Re: [cobirds] RFI: Steller's Sea Eagle

That would be incredible. Given how many birders visit Dixon, I would be surprised if it was missed but I'd love to see the pictures.

Luke George 

On Fri, Jun 16, 2023 at 9:07 AM John Shenot <johnshenot@gmail.com> wrote:

I spoke this morning with a not-very-serious birder who saw a very large bird in fall of 2020 at Dixon Reservoir (Larimer) that he struggled to ID. He claimed to be familiar with Bald and Golden Eagles, including immatures, and Ospreys. Saying he felt sure it was not one of those, he looked around on the internet but the only thing he could find that looked right was Steller's Sea Eagle - a species he learned had never been observed anywhere remotely close to this part of the world. He convinced himself it couldn't be that, it had to be something else like a "mutant bald eagle", and let the mystery fade. Until he learned about the vagrant sea eagle seen that year in Alaska (before his mystery bird sighting) and Texas (after his sighting).

FWIW, his description of the bird he saw matched the field marks for Steller's Sea Eagle. I don't know the guy but he didn't strike me as a hoaxer, or someone seeking glory.

I'm only posting this to ask if anyone else ever heard anecdotal stories or speculation about that famous sea eagle perhaps migrating across/over Colorado? Obviously there are no documented sightings but I didn't know if there were any rumors?

And finally, the fun part: this guy says he had pictures but his hard drive died. He is trying to find a part so he can restore the hard drive. If he succeeds with that, and shares a photo, I'll let this community know of course. Until then, it's just an intriguing story.

John Shenot

Fort Collins, CO

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​T. Luke George, PhD

Master Instructor, ​Colorado ​State University

Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology

Wagar 110

970-491-3311 (o)

P​rofessor Emeritus, Humboldt State University

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t.luke.george@gmail.com

"what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver

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