Welcome to my new blog!
Although I may feature some more winged animals, this blog is dedicated to documenting the eagles at Shiloh National Military park. I decided that, since I enjoyed sharing so many images from the 2009 eagle nesting season, I'd start a blog with that special purpose.
This way I can not only share images but information, exciting moments and interesting experiences as well.

If you visit the eagles, I would like to ask that you please respect the rules.
There are designated areas to park and PLEASE always be respectful.
Viewing these birds is a unique privilege...Please don't get that privilege taken away from everyone!!!

Two Turtles

Since I get asked often about the image of an adult eagle bringing two turtles to the nest, I have decided to post the link so that it can be easily found.
"Two Turtles"

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some interesting facts:

Hiram and Julia (an American bald eagle pair named after General Grant and his wife) made their nest high in a pine tree beside a road in Shiloh National Military Park. They raised a pair of eaglets during the 2008 nesting season and then two more eaglets the following season. The pair have been photographed carrying fish, turtles and small rodents to their young.

*American bald eagles mate for life.
*The female American bald eagle is slightly bigger than the male.
*Females and males can be distinguished by the depth of their beak.
*The American bald eagle was taken off the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants list in June 2007.
However, the bald eagle is still a protected animal.
*Young eaglets do not have the white head and tail feathers of their parents. Their white feathers will grow in somewhere around five years of age.
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Friday, April 17, 2009

Catch of the Day

This image represents a defining moment in my learning. Action nature photography was all new to me. Sure, I'd captured many animals before...but the action added such a rush. Having a perfectionist streak gave me the strong desire to succeed. I didn't yet have all the knowledge of a seasoned nature photographer (and still don't) but I did have the willingness to learn everything that I could. My mind was opened in order to try and absorb every ounce of information that I could about the eagles, about photographing birds in flight, about pushing my camera to its limits, about everything!
As it happened on this night, the evening meal was a very large fish. Several photographers responded capture the approaching flight of the eagle. The flight pattern was following a steady pattern lulling us into a sense of comfort...Then, with a quick upward motion, the eagle caught us off-guard. Some of the photographer's lost the shot altogether. A couple of us managed to catch the meal, which gave us a good laugh for the night.
It was at that moment that I felt accepted. I realized that we were all working toward the same goal. Sometimes we'd get the shot...Sometimes we'd miss it...And sometimes we'd just almost get something wonderful. But whatever we captured, we were not only recording images...We were recording memories! Memories which can make an "almost shot" into something that makes you smile.
Sometimes photography isn't as much about the perfect shot as it is about the emotion behind the shot. This image makes me happy remembering all the laughter and the many jokes that would follow! ;)
*sb*
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