Close Raptor Encounters, no. 3 - An Eagle through My Sunroof!
By Ali Canary
@AliCanary (3038)
January 4, 2017 12:39pm CST
Well, he didn't fly through the sunroof; let's just get that out of the way. I saw him through the sunroof. Even though he was flying pretty high up above me, I would still consider it kind of a "close encounter", just because, as with the vulture in my second installment, eagles aren't at all common around here.
It happened several years ago, as I was driving home. Something above me caught my eye, and I was floored to see a huge, majestic bald eagle soaring against the blue sky above me. He was high up, as I said, but eagles are so large (6-foot wingspan, y'all) and the dark-body-with-a-snow-white-head coloration is so distinct, there was not a second of doubt that I was gazing up at our country's national symbol.
Even though I have actually seen bald eagles much closer, those were in the zoo (the Philadelphia Zoo and Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke, VA, to be precise; they probably have one in the National Zoo, but I don't remember). I only get really excited if I see the bird in the wild. I drove carefully while watching the magnificent raptor wing his way northward, toward the larger lakes. Eagles love fish, so it makes sense they might nest there. What an experience!
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12 responses
@The_Bong_Woman (851)
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4 Jan 17
Wow you must have had a great time watching that magnificent creature soar high up in the sky without any hindrance. I understand you completely when you say you like watching animals more in their natural habitat. It's the same with me. Even though Zoos do provide you with a lot of stuff to see and all those protection and stuff but still I too like the animals better when they are living in their habitats like in the wildlife sanctuaries.
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@AliCanary (3038)
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4 Jan 17
It was very majestic! Zoos are a great resource to see and learn about animals, too, and I like them, but it's good to know that animals can live wild without threat.
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@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Jan 17
I'm glad you didn't drive off the road while watching that bird. I don't think I've ever seen them in person, or in bird if you will. I didn't know it might be considered or called a raptor. That term reminds me of Jurassic Park.
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@AliCanary (3038)
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13 Jan 17
Oh, "raptor" refers to the talons, the big claws that birds of prey have. Some dinosaurs had them, too. Birds are basically what's left of the dinosaurs.
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@JudyEv (326128)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jan 17
@AliCanary I know in Australia foxes in particular have adapted very well to suburbia.
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@AliCanary (3038)
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14 Jan 17
@JudyEv - Oh yes, and we actually have coyotes here doing the same. I'd rather have foxes!
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@AliCanary (3038)
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13 Jan 17
It kind of takes you by surprise to see something like that when you are not out in the country! I kind of expect it for national parks and stuff, but not driving around my neighborhood, lol . I love that there is a place for them, despite the encroachment of civilization.
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@MissNikki (5237)
• Maple Ridge, British Columbia
5 Jan 17
I love seeing eagles! We get a lot of them here in British Columbia 
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@AliCanary (3038)
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7 Jan 17
Oh, I imagine so! They seem to like colder areas with lots of trees near the water so they can dive and get fish. We have a lot in Alaska.
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@MissNikki (5237)
• Maple Ridge, British Columbia
13 Jan 17
@AliCanary very majestic creatures
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@thephenomenalone (112)
• Delhi, India
5 Jan 17
Woah! Now that's something awesome. Bald Eagles are without a doubt my favorite species of birds. Amazing looking powerful birds with full intensity. Sadly we don't have them in India. Being a wildlife photographer I had a similar experience few months back, as I was roaming deep into one of the local bird sanctuaries, to my surprise I saw The Crested Serpant Eagle, (from a distance of mere 6-7 feet) which was not so common in city like New Delhi. Thanks for sharing this experience Ali, as it brought some cool memories back :)
@AliCanary (3038)
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14 Jan 17
@thephenomenalone - Those photos would probably each make an excellent post here!
@AliCanary (3038)
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17 Jan 17
@thephenomenalone - Sure, lots of people use their own photographs, just write a little something about each one, and you have material for hundreds of posts!
@thephenomenalone (112)
• Delhi, India
17 Jan 17
@AliCanary Not sure, if posting pictures on here are allowed or not. But you can certainly check them out on
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@AliCanary (3038)
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13 Jan 17
Yes, our population of bald eagles has been on the increase because of conservation efforts. Yay for conservation!
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@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
5 Jan 17
That is a great shot! Must have been interesting to see the real thing too.
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@DianneN (247191)
• United States
5 Jan 17
You certainly had a wonderful experience! I last saw a few bald eagles in a zoo. I couldn't believe how tall they were. Meanwhile, I have my own wild osprey who visits me a few times a day. He actually hovered in front of my window 12 inches from my face to show off his fish.
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@DianneN (247191)
• United States
11 Jan 17
@AliCanary That is so exciting. They are so beautiful, too!!!!!
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@AliCanary (3038)
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7 Jan 17
Wow, that's a pretty remarkable experience, too! I was driving once and a white egret flew right alongside me for about half a mile.
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@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Jan 17
The photos catches the eagle the split second before the claws touch the branch.
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@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
4 Jan 17
What a cool experience. I think I might have seen one flying around, but I can't be sure.
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@AliCanary (3038)
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13 Jan 17
There are eagles that aren't white-headed (juveniles have brown feathers, still), so you might have seen one of those.
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