Eagles, Crows, and Gulls

Day 2 of the Magic of Alaska workshop: On the way back from our boat tour out of Homer, we stopped at a beach where gulls, eagles, and crows were feasting on fish remains left behind by local fishermen. After filleting their catch, the fishermen leave the carcasses for the wildlife, creating an impromptu banquet along the shoreline.

Watching the interactions between the birds was almost as entertaining as photographing them. On this day, several juvenile bald eagles boldly bullied some of the mature adults away from the choicest morsels. The crows darted in and out with their fish scraps, careful to avoid the clashing of the titans. The gulls provided a constant soundtrack, screaming throughout the feast. Every so often, an eagle perched on the edge of the commotion with an expression that seemed almost comical, as if it were watching the drama unfold rather than participating in it.

One of the things I enjoy most about photographing bald eagles is that immature birds are never quite alike. Unlike many birds that simply molt into adult plumage in a single season, bald eagles spend nearly five years gradually transforming into the familiar white-headed adults. During those years, every bird seems to wear its own unique combination of brown and white feathers. Some have nearly white bellies, others develop patches on their backs or wings, and the amount of white in the tail varies tremendously. Their bills also change from dark gray to bright yellow as they mature. You can often estimate an eagle’s age by its plumage, but no two immature birds follow exactly the same pattern.

This was the first time we saw the mountains on the far side of Cook Inlet emerge from the clouds. I was determined to capture an eagle in flight with those magnificent peaks as a backdrop. After taking what felt like 2,000 photographs, I came away with just one image that matched the vision I had in mind. Sometimes, one is all you need.