Playing Chicken With The Birds

Here in Hood River, OR we have a few north-south ridges that we fly regularly and there is a migratory flight route through the area that is used mostly by eagles, Golden and Bald.

Once while flying along a ridge I looked right at something or other and noticed something moving to my left. When I looked left I saw what looked like an eagle maneuvering to avoid my left wing. I saw the bird pass over the top of the wing but also saw some bending over to the underside and it looked like a direct hit but I felt nothing and there was no visible evidence of a strike.

I think it was very close to striking the body. I immediately turned hard to try and see what happened but never saw the bird again. It may have dived for the forrest below.

I've also seen Bald Eagles dive at me with talons out while sharing a thermal. Sort of scary when you realize how much these bird weigh.

Le mercredi 21 novembre 2018 17:41:55 UTC+1, a écritÂ*:
I've also seen Bald Eagles dive at me with talons out while sharing a thermal. Sort of scary when you realize how much these bird weigh.

Eagles attack mostly around May when gliders are too close to their occupied nest. Apart for protection of their nest, they don't attack.

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 11:50:03 AM UTC-5, Tango Whisky wrote:
Le mercredi 21 novembre 2018 17:41:55 UTC+1, a écritÂ*:
I've also seen Bald Eagles dive at me with talons out while sharing a thermal. Sort of scary when you realize how much these bird weigh.

Eagles attack mostly around May when gliders are too close to their occupied nest. Apart for protection of their nest, they don't attack.

When the young'uns are learning to fly they're pretty protective. After a week or so everything is ok.