BALD EAGLES
I truly love photographing animals in their natural habitat but my favorites subjects are raptors (eagles and hawk) especially in flight. Good images of birds other than those sitting are hard to get. You have to be at the right time and place, with the right setup for a good shot and hope the bird cooperates or should I say your luck holds, because your window of opportunity is short. Hawks are plentiful on the western plains and all of the Bald Eagles I have here are mostly of a pair I found nesting close to where I live. I considered myself lucky finding this pair here in Colorado so close to my home. At first I had free access to them and was very careful giving them plenty of room ( I didn't want to scare or spook them and treated the situation and their habitat with care and respect) but word got out that there was a nesting pair and the area was closed as a federally protected eagle habitat while they were raising their chicks. But several months during the year when they are not raising their eaglets I can still get back to where they are at hopefully for some more pictures. Since those early days I have found and seen many more through Colorado. My most recent ones were taken out side of Grand Junction along the Colorado River.
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THE EAGLE FEATHER
The eagle is a winged symbol for the Lakota people because it is seen as the strongest and bravest of all birds. For this reason, the eagle and its feathers have been chosen as a symbol of what is highest, bravest, strongest and holiest. An eagle's feathers are treated with great respect and given to another in honor. They are worn with dignity and pride. When the feathers are held over someone's head, it means the person is brave or is wished bravery and happiness. To wave it over everyone present means everyone is wished peace, prosperity and happiness. When an eagle feather is dropped during a powwow, a special ceremony is performed to pick it up , and the owner is careful to never drop it again. |