eagles

[jimmo]

How about that eagle sculpture on south Tomahawk Ave? Cool! The dark side is how long before its vandalised? Survalance camera?

[kmartell]

I could bury my head in the sand and pretend I haven't thought about this same question. But I can't and I did. Jimmo just asked it first.

Man, I hope I'm just paranoid !!! I will pray that nothing happens to the sculpture. And yes, I do pray about really important things too.

You see, I am paranoid !!!!

[Jeff Boettcher]

In an obvious change of topic, I'm not a huge fan of the boom in eagle population in Northern WI. Some of them have discovered that by dive bombing loon pairs with young, the adults dive, leaving the chicks as an easy target. (Ask the folks that live on Crystal Lake.)

Personal preference here. I'd rather have more loons & less eagles.

<small>[ May 08, 2007, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Boettcher ]</small>

[logic1]

I believe they are BOTH important. Not one more than the other. I would miss not seeing the loons on the lake & what a shame, to not see the eagles. I believe in the balance of nature - the natural way.

[Jeff Boettcher]

Relax Logic,
I agree that both are essential. I'm just not a fan of the numbers trend. As more eagles learn to dive bomb loon families to get at the chicks, the balance shifts to the eagles.

I can see eagles here in Appleton along the Fox River. They nest in area parks near the downtown business district. Loons are a more discerning breed. Marshy, isolated nesting areas with ready access to water & minimal interference from people preferred.

I relate the quality of my time spent "up north" to loon sightings, peaceful fishing, shooting stars visible on an ink black sky while fishing for walleyes off the dock of the cottage we're renting.

Eagles are scavengers. They will survive & thrive as the Northern WI lakes area builds more cottages. The loons will just leave as predation & habitat loss continues.

<small>[ May 09, 2007, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Boettcher ]</small>

[Deb Richardson]

While in Tomahawk last weekend we were able to catch a glipse of the sculpture. We certainly hope that it does not become the target of vandals. What a beautiful way to greet visitors to the community.

Eagle vs. loon. Hmm. You can't beat the call of a loon across a lake while sitting around a campfire. To me it's calming. But, the chill gotten from seeing an eagle swoop, dive, or sit majesticly in a tall pine is quite an expierence too. Tough call. Maybe we do need to cull the eagle population if their abundance is harming the loon population. Then again a screeching pair of young eagles at 5:00 am on a Saturday morning says a lot for thinning the herd. Loons.

[Merse]

The latest addition to the sculpture is.... Yes! A loon!!

From the artist's rendering, you can't even tell the two don't get along.

Peace

[kmartell]

If anyone has taken any pictures of the sculpture and they have some time to spare I would really appreciate it if they could email me some. The Leader Photo Album only has one so far.

I used to live exactly across the street from where the sculpture is located. My folks owned the tavern at 104 South Tomahawk Avenue that has since been torn down and replaced by the Fast Lube Tire and Alignment shop.

I also vaguely remember, and I might be having a pre-senior moment here, the totem pole that was located at the intersection of Tomahawk and Wisconsin avenues in front of the old Chamber of Commerce cottage. There was also the cute little water fountain. This was back in the 50s.

[Jeff Boettcher]

Arizay,
Point taken. The loon is my northwoods icon. I should have started a new string to develop that point instead of feeding off a post about an eagle (sky carp) statue.

Sorry, but I couldn't resist the eagle slam.

[Deb Richardson]

Jeff, I feel badly for you. I too love the loon (to borrow from grade school, "it takes one to know one"). BUT there is a certain chill that runs up my spine when an eagle lands in the top of a 100 year old plus pine. You can't tell me that you haven't expierenced that sensation. Yes, the loon is still my favorite. If it weren't I would not have spend hours cross stitching (years ago)a dishtowel for my mother.

<small>[ May 13, 2007, 05:16 PM: Message edited by: Deb Richardson ]</small>