Was this a child of Jack and Lizzy coming for an unwelcome visit? Today at Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Dover, Tennessee I witnessed an event that I am not absolutely sure as to what was actually happening. I pulled my car up in front of the replica Confederate cabin at the battlefield and noticed a few people looking up and I saw one of the two resident bald eagles. I really cannot tell them apart, but it was either Jack or Lizzy. It may have been Lizzy because the bird was very ‘puffed up’ and looked huge. I got a few shots of this bird. Then all of the cars drove off and as I was about to head for my car, I saw an incoming bird. I was pretty sure it was a bald eagle and I assumed it to be the other of the pair of residents, either Jack or Lizzy and probably Jack. However, the bird, as it came closer, looked to be as long as the resident bald eagles, but not as thick — or mature. Then the bird landed. At the distance I was at from the bird, I could not make out exactly what it was for sure. Fortunately for me I was using my Nilkon ‘secret weapon’ camera and I was able to pull in some long range shots of the bird below. As you can see, it has a white head and white feathers. It appears to be a juvenile bald eagle to me. It may even be one of the children of Jack and Lizzy, but I do not know for a fact. I do know that the bald eagle in the tree near this bird was still there when the other resident bird, probably Jack, came flying in toward this bird and scared it off of its perch. After a few mini mid-air maneuvers between the birds, they both flew away and then the first eagle I saw also flew away. The three headed toward the Cumberland River area. After a while I saw two bald eagles, probably Jack and Lizzy, flying in slow swooping circles, high above the nesting area. The juvenile bird was nowhere to be seen. For all of my birder friends who know more about how these birds act and interact… what happened, do you think”? Was this a child of Jack and Lizzy coming for an unwelcome visit?
