Plateau Daily News needs your support. If you like what you see, please consider making a tax free donation HERE.
By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News
A bald eagle has made an appearance soaring over Harris Lake several times over the past couple of weeks.
A bald eagle soars over Harris Lake in Highlands looking for a snack on Christmas Eve 2023.
Pedestrians who regularly walk around the lake have witnessed the eagle diving for ducks who are brave enough to swim out in the open water.
The eagle would swoop down towards a duck with claws outstretched, but at the last second the duck would dive underwater.
A bald eagle moves from tree to tree around Harris Lake.
Highlands Biological Station Associate Director Jason Love said this is common behavior for a bald eagle.
“Eagles primarily like fish, but they’ll scavenge for carrion, chase vultures away for a fresh kill, and they’ll also take waterfowl,” said Love. “They pretty much take whatever they can get, especially if it’s a sitting duck.”
A bald eagle floats to the next tree at Harris Lake.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission stocked Harris Lake with over 2,000 trout in 2022, which can be a tempting snack to an eagle.
Read more about the NCWRC stocking Harris Lake with trout HERE.
Bald eagles were recently removed from the endangered species list. Love said from the 1940s-60s DDT was used as an insecticide. DDT weakens an eagle’s egg shell so when a mother would sit on her eggs, they would crack.
A bald eagle takes flight from a perch at Harris Lake.
DDT has since been banned and the eagle population is making a recovery.
“This shows that if we really want to protect something, we can,” said Love. “The bald eagle is our national symbol, and it received a lot of money for conservation because of that. Not all species have that luxury.”
Love said bald eagles are known to have some of the largest nests in the world, often spanning 5-6 feet across. They nest in big, dominant trees with a good perch near water.
The wingspan of a bald eagle.
“Eagles are known to steal food from osprey,” said Love. “They let the other birds do the hard work and then take it because they’re the bigger bird.”
Love added that one of the only birds known to steal from an eagle’s nest is a great horned owl.
Bald eagles are recognizable from their white tail feathers.
Love said the oldest banded eagle was approx. 38 years old and was killed after being hit by a car. Eagles are considered mature at 5 years old.
A bald eagle finds another perch to watch Harris Lake from above.
A bald eagle soars over Harris Lake.
Love these amazing photos and the story.