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Valentine’s Day in the wild: West Seattle eagle lovebirds

February 13, 2010 4:23 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

If you browse through our Wildlife archive category, you’ll see amazing eagle photos, taken by various West Seattle photographers. These might be the most amazing yet, and just in time for Valentine’s Day. Sandy Adams gets the hat tip – while we chatted at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch last Wednesday, she mentioned these photos, taken by Melanie Dixon, showing an eagle couple apparently mating. And at Sandy’s request, Melanie agreed to share the photos. Click ahead to see three more; no, you can’t “see anything,” it’s pretty much PG (as is WSB in general), but they’re undeniably gorgeous (and unusual) pictures of the majestic birds who share our peninsula (by the way – they mate for life):

Melanie says she photographed this eagle couple in Lincoln Park on February 4th.

Looking ahead to the potential results – This infosite says, “The female lays her first egg 5-10 days after mating. The eggs are incubated for about 35 days.” So maybe baby eagles in late March.

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26 Replies to "Valentine's Day in the wild: West Seattle eagle lovebirds"

  • Cheryl February 13, 2010 (4:33 pm)

    WOW! Look at the wing span on that bird. That is one heck of a picture. THANK YOU for reminding us of just how lucky we are to live in West Seattle.

  • Michele February 13, 2010 (4:47 pm)

    Beautiful photo! thank you for sharing.

  • Aim February 13, 2010 (4:47 pm)

    bird porn.

    Beautiful pictures.

  • flowerpetal February 13, 2010 (5:45 pm)

    I’m blushing (kinda). These are beautiful pics. Did you know it is very difficult to know if you are looking at a male or female Bald Eagle? In pairs you might see that the female is a little larger (as is true with all raptors). Captured or dead eagles can be sexed by measuring the bill (beak) and the length of the hallux talon, on the rear toe. These measurements are plugged in to a neat formula developed by eagle biologist Gary Bortolotti back in the early 1980’s, based on numerous measurements of eagles of known sex.
    Your trivia for today!

  • West Seatle neighbor February 13, 2010 (6:04 pm)

    Awesome pictures Melanie! They are so beautiful. I get all teary eyed and a great big smile when I see an Eagle. They are so beautiful and Majestic..The pride of living in an area where you can walk outside your front door and see them is overwhelming. What an amazing bird. Thank you for sharing your pictures with us

  • toddinwestwood February 13, 2010 (6:36 pm)

    I smell CAPTION CONTEST! Keep it semi-Clean for the kiddies please.

    1. “then I flew up behind he and showed her my “O Face” ,Oh Oh Oh Oh!

  • d February 13, 2010 (7:12 pm)

    Oh, Todd!
    You might just win it with that.

    Maybe we can name the Mr. and Mrs. as well?

    Liberty & Justice? Or…?

  • Trina February 13, 2010 (7:58 pm)

    Wow! This is like a National Geographic special.I watch for them every day as I go to work but I have not seen them for a couple of weeks so are glad they are back home to raise their young. Thanks for sharing– and the incubation info!

  • Gini Johnson February 13, 2010 (8:58 pm)

    Love is in the air!

  • pam February 13, 2010 (9:29 pm)

    Lincoln Park is an amazing place, I am always taken aback at what a treasure it is. And these pictures are un-freaking-believable. Thanks for sharing them.

    Cue the slappy bass line, okay…

    :)

  • JH February 13, 2010 (9:29 pm)

    I hope they’re screaming for joy!

  • Born To Be Mild February 13, 2010 (9:38 pm)

    I think that Melanie should copyright the phrase “West Seattle Lovebirds” and make T-shirts.

  • Bender February 13, 2010 (11:25 pm)

    fap

  • sun*e February 14, 2010 (12:31 am)

    Bowchicabowow! :)

  • OpposableChums February 14, 2010 (6:17 am)

    Yikes!

  • grr February 14, 2010 (6:19 am)

    really. get a room.

    :)

    -thanks for the amazing shots of nature. I’ve loved bald eagles since I was a small child.

  • miws February 14, 2010 (6:35 am)

    …..keep on arockin’ me baby……keep on arockin’ me baby……

    .

    Mike

  • Dale February 14, 2010 (9:45 am)

    all the hours spent looking for the right shot really DID pay off…nice job!!!!!

  • miws February 14, 2010 (9:53 am)

    Aw NUTS!!

    .

    Ever since first reading this yesterday, I was trying to come up with an Eagles Title or Lyric that would be fitting, and thought I’d hit on it a few hours ago.

    .

    It just literally now dawned on me, that the above Lyric is from a Steve Miller Band Song! :o

    .

    Mike

  • Kathy February 14, 2010 (9:58 am)

    Fantastic – I missed this by leaving an hour early. These are the best yet! I want a new camera and your luck.

  • Nancy Pennington February 14, 2010 (5:56 pm)

    I don’t think it’s luck, but hard and persistent work on Melanie’s part. Wonderful pictures!

  • sun*e February 15, 2010 (12:11 am)

    Mike, that song/lyric is still fitting even if it’s not an “Eagle’s” lyric.

  • Rick February 15, 2010 (8:13 am)

    There’s always the old “Fly United” slogan!

  • dawsonct February 15, 2010 (10:56 am)

    Mike, would you mind… I’ve had a rough night and I hate the f#$%ing Eagles, man.

  • miws February 15, 2010 (1:08 pm)

    dawsonct, Take it easy, get yourself a peaceful, easy feeling, and perhaps, treat yourself to a nice, relaxing stay at the Hotel California!

    *Ducks*

    .

    Mike

  • dawsonct February 16, 2010 (2:03 pm)

    Oh gawd, now I really AM beginning to feel ill.

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