Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell

Today’s good news story is taken from the Good News Network about the sighting of a bird not typically seen in the US. Here’s the story in its entirety. Thanks to the Good News Network.

The Steller’s sea eagle. It’s ripped, royal, and rare. To see the world’s heaviest eagle, with its eight-foot wingspan, an American would typically have to visit Korea, Japan, or eastern Russia. Never had one of the sea eagles ever been spotted in the lower 48 states—until now.

@ManByTheSea/Instagram

Five days before Christmas, one of the majestic birds flew into Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and it’s pulling birdwatchers from all over the east coast to see it.

Members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society first spotted the raptor known for its huge golden bill.

NPR reports that the unique tail feather arrangement suggests this is the same bird that was spotted in summer in Canada and Alaska. Straying outside of its native range, it’s known as a “vagrant.”

As of January 16th, the wayward bird was still in Maine, having first been documented as a vagrant in Alaska’s Denali National Park, 4,700 miles away, in August.

The chance to see this eagle would normally involve a plane ride anywhere from 6-12 hours and a passport, so the bird’s appearance in the US is pulling amateur ornithologists from their nests in places like New Jersey for a spontaneous road trip known as “chasing.”

When a rare species, especially a rare vagrant, is spotted, intrepid birders chase reported sightings around the region using apps like eBird, or through various Facebook groups.

John Putrillo recently photographed this celebrity bird of prey. His Instagram, Manbythesea, is now filled with beautiful images showcasing its dark brown feathers and a bill that’s built to tear fish like salmon into bitesize pieces.

The eagle has given Putrillo a new passion: “I want to learn about all bird species now,” he says. “I want to find every bird I can from the smallest to the largest.”

The good news here is at least some of the bird watchers in this country have a chance to see this magnificent bird. Today’s JohnKu talks about the miracles of nature. I hope you have a great weekend.

Nature by John W. Howell

A vagrant or not,

The Steller’s Sea Eagle is . . .

Nature’s miracle.

 

I am at Story Empire today in case you want to come over. I’m talking about things you can do if the desire to write is missing. HERE is the link.

 

75 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  7. The eagle’s magnificent, and the behavior of birders predictable. I know someone who’s spent three years trying to spot the snowy owl that’s reported in his part of Kansas now and then. When he gets a report, it’s into the car and onto the roads, fingers crossed. As he says with a grin, “At least it keeps me out of the bars.”

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I’m surprised this wasn’t on the west coast somewhere. Sounds like he was just passing through that country. Maine is about as far from home as he could get. We have a pair of these at the Boise Zoo. I made a special trip to see them and they’re incredible.

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  9. Wow! That really is amazing. Makes you wonder what causes a bird to become a vagrant in the first place. He is a loooong way from home (lucky for those birdwatchers ables to capture him). Lovely share. Thank you.
    Happy Friday to you!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. How odd for this bird to show up in the U.S. at a time when we need strength more than ever. And since the Eagle is our symbol of freedom, I can easily see the significance of its appearance. What a great story to share, John, and love the JohnKu!

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  17. A miracle for sure! I love watching eagles. When I took a boat excursion off Seward, AK, I saw hundreds. Absolutely awe-inspiring. 💗

    Liked by 1 person

  22. O!M!G!
    I feel like crying… or laughing… I’m not sure.
    There is a hefty emotion in knowing that this bird is here.
    Why is it a vagrant? With all those bird people out there watching and caring, we might find out one day.
    An 8 ft. wing span is bigger than some of my friends bedrooms.
    Good reporting, John!
    Your JohnKu is fab
    I wish the magnificent bird could know about it!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Wow! It’s almost cartoonish. My parents were both avid birdwatchers. I used to go with my dad and was the recorder on many bird counts with him. We’d go out to these rural areas and stop every couple of miles. He had 60 seconds to identify birds, and I’d mark them on his checklist as he called them out.

    We have steller’s jays around us. They aren’t rare, though. Very typical jay behavior—pretty, loud, and obnoxious. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/id

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  26. Great story, John. I would like to see this bird, but I don’t think I’ll be traveling. Did you know that the Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up Feb 18-21? I participated in it last year for the first time and it was a lot of fun. We don’t get big birds like this vagrant in our backyard, but I was surprised by how many different birds I saw. I like your JohnKu too 🙂

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  27. When I finished reading “The Story of Doctor Dolittle” to my preschoolers, one of the eagles that went to search for the boy’s uncle was a sea eagle. We had to look it up and see photos. What a beautiful bird, and what a great story!

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