Golden eagle in Ashe County We love to hike when at my in-laws’ place near Mt. Jefferson. During excursions we have seen deer, rabbits, wild turkeys and, unfortunately, a few copperhead snakes. Our most amazing sighting occurred when we hiked a nearby mountain that did not have trails. My in-laws, who had hiked there before, described a heart-shaped lake and an old home site surrounded by orchards. We climbed up the side of this steep mountain, going straight for the top instead of at an angle. When we reached the top, we were trying to get our breath when a huge bird scampered out of nearby bush and took to the sky. The copper-brown bird had a wingspan of at least 4 feet. We had no idea what it was, but it was majestic. Later, when I visited the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte, a worker told me that the bird we had seen was probably a golden eagle. The mountain we had climbed had rock outcroppings on the top where the birds sometimes nest. Now, when we sit on the deck in the mountains watching birds soar overhead, we always wonder if that is “our” golden eagle flying above. Laura M. Pennell |
|