and the screaming hawk, the sky was noisy.
And then everything went silent as crows scattered and the hawk rolled upright and stared behind me, over my shoulder.
I turned around and found myself literally on the same level as this inbound 3-year-old bald eagle.
It flew slightly up and over me, made a large lazy turn and came back.
As it passed over me again, a little bit higher, it cocked its head to take one last look at me.
Oh, my.  I think I started breathing again some time around noon!

By Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle, National Symbol 11/06/2018
Today is Privilege Day: some call it Election Day.
To me this day allows me to speak, freely.
So many, in this country, through too many years have not been allowed to vote.
As this bald eagle, the National Symbol, swept past me this morning,
I could hardly see his magnificence through my tears.
I live in a country where I can, may, should Vote.
My single vote, added to all the other yeas and nays
is how my heart has it’s say and can speak in freedom.
So to all of you: please, go Vote today.

By Jordan Lake, Bald Eagle Etiquette Rules 11/02/2018
How to Respect the Bald Eagles and Get your Photo:
(Doc’s personal eagle etiquette rules do NOT include watching breeding eagles and nests):
1) Eagles have a personal distance of 300 feet. You get closer than 300 feet – a football field in distance – and they leave.
2) When you get too close and an eagle leaves, you have just disturbed its feeding.
3) At the dam – that 300 foot rule (which by the way is the Federal legal distance to keep us from disturbing eagles) means you should not go more than 1/2 way down the length of the riprap.
4) Bring a chair or blanket for sitting on the rocks. Sit in one place.
5) Have a couple of hours to sit.
6) RESIST the temptation to dash down the length of the riprap when an eagle shows up – they go right back down the river. And remember, you just stopped their feeding efforts.
7) The very best photo I ever saw of an eagle at the Jordan Lake, Haw River riprap was taken by a lady with her point and shot camera – the eagles came right up river to where we were sitting and proceeded to fish in front of us.
I photographed this 2-year-old eagle at the Jordan Lake Haw River riprap this morning. I was half way down the riprap.