My after-work photo excursions have bene pretty pitiful lately. This week, that changed on at least one day.
I was taking my “long road home” route and was initially discouraged but then, much to my surprise, I spotted four eagles on the ice of a local pond. Jackpot! They were clearly partaking in an afternoon snack of goose and despite bone-chilling temperatures, I had to have a closer look. As I got closer, I see an adult bald eagle fly in and chase a sub-adult off of the food.
For the next hour, I took over 1,000 pictures of the eight bald eagles that were in the area as they fought over the carcass. The next day, I ran into another photographer that had been there, and he pointed out that one of the eagles from the previous day was missing a foot. What?
I went back and looked at my images and sure enough, it was true. That eagle had dominated the scene and guarded the food for the majority of the time. Clearly, missing a foot did not limit its ability to feed itself. No doubt, just like humans that lose a limb and are able to adjust – and indeed excel – without, this eagle had done the same.
As you look at the pics, you can see, especially in the initial shot of it flying in, that it is missing that left foot / talon. Oh, and not to complain but let’s just say that this photographer’s fingers literally hurt after being out there in that cold for so long. Haha!
