If I remember correctly, and I believe I do, what this bird was really coming in for was a fight.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, probably not baited, set up or called in
Several eagles in the area had been squabbling over some already stripped fish bones and this one was apparently eager to join in the brouhaha. But I think I was too close to the action so I guess I didn’t save any of those images. This was another photo I resurrected from my archives a couple of days ago – it was taken in February, 2009 and I’ve never posted it before.
- Note: Due to all of our fires and smoke, multiple morning doctor appointments that interfere with my shooting schedule and the scarcity of birds right now I may be posting more images than usual from my archives for a short while. Please bear with me.
This shot was taken soon after I learned that some folks had been baiting eagles and even harriers with dead carp at Farmington so I made sure that the photographer I referred to as the “master baiter” wasn’t there and after looking for evidence of baiting from anyone else (which I became pretty good at spotting – there’s almost a science to it) I took some shots. The only readily available food in the area was fish bones so for that and several other reasons I feel relatively confident that the eagles in the area weren’t baited, at least recently. But it’s a tough call and that’s why I mostly quit going to Farmington during eagle season. And it’s also why I don’t post many Bald Eagle photos anymore.
When I started typing this post it wasn’t my intention to include a diatribe about baiting but that subject gets my dander up so I just went with the flow.
Ron
Off topic – visiting with a gal at the Sr. Center in Highwood today and she and her grand daughter went picking “sarvice berries” yesterday…..it’around 😉
I saw a bunch of them in the mountains a few days ago.
Ron, what a beautiful shot of a magnificent bird. This Bald Eagle looks very determined and will probably be successful – but I’m only speculating, of course.
As for Baiters, I find them disgusting. It is awful when you have to avoid an area because of them.
Thank you for the great photo and take good care of yourself.
Thank you, Alice.
What an incredible wing span. And those talons!!!! What an incredible bird.
Baiting? Hiss and spit.
Smoke? Ditto.
And doctor’s appointments too.
I double your H’s and S’s, EC.
Master baiter, eh? Not bad. Around here, we assign one person to baste the Thanksgiving turkey, and that party is designated the master baster. I think the two masters ought to get together, with the baster…around here also, we have a photo club whose members do not know what baiting is, so two photos of juvenile western bluebirds eating mealworms out of a cat food tin in a woman’s hand were printed and hung in the club show at the local civic center. I am not kidding.
Oh, I believe you, Martha!
And I like “master baster” too.
I’m right with you on the baiting. What a stupid practice, devoid of any ethics whatsoever. And what’s worse, those who practice it generally find no problem with it at all–can you say CLUELESS? DARGH…And now you’ve got me all riled up.
So very sorry about the smoke and doctor’s appointments. Both are beyond annoying, especially when they interfere with real life!
And what a gorgeous shot! Amazing how far those wings unfold, isn’t it?
Back from the doctor now, Laura. This time I had to wait for him for a half hour. Usually I don’t.
I find Bald Eagles mesmerizing to watch, fascinating to study, sometimes surprising in their behavior and quite challenging to photograph correctly. Your handling of the framing, focus and that darned contrast is, as anticipated, spot on.
Thank you for sharing a really special photograph, Ron. Hope your day is a good one.
Thanks, Wally. I see you also have an interesting relationship with that contrast thing, like I do…
Ahh… my favorite raptor. Beautiful shot. Being newer to your blog it’s a new picture to me 😁 One of my main reasons for loving your pictures is because they are “ala natural ” and no “master baiters” here ‼️ Hadn’t had enough coffee, that one took me a minute ❗️
It makes me so mad to see people trying to get so close when they have a lens longer than their arm. PEOPLE ..,
Have a great day Ron
Thanks for appreciating “natural” bird photos, Diana.
It’s really too bad that you have been forced out of shooting Eagles – they are such magnificent birds to watch. And I love that we can see how strongly this one is focused on what he is about to do. Your diatribes are a good thing, because there is always the possibility that you will reach someone new who needs to get that information.
“there is always the possibility that you will reach someone new who needs to get that information”
I hope so, Susan. That was a big part of the reason I said what I said.
How is your talon foing?
“Foing”…I tell you, this evil iPad really hates me!!!
That would have been an entirely different finger. 😉
HA!
The finger’s doing great, Patty.
This is surely a “wowza” shot – no matter when it was taken! He definitely looks like he’s itching for a fight — his left foot looks like a clenched fist on my screen.
Archive or re-post away, Ron. I’m happy to see anything you post. Hell, you could post a shot of your laundry (clean, please 😉 ) and I’d get a kick out of it, especially with your commentary.
From one on-fire state to another, I hope we get some temperature and rain relief soon.
Believe me, Marty – you don’t want to see my laundry, dirty or clean!
These fires are just awful.
Looking at those eyes and head focus, you better believe he’s looking for a fight. No turning back for this fellow!!
Absolutely fantastic shot and great framing. If I liked Eagles better than Gyrfalcons I’d want this picture framed and on the wall. Sorry, as much as like this shot I’m still on the side of Gyrfalcons.
Baiting is a lazy person’s calling card.
Wonderful image!!! As my friend, Chris Letts, said, ” picture two ironing boards and you’ve got their wings”….
Truly an amazing photo Ron to get that full wing span into the frame. We only have two sets of nesting eagles per season here and during the season I am very often at their locations. To the best of my knowledge I have never seen anyone attempting to bait them. Of course I can’t be at our lakes all day so you never know for sure. I would guess that some baiters do not even see it as something dishonorable.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
“I would guess that some baiters do not even see it as something dishonorable”
Unfathomably some don’t, Everett. Thank you.
Simply stunning! 🙂 Yes, when those wings come out it’s easy to clip things! 🙁 Smoke is here – not ridiculous yet, but certainly noticeable and harvest is in full swing so you know what that does…….;) It would be real tempting when one ran across baiters to have an rambunctious dog running aroung……;) Running around to Dr.’s is not amusing and time consuming – at least mornings they “might” still be on time…;) Hope they sort it out for you……..
Wow, is harvest a little early up there this year? On our MT farm about 100 miles north of you we often didn’t start until almost the end of August or sometimes even a little later. We were always a little later than you guys near GF but not that much later.
My appointment is fairly early this morning so hopefully I won’t have to wait.
They’ve been harvesting up by Big Sandy for a week or so now. It is a bit early especially given the winter and late spring we way but, ask you know, when it’s ready, it’s ready! 🙂 This is winter wheat – spring wheat and barley have a ways to go yet.
From some photos I’ve seen the winter wheat near CB looks very, very good – especially since it isn’t irrigated. Cousins on the farm told me about a week ago that it’s still too early to tell about some of the spring wheat and barley.
In this area spring wheat and barley are hard to tell as they got a good start but not the timely rains they needed. All of this is non-irrigated also. We have heavy gumbo for the most part which can slow things down – know Big Sandy has lighter ground. Also some places further N have just enough extra daylight to give them a boost – SO many variables! 🙂
Oh be still my heart!! Thank you for this spectacular captor of my favorite Raptor, Ron!! I hadn’t known about so called “professional” Nature Photographers who bait, set up or called in” until reading one of your blogs several years ago. I remember it was after Audubon or one of the other bird photography contests had posted their winners. You had also told us it was one of the reasons you didn’t enter contest because it wasn’t a fair contest. I’m sure that more & more of that is happening. How have so many humans become so full of themselves that ethics is thrown right out the window – hell it’s happening in so many areas besides photography!!
Thanks, Jo Ann. Yes, sadly that attitude has become pervasive in many areas of American life.
That is quite a magnificent bird! One does not fully appreciate their size until you seen them flying in towards you and the wing span overwhelms everything. I’ve never understood the baiting practice…the logic of it does not rest easy in my mind. How do you justify to portray a ‘natural’ shot when it is contrived? I feel the same about the practice of baiting with hunting so I best stop and not get on that soapbox.
Feel free to archive all you need…most of your past posts are new to me! 😊
“How do you justify to portray a ‘natural’ shot when it is contrived?”
Most baiters don’t even attempt to justify it, Kathy – what they generally do is try to hide their methodology and they’ve developed many sly and devious tricks and techniques for doing just that.
And you’re right about the wingspan. When those wings come out it very, very often means clipped wings in your photos unless you’re both lucky and know what you’re doing.
Just so you know, when I speak of “going back into my archives” for a shot that photo has usually not been posted before. If it has I typically mention it in my post.
I LOVE seeing “old” images!!!