English and Scientific names:	Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Number of individuals:	1 adult, in dark plumage with golden mantle, and lighter area on belly,
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Rapides
Specific Locality:	Echo- Cheneyville Rd, on north side is Wemples Farm where birders have been welcome, on the north end of the property.
Date(s) when observed:	20 Feb 1999
Time(s) of day when observed:	Mid day, 11:30
Reporting observer and address:	Hubert Hervey Stonewall LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	This was on a Bird Study group trip, but the specific people present would just be conjecture.  All the usual culprits I assume. Pat Hervey, Alex Heath
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	cloudy day at midday, looking mainly east and finally north, bird colors were visible and not too badly merely silhouetted.
Optical equipment:	60 X Swift scope, other scopes and many binoculars.  9.5 power Celestron.
Distance to bird(s):	300 yards, well above the trees and then soaring, circling, to high altitudes
Duration of observation:	15 to 20 minutes
Habitat:	This is farmland, nearby woods, fallow areas used as duck, goose and sandhill crane safe areas, with a couple of areas leased for hunting rights. Pools of water are maintained during winter seasons.
Behavior of bird:	This bird seemed to enjoy causing panic among all the thousands of snow geese, white-fronted geese, ducks, and white ibis that he flushed.  The potential prey species tried to keep the eagle from getting above them by soaring and keeping him under or even with them so it could not make a stoop with any speed to it.  After 15 minutes or so of this, with the constant honking and grunting? of the white ibis, the prey species had scattered and the eagle finally sloped off to the northwest in a half hearted pass at a group of snow geese.  The stoop had no real speed to it, was much flatter than most raptor attacks I have witnessed, and passed out  of sight before the final result could be observed.
Description:	Large dark eagle, fairly flat wings in flight with only slight dihedral, long dark wings, golden mantle, a little lighter in the belly or vent. Powerful in flight, but preferring to soar and circle in wide circles. No other species is similar to this altho I am familiar with Bald Eagles in all plumages and they are easily ruled out by the above description.
Voice:	Only the fearful honking of the snow geese.
Similar species:	Bald Eagle, adult- no white head or tail, young- no white belly or wing windows.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	None
Previous experience with this species:	New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and Montana
Identification aids:	Petersons and National Geographic Guides
This description is written from:	Memory
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes
Date and time:	Today is 23 Aug 2009 at 11:27