I don’t know if it’s really possible to truly appreciate these birds without seeing them outside in the wild. Growing up I loved seeing them in zoos, and I’ve been very close to them at bird rehabilitation centers where I’ve been able to get a sense of just how large these birds are. But these experiences do not do justice to seeing them paired, soaring in the sky almost in unison, or swooping down to grab a fish out of the water, or for that matter, chasing another eagle with a catch to steal it from him.
I was at first disappointed that I couldn’t get my camera to focus on the eagle before it passed me,
but then it looked back, I guess to check on its fish, and that made my day
Bald Eagles are directly responsible (in part) for starting my fascination with wildlife and bird photography. A friend of mine used to take me to Conowingo Dam in Maryland, which is a great place to photograph eagles, especially in November. Here’s some of my early bird photos.
The first immature dropped this fish to avoid a fight
The second immature eagle made away with the fish
all tangled up
Scott Simmons
Scott Simmons, based in Florida, is a lover of nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Scott became interested in photography in 2001 when he was given his first SLR camera. When he acquired a telephoto lens, he became progressively more interested in birds and other wildlife. Scott enjoys learning about bird habitats and behavior, striving always to take images that are both beautiful and interpretive. Scott believes photography is a great vehicle to help others to appreciate the wonder for the stuff of earth.
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