We walked around the corner and – there was a bald eagle, sitting in the enclosure. We are from Michigan and have seen maybe two bald eagles in our life time (outside of a zoo). In Alaska, it is more like – there is an eagle, there is eagle, there is another. This location, took in injured birds and gave them a home if they could not be returned. I consider that one of the highest honorable things a person can do, care for those who cannot. (guess that is why I am in medicine). Check out these wonderful birds.
Another bird and the handler, explaining the incredible work they do at this facility with birds of prey. This poor little guy was rehabilitated, but then could not make it on his own in the wild, so they brought him back, and he seems happy here. One of the many, many Eagles saw in the wild.A few totems at the site just outside the raptor sanctuary.
Were a Metro Detroit, Michigan, couple โ second marriages for both of us โ and we dream of retiring early to Travel the World. Follow us while we try and figure out to raise our kids, and save to retire.
David is a Robot Programmer, Laura is a Medical Physicist. We put our kids before ourselves for years, saved and ate at home and now after years of all this sacrifice and raising our kids - we are closing in on empty nesting, and we realized we have the opportunity to retire earlier than most and follow our dreams to travel the world.
How are we going to do this? Well we have a lot of ideas, but lets see how it works out. Our original retirement date was January 1, 2021. We are reviewing the option of working another 3 years but prefer to keep the 2021 date, either way we will be retired by 55 years old - still trying to figure out how, but working toward our goal everyday, while enjoying each other and our blended family.
Follow us to see what happens.
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68 Replies to “Raptor Sanctuary – Ketchikan Alaska”
What a beautiful bird that Picture should be framed!
My local football team OGCNice, nickname Les Aiglons (the eagles) has an eagle fly around the ground before kick off. I know the bird is sort of tame but I always worry itโs going to sweep into the crowd and carry something or someone off. Usually, it returns to its handler but once it perched on the top rung of the stadium and took some coaxing down.
We have been feeding them for 5 years.
We used to think the same but later we knew they Aren’t ๐
First they entertain us with their songs. When they see eagles are near they create more noise when we give them meat they wait for eagles and no sooner they came closer clever crows grab they meat and fly and eagle fly back as loser. But they win the fly and grab game more than crows. ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ
We feed birds in our backyard to, but just leftovers, not seed. Like stale bread that might be just a small piece. We live the wildlife. What other kinds do you have by you?
There are lots of pigeons and we have seeds for them. In my vicinity we don’t have many sparrows but in the morning we can hear their beautiful chirping that often shadowed by eagle’s song. Squirrels are also there.
And definitely life is completely incomplete without cats. They don’t catch pigeons albeit they can ๐บ๐บ
There are water and seed troughs at every home edge.
We live next to a small creek, so we get ducks, there is a family of swans that live around the bend, then deer come out at night, we have quite a few neighborhood deer, then a rabbits, a family of squirrels live in our back oak tree, and in our back yard right next to the river is a ground hog, and of course fish, but mostly carp. So kind of like a mini park in our backyard, it feels country, but it is very close to many stores and roads.
Sounds intriguing. I loved it. Ours is commercial area. We’re really thankful to God for having at least birds here. ๐๐
Unfortunately we don’t have many trees due to commercial zone.
Well, we have lived in many different locations, and each has its own awesomeness about it. I agree, we are also thankful to God for a wonderful surroundings.
We loved that place!!! I almost bought the postcards that said Sitka and had the eagle on them… Then later I realized I should have bought them! I think they also had postcards with Jake (the hawk) but we ended up getting an Alaskan mug instead. Did you also do the rainforest tour there?
I am fortunate to live in an area where I see bald eagles close to where I live. I grew up in a time when they were extinct, never thinking I would one day be able to see one a mile from my home. They are amazing creatures to watch, and I find I still get emotional when I will see one take flight across the sky. Rehabilitation centers that care for injured raptors and then allow them to stay if they cannot make it in the wild are wonderful places. Check out the Decorah Eagle webcam for real time eagle watching fun-they are offline until October, but check them out then.https://www.raptorresource.org/
I was looking for you yesterday, but somehow I wasn’t following you anymore!! How easily things fall apart here is astounding.
So glad you saw these amazing eagles. We have eagles in the UK and a species that was extinct here was reintroduced recently in Scotland. Farmers aren’t happy as one took a lamb, but I guess that’s how nature is. We have a lot of raptors where I live.
You know that has happened to me a lot as well. Not sure how….. WordPress is glitchy. We did not have eagles here since I was a child (that is a long time) but recently some people have said there is one around here, but we have only seen them way up north in the top of the Michigan mit, close to Canada. I feel like a lot of wild life = healthy environment. So yes loosing a lamb – or a small dog can be taken too is a shame, but part of wildlife.
It really must have been inspiring! I’m happy to hear that they’re thriving! I’ve never been to Alaska, but I would like to someday, and see the beautiful birds that God made!
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
KEEP AN EAGLE EYE OUT FOR THIS PLACE. FEEL THE RAPTOR (RAPTURE) OF SEEING WILD CREATURES BEING REHABILITATED!
The Eagle is so majestic! What a wonderful place for raptors to rehabilitate. We have several places like this near the Chesapeake Bay Maryland region. ๐
Best of luck and fun in your planning your next chapter of life with retiring! Hubby & I planned and were lucky to retire at 56 in 2015. We’ve had a temporary hold-back in last couple years, but are now getting ready to embark on our lifelong dream of traveling the U.S. in our motorhome for a several years. We’re getting excited!
Thanks for following my blog, I’m looking forward to following yours. Cheers! ๐
Donna, we are also worried we wont be able to retire at 52, but I think we will have David start and then I will follow. It is the darn health care that makes it almost impossible to retire early. How to afford it. But now your getting ready to do it! How excited, we are both so happy for you guys, honestly what an accomplishment, we will be following you on your motorhome dream!
What a beautiful bird that Picture should be framed!
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That is a wonderful idea!
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๐
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Helping animals in need and treating them kindly is so important
LikeLiked by 8 people
We agree, helping others is an honor.
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Beautiful birds!
Ditto to steveknifeโs comment.
LikeLiked by 7 people
How nice!
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Such majestic birds!
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They are the royalty of birds – at least it looked like it. HUGE.
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My local football team OGCNice, nickname Les Aiglons (the eagles) has an eagle fly around the ground before kick off. I know the bird is sort of tame but I always worry itโs going to sweep into the crowd and carry something or someone off. Usually, it returns to its handler but once it perched on the top rung of the stadium and took some coaxing down.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I could picture it. This one could not fly though, he was injured by flying into power lines, but I could see what you mean, he was so huge!
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That’s beautiful.
I love eagles ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ฆ
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They are everywhere there, we saw maybe a dozen in one day.
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They are ๐ฆ ๐ฆ
We feed crows that sit in our windows and most of the time they grab the meat and leave us in shock ๐
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There were a lot of HUGE crows there too, and they guides were saying they are very crafty smart!
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They definitely are.
Here they are not very big.
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By where we live in Michigan, US – they are small to medium sized and have not noticed them being too smart, but only a few over here.
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We have been feeding them for 5 years.
We used to think the same but later we knew they Aren’t ๐
First they entertain us with their songs. When they see eagles are near they create more noise when we give them meat they wait for eagles and no sooner they came closer clever crows grab they meat and fly and eagle fly back as loser. But they win the fly and grab game more than crows. ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ
LikeLiked by 3 people
We feed birds in our backyard to, but just leftovers, not seed. Like stale bread that might be just a small piece. We live the wildlife. What other kinds do you have by you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are lots of pigeons and we have seeds for them. In my vicinity we don’t have many sparrows but in the morning we can hear their beautiful chirping that often shadowed by eagle’s song. Squirrels are also there.
And definitely life is completely incomplete without cats. They don’t catch pigeons albeit they can ๐บ๐บ
There are water and seed troughs at every home edge.
LikeLiked by 3 people
We live next to a small creek, so we get ducks, there is a family of swans that live around the bend, then deer come out at night, we have quite a few neighborhood deer, then a rabbits, a family of squirrels live in our back oak tree, and in our back yard right next to the river is a ground hog, and of course fish, but mostly carp. So kind of like a mini park in our backyard, it feels country, but it is very close to many stores and roads.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sounds intriguing. I loved it. Ours is commercial area. We’re really thankful to God for having at least birds here. ๐๐
Unfortunately we don’t have many trees due to commercial zone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, we have lived in many different locations, and each has its own awesomeness about it. I agree, we are also thankful to God for a wonderful surroundings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have to be grateful, indeed ๐๐๐๐
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Very beautiful birds ๐ฆ out there โค๏ธ
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It really was a magical place
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Hmm. Great experience for you and your family out there โค๏ธ
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It is thanks for checking in on this trip.
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My pleasure ๐.
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All your trips and photo graphs are attract me towards your visit.โค๏ธ
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Thanks, were just enjoying life and sharing that.
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๐๐
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We loved that place!!! I almost bought the postcards that said Sitka and had the eagle on them… Then later I realized I should have bought them! I think they also had postcards with Jake (the hawk) but we ended up getting an Alaskan mug instead. Did you also do the rainforest tour there?
LikeLiked by 6 people
We did, and we saw a bear on the tour, it was so great, but also scary, but loved it tgere!
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I Bought an eagle scarf there, wore it to work last week!
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I am fortunate to live in an area where I see bald eagles close to where I live. I grew up in a time when they were extinct, never thinking I would one day be able to see one a mile from my home. They are amazing creatures to watch, and I find I still get emotional when I will see one take flight across the sky. Rehabilitation centers that care for injured raptors and then allow them to stay if they cannot make it in the wild are wonderful places. Check out the Decorah Eagle webcam for real time eagle watching fun-they are offline until October, but check them out then.https://www.raptorresource.org/
LikeLiked by 5 people
Excellent, we agree with you and will check that eagle cam in October. You are lucky, because seeing them is both exhilarating and feels special.
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Eagles are the most beautiful creatures on the planet! When I’m close with my feathered friends I am always better!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Eagles, amazing animals โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
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They sure were, just everywhere too. But also loved how they took such great care of the injured
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That was great, I love this birds and it’s fantastic someone is so dedicated to them ๐
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I was looking for you yesterday, but somehow I wasn’t following you anymore!! How easily things fall apart here is astounding.
So glad you saw these amazing eagles. We have eagles in the UK and a species that was extinct here was reintroduced recently in Scotland. Farmers aren’t happy as one took a lamb, but I guess that’s how nature is. We have a lot of raptors where I live.
LikeLiked by 4 people
You know that has happened to me a lot as well. Not sure how….. WordPress is glitchy. We did not have eagles here since I was a child (that is a long time) but recently some people have said there is one around here, but we have only seen them way up north in the top of the Michigan mit, close to Canada. I feel like a lot of wild life = healthy environment. So yes loosing a lamb – or a small dog can be taken too is a shame, but part of wildlife.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are really cool-looking birds!
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It was, and to see them in the wild, typically there were on the very top of a large pine, but we also saw them on the ground eating salmon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow! I think I’ve only seen them in zoos! Wildlife is always great to see!
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Joshua, it was so inspiring, honestly. They are THRIVING in Alaska.
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It really must have been inspiring! I’m happy to hear that they’re thriving! I’ve never been to Alaska, but I would like to someday, and see the beautiful birds that God made!
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You should go, and if you want it and God wills it, it will happen. You would love it, we certainly did….but were just back and still inspired.
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I would love to go someday, Lord willing!
I have nominated you for The Food Award! https://joshuamakotoswanson.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/the-food-award-bonus/
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Oh, ok, cool I am not sure what the food award is, but I will check it out over the weekend.
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OK! It’s a new blog award created by Elisha at the Africa Boy blog.
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Ok, awesome on the weekends I have more time so we will respond soon
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Alright, sounds good! ๐
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
KEEP AN EAGLE EYE OUT FOR THIS PLACE. FEEL THE RAPTOR (RAPTURE) OF SEEING WILD CREATURES BEING REHABILITATED!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks Jonathan, your support is always awesome!
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“ORT-ORT-!” ๐
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The Eagle is so majestic! What a wonderful place for raptors to rehabilitate. We have several places like this near the Chesapeake Bay Maryland region. ๐
Best of luck and fun in your planning your next chapter of life with retiring! Hubby & I planned and were lucky to retire at 56 in 2015. We’ve had a temporary hold-back in last couple years, but are now getting ready to embark on our lifelong dream of traveling the U.S. in our motorhome for a several years. We’re getting excited!
Thanks for following my blog, I’m looking forward to following yours. Cheers! ๐
LikeLiked by 4 people
Donna, we are also worried we wont be able to retire at 52, but I think we will have David start and then I will follow. It is the darn health care that makes it almost impossible to retire early. How to afford it. But now your getting ready to do it! How excited, we are both so happy for you guys, honestly what an accomplishment, we will be following you on your motorhome dream!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Loved it awesome๐๐ฏ
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Thanks for the share!
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Subhanallah! very gorgeous bird-the king of sky
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Huh, we dont know about subhanallah, but looking it up now
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Glory to be God. We say it when we see some natural beauty. Best wishes ๐น
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Excellent!
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Ok, looked this up, your right, glory to God, we learned something new, love it! Thanks Atul!
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Glad to know that. My pleasure๐น
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