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submitted by Colonel Bob Reed

The winter AOS meeting was a bone-chilling success, particularly if you like eagles and gulls. Virtually everyone had good, if a little distant, looks at the Golden Eagle at the hawk farm. It came in from over the hills directly in front of the group and perched about 300-400 yards away, in plain view. It wriggled around to show us its beautiful golden head and the diagnostic white at the base of its tail. Later, it took to wing and soared up to the right toward the hillside, making several circles to let us all have good looks. A Prairie Falcon came out of nowhere and started harassing the eagle, which quit the field.

One group of lucky birders watched an adult Bald Eagle catch a fish right in front of them and carry it off to eat out of sight. All the rest of us saw enough Bald Eagles that we became slightly jaded, except for close-up looks, which still got the juices flowing well.

Many people got to study Ring-billed, Laughing, Glaucous, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls lined up on the pilings, making for cold but helpful comparisons.

Another group that ventured over to Wheeler NWR counted about 100 Sandhill Cranes.

A few of us were treated to a cozy little domestic scene as a half dozen Eastern Bluebirds lined up wing to wing on about eight inches of a pine bough to roost. They could not have gotten any closer. Interestingly, they lined up perpendicular to the branch, out at the very end of a relatively full bough about 20-25 feet up, directly in front of Linda Reynolds's office.

Speaking of Linda Reynolds - the weekend would not have been as nice as it was without her. She arranged for two groups to visit the hawk farm, which is private property, allowing us to see the eagles, the falcon, several Northern Harriers, and allowing a hearty few who stayed late to see at least one Short-eared Owl. The banquet, which Linda arranged and the Guntersville Lodge put on, was probably the best banquet I've ever attended.

Pat and I chased Brown Creepers all weekend. Several people saw them at various places. I've never seen one in Alabama, so we were trying to add it to my Alabama list. We were easing through a promising spot Sunday morning when we flushed a covey of Northern Bobwhites. They were about five feet away when they took off with much fanfare. Pat and I came close to simultaneous coronaries. We never did see a creeper.

Keith Hudson, who is the Wildlife Biologist with the Non-Game Wildlife Program for the northern half of Alabama, was the speaker Saturday night. He presented a fascinating account of the hacking program for Bald Eagles in Alabama. Beginning with four birds hacked in Alabama in 1985, Alabama now has 27 Bald Eagle nests. Thirty-three birds fledged last spring from 22 nests. Since the hacking program began, 171 eagles have successfully fledged in Alabama, truly a heartwarming number.

I have a boyhood recollection - whether true or not, I can't say - of hearing my grandfather talking in 1960 with the old men in Plantersville, Alabama, about some idiot shooting the "last Bald Eagle in the state". Keith Hudson, and others like him, have reversed that sad condition in a remarkable way. Now, it is not unexpected to see a Bald Eagle anywhere in the state, particularly during the winter, when we are blessed with many Northern birds who come down to enjoy our southern hospitality.

In this day of disappearing habitat and disappearing birds, it's refreshing to have at least some good news. If you missed the meeting, you missed a good one.