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The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge was the first waterfowl refuge created in the United States, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. Most of it is located in California & the area has been a haven for migratory birds. This time of year the raptors are out w/ migratory bald eagles that come down from Canada, the largest population of them within the Continental US as they nest over in nearby Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which is off limits to public entry at this time. While migratory, there is a population of bald eagles that live year-round in the Klamath Basin region. This inset shows two eagles sitting in the cottonwood watching the surrounding area, another one can be seen further down as a large dot on the branch. My record bald eagle count was 30 in 2018 - this year I spotted 18 eagles including 11 on a single tree. Just down the row of cottonwoods there was an eagle building a large nest as it flew in with a mouthful of twigs. A number of hawks & even a golden eagle that wasn't too camera shy. Much of this wildlife area has sadly dried up due to an ongoing drought, as well as nearby Tule Lake, else there would also be an immense cackling of water birds in the nearby fields.
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