While walking the trails at the Elkhorn Slough you may encounter in the sky a very large, dark bird soaring majestically over the open areas of the Slough. This big bird is probably a Golden Eagle or Aquila Cyrysaetos (scientific name). The Golden Eagle also enjoys soaring over foothills and canyons hunting for jackrabbits and cotton tails. When food is scarce, the Golden Eagle will feed on carrion (dead animals). The Golden Eagle sometimes displays an upward spiral followed by a nose dive! The Golden Eagle pairs with their chosen mate for a very long time. During nesting time, the male usually captures food and feeds the female while she sits on the nest. The Golden Eagle's nest is made of sticks, brush, and leaves intertwined together. Golden Eagles builds their nest on the cliffs or in trees. The Golden Eagle is common in the West but rare in the East.