Over the last couple of days, things have been very stressful, and I’ve had a lot of running round to do. Yesterday I was driving home from Mudgee after doing “stuff” up there, and still feeling wound up. I drove up to the crest of a hill and was nearly scared to death by two eagles flying straight in front of my windscreen! These critters have a wing span of 10 feet or so, so you can imagine I could see a lot of wings and feathers, and huge talons! I braked! And hoped! And waited for a thud….none came, but I heard a sound like feathers scraping along the top of the car. Well! If I was wound up before, I was doubly wound up now….my heart was in my mouth….I looked in the rear vision mirror but could see nothing, no body on the road….so I turned round as soon as I could….this was a country road, and I was on double centre lines. As I drove back I saw one fly off and land in the paddock. If I hadn’t known what I was looking at I would have thought it was a kangaroo standing there, it was so big, but no sign of the other one. So I drove a little further, turned round and came back again. This time I saw the other one, flying across to join his mate. They were both ok, so in theory I could calm down…..but in reality, it would be a while before my heart stopped pounding…….lol.
As I drove away, I was thinking what would I have done if one had been injured, but not dead? With most birds, you can throw a towel over them, and then pick them up and put them in a box. An eagle needs something rather larger, and also something very large for transporting it….But I didn’t have to worry, because both eagles were well and truly alive and uninjured.
I discovered the reason they were there in the first place was they were dining on their version of take away…..roadkill, so they were also doing their bit to clean up the road sides…….
Mamaroo's Diary 