"IN THE SHADOW OF AN EAGLE" (Part 1)

Bald Eagle (Adult Female) - 7 Photos

Am going to recount this story in reverse order of eagle arrivals.

To set the stage, I heard eagle chatter coming from a small wooded area, so I went off to investigate. 

Sure enough, after a 15 minute walk, I found an adult Bald Eagle perched high on a tree just chilling out. (That would be mentally and physically as it was -17 degrees Celsius.) Luckily there was a fallen tree nearby, where one could sit and shoot clear of the trees & branches. So fingers crossed that the eagle would remain for a short time at least, I took the first few shots. 

He (as it turned out) was, in fact, there for at least 50 minutes when literally the sky directly above darkened and a huge shadow appeared that engulfed the small area albeit briefly. From the crowing coming from the male Eagle, I presumed this would be the arrival of his mate and sure enough, within seconds a second eagle arrived from the area behind me & landed on a lower branch of the same tree (Photo #1 through Photo #3).

This female Bald Eagle almost dwarfs her mate in size and because of their close proximity to a certain nesting area, I believe this to be the pair that I have photographed the past two summers as they have raised their offspring.

The pair appear to be what I would humanly describe as an "old married couple", very relaxed in each other's company, chatting when required and very successful in raising their young. Both were extremely active in providing fish for the family & educating the young eagles those two years.

However, Mrs. does appear to be a bit of a diva. I don't know if she is years older than her mate and although, the females of the species are larger, this one in particular is at least 1/3 greater the size of her male companion if not more. Size aside, she does appear to spend a great deal of time grooming (Photo #4 through Photo #6). One day in the summer, I watched her groom for at least 3 1/2 hours. That time I also witnessed a disagreement between the two, when her mate flew in beside her about 2 1/2 hours in, they had an eagle chat and then she reached over and thumped him hard in the middle of his chest feathers with her beak - ouch. He flew off a short time later.

This time, shortly after her arrival, her mate flew downriver. (That will be "In The Shadow of An Eagle" - Part 2.) And having watched her for another hour, still grooming, I had to leave as my feet were getting too cold. Perhaps, the previous disagreement was about how much time was spent on personal grooming??? :) But one cannot dispute the results. It must take a lot of effort to maintain those gorgeous feathers and so many of them. After all, an eagle's feathers are its life. Even with those awesome talons, an eagle without flight will never survive.

I refer to the final photo (Photo #7), as the eagle's panda look. I am not certain whether it's a result of the eagle's winter feathers which are in two layers or whether it was due to the wind but I think it gives her face an almost bearlike furry appearance. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7