Bald eagles are popular subjects of American artists. Across the continent, eagle enthusiasts seek out these large raptors, depicting them through photography, prints, carvings, sculptures, and other media.
For artists, spotting bald eagles in the wild varies considerably by location, season, and other conditions. During the summer, most eagles raise their young. During other seasons, eagles often wander, hunting seasonal food sources.
Bald eagles are found on all four major migratory paths of American waterfowl; the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyways. Bald eagles often patrol flocks of snow geese and have no problem taking them down.
These waterfowl migrate along the Atlantic Coast, congregating in great numbers. During these seasonal trips, large snow goose flocks are usually hunted by bald eagles.
During the fall, fish also migrate down streams, creeks and coastal rivers. These events often attract eagles searching for food. Crop harvests also gain the attention of eagles in the fall. During harvests, turkeys, pheasants, rabbits, and other small game sometimes become meals for bald eagles and other raptors.
Animal carcasses often attract bald eagles, including deer rut casualties, hunting-related kills, winter deaths and other events. Fish also tend to draw eagles. During the winter months, cold stun conditions sometimes occur, due to rapidly falling water temperatures. During these cold spells, fish get disoriented and become easy prey for hungry eagles.
In spring or summer, spawning migrations attract bald eagles. The most famous spring and summer migrations involve anadromous fish such as salmon, shad, and herring, all of which become forage for eagles.
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