07/23/2026
I sent the below email to George M Sutton Aviary Research Center this morning. What do you think? Was it a Golden Eagle? *yes I wrote it, no it was not AI, and yes I did remove my location to post here
Good morning,
As you can probably tell by my email address, I am a huge fan of birds of prey. I've had multiple experiences that have left me in awe. I had one a couple of weeks ago that was truly magical but and also, a bit curious.
I have 5 acres on the edge of city limits on the SW side of *###, surrounded by a fair amount of open land before getting to the river. Lots of Eagles around our town, a ton of Hawks on my property. Their fledglings were adorable this year. Scene set? Good.
The encounter happened as I was taking a well deserved break in the shade from mowing the "unwild" half of my property. Just enjoying the moment as a blissful breeze cooled me. Suddenly there she was. I say she because I have NEVER seen a bird this large before. The most GORGEOUS golden chocolate mammoth was landing on a branch ¿20ft/30ft? up no more than 100ft from me, facing me. Internally I thought to myself: My God it is a Golden Eagle. Not questioning it. Just knowing. But doubt, aka realism, soon set in. I decided to just enjoy the encounter, give thanks, and go on about my business after she disappeared again.
The next day I still couldn't shake it. What was she? Will she stay or just passing through? So to the googles. There was zero mottling on her chest. Literally a solid, rich golden chocolate across the breast, belly, head and shoulders. This rich brown came down the inside of the wing and was broken by a single white band splitting the bottom quarter of the wing. I do not remember the color of feet nor do I have confidence in whether there was any yellow behind the black tip of the beak due to the position of her head as she locked eyes with me and perched. I am confident of no white mottling. But everything I read says I must be crazy to think I saw a golden eagle in *NE OK in July.
Am I? Or is it possible we have some nesting further east than Cimmaron County?
Sincerely your longtime follower and fellow bird of prey lover,
Melissa
