What were you doing 5 years ago? Few of us can answer that question quickly, but it just so happens that I was reminded of what I was doing very graphically last Friday when I revisited a group of photos in my files dated February 1st that brought back a vivid memory of an interaction with a striking adult Golden Eagle, probably a once in a lifetime experience.
You might say I had something of a personal connection with that grand Golden Eagle as it began a circling flight around me. You can see it in the eyes of the eagle as I faithfully followed its flight through my camera lens as it stroked its wings deeply down and up, but I waited for it to wing into the best afternoon light before taking a serious series of photographs. It was quiet in the windless prairie – just the eagle and me – close.
The big raptor glided behind some tree branches, and when it emerged into the open again it looked like it was peeling off to the south, so out of nowhere I uncharacteristically broke the silence by calling to the eagle, “Hoka Hey.”
The Golden turned its head to look at me and seemingly responded by returning, flying low with deep wingbeats, passing right above me. I followed it through my camera, taking a series of photos as it approached and flew overhead; at that point I could only fit a portion of the Aquila in my camera frame but I took a photo anyway, just to remind myself how close the bird came after reacting to my native call. As the grand eagle began another banking turn, it winged into the fine light zone again and I reacted by taking more photos until the Golden slipped behind branches again.
As the eagle flew back into view I called out again and it circled one more time, close; checking me out as I photographed its progress all the way. What a fun birding episode! That’s the kind of photo opportunity that can’t be planned, or expected, or taken lightly. Under these conditions, I sometimes get a bit over-excited and tighten up, then seem to have a hard time keeping the bird in the photo frame, but during this memorable episode I was relaxed and followed the eagle 360 degrees as it circled me 3 glorious times. I took some strategic photos at times, and also used some fast-frame photography to get a series of photos from which I could edit out a few choice images.
I was ready for the unexpected. My camera was pre-set at an f-8 aperture, which provides a good middle-aperture option that kept all the flying eagle’s broad wingspan in the field of focus. I always use the Av aperture-preference setting instead of an automatic setting. Therefore, with plenty of late afternoon light, the f-8 Av setting automatically provided a super-fast 1/2000 of a second shutter speed to stop the action and provide sharp details of the feathers – even the bending of the long primaries – and the reflection of the sun in the eagle’s eye.
I also instinctively kept my elbows tucked against my chest and side to help steady the camera as I was actively keeping in sync with the ever-moving eagle. The auto-focus technology we almost take for granted these days provided the best options to get and keep the flying bird in focus. Auto-focus remains one of the most impressive of all photo technologies and it frees us up to concentrate on other aspects of photography in the moment.
Personally, I did 2 things I usually don’t do and don’t advocate: 1) I stepped out of my vehicle, which usually alerts birds, and 2) I made a noise, calling out to the eagle. The first time I called it was instinctive and I couldn’t control it, but after it seemed to work that time, when the eagle seemed to lose interest, I tried it again – and it worked. I don’t think I’ve done that again. As for stepping out of my van, in this case it didn’t seem to concern the eagle, and I needed to have more freedom of movement as I followed the eagle flying in such unexpected ways.
There were actually 3 other Golden Eagles in sight at the same time, and when you put yourself in the right location, at the right time of the year, with good lighting conditions and plenty of potential photo subjects, you have done all you can to create the opportunity to photograph impressive birds. In this case, I waited for the right weather conditions to ensure a sunny day at my SoDak winter raptor hotspot centered at Pierre, South Dakota. Familiarity with the area in season is also a factor; I know where to go and have a good idea of what to expect from previous experiences.
Certainly, there were plenty of other exciting eagles, hawks and falcons to photograph in the area, including 18 Golden Eagles, 16 Bald Eagles, 18 Rough-legged Hawks, 15 Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Northern Harriers, a spicy Prairie Falcon, and a beautiful male American Kestrel. That’s a total of 72 raptors on a beautiful warm sunny day. What Fun! Back to the circling Golden Eagle: Was this a once in a lifetime event? I’ll keep you posted.
Article and photographs by Paul Konrad
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