![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/bald-eagle-0602-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"bald-eagle-0602-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n1\/1250\/ f\/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS\u00a0USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, canvas added for composition,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n I photographed the eagle on February 2, 2009 at Farmington Bay WMA. At this stage in their 5-6 year development from fledglings to mature adults they almost appear piebald to me and I’ve always been strongly drawn to\u00a0this color pattern that is generally so unexpected in the species. Notice that the beak is still mostly dark instead of the bright yellow in adult birds and the eye is also changing from the almost black of the first year bird to the yellow of the adult. Many eagles at this age exhibit some secondary flight feathers that are longer than the others, as this one does. In some ways Bald Eagles at this stage of development strike my fancy even more than mature adults.<\/p>\n But as much as I like this bird and this photo I’ve never posted it because of the following flaws and challenges in processing the image:<\/p>\n But dammit, I still like the image (I know that many of my readers think I’m too “picky” but I have to be honest about how I feel about my photos).<\/p>\n So here’s the kicker – why did I decide to finally post this photo on the 4th of July and never before after all these years?<\/p>\n Perhaps in today’s political climate an imperfect image is more than\u00a0appropriate for a far from perfect country to celebrate its day of independence. It was my original intention to make this a positive post in celebration of Independence Day but\u00a0my heart just wasn’t in it\u00a0and I have to be honest about that. These days I’m having a hard time feeling positive about anything<\/em> related to\u00a0country and future.<\/p>\n I fixed many of the flaws in this image with Photoshop. I just wish I could\u00a0“photoshop” the good old USA.<\/p>\n If I’ve put a\u00a0damper on your holiday\u00a0spirit today I sincerely apologize but it isn’t in my nature to pretend to\u00a0be something I’m not. Today if the weather cooperates I hope to be out photographing birds all morning and then I’ll just endure the mostly illegal, extremely annoying and potentially fire and injury causing\u00a0fireworks in my neighborhood\u00a0for much of the night.\u00a0And then I’ll\u00a0look forward to another week of the same as Utah “celebrates” our own Pioneer Day on July 24th. Hopefully I’ll be out camping in another state\u00a0for that one.<\/p>\n I promise I’ll get back to a more positive attitude after today, at least on the surface.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n\n