Bad things happen to good birds

Sometimes good birds have bad things happen.  This time it was a Bald Eagle losing his life.  Here is a link to a story on our local news about an adult male Bald Eagle that evidently made contact with two high voltage lines at one time.  Killing the once beautiful and majestic bird of prey.  It's sad that what we use and take for granted in our daily lives can end life in such a tragic way.  When it takes takes the life of an animal, especially one as important to Americans as the Bald Eagle, we humans become noticeably shaken.  Obviously when it takes the life of a human it is far more tragic.  But I doubt the story on the news would have been much longer, had the victim been a human.  I don't quite know if I have an opinion one way or the other as far as whether or not this is a good thing.  Had this been a Red Tail, Turkey Vulture or a Osprey there would probably been have not been so much fuss made.  Here is a news link to the story, and at the end of this post will be some images I shot of a bird that I believe to be this Eagle on a better day.  Pictures shot very near where this eagle died, and the only adult Baldy I've shot in that area.

Bald Eagle News Video

At any rate, I am personally sad to to see this Eagle pass.  I am way too attached to these damn birds (raptors) and the ones like this, whom I have actually shot pictures of, really make it a personal thing for me.  Every time I shoot a raptor, it is as if I've just added it to my family.  I name some of the darn things, and if it is an Osprey, watch out!!  I really get attached!  Plotting the nest, naming the birds after famous couples (real and fictional), naming the chicks, trying to identify them by any method possible.  Yes, I am obsessed. 

Recent Trips

I've neglected things here a little, so today I thought I would just let the birds do the talking.  I have been trying new settings, and new cameras, trying to add a little zip, and a bit of a more crisp image.  Let's just say, it hasn't worked out too well!  I am trying a higher ISO and smaller lens opening, to capture those flight shots with a little better depth of field.  So far, all I've been able to achieve is a much higher level of digital "Noise" in my images.  Thanks to Adobe Lightroom, I've been able to salvage a few shots that are not too embarrassing!

 Cackling Geese At Baskett Slough

My favorite duck, Northern Shoveler.

Male Northern Harrier terrorizing the sheep!

I have to include at least one poop shot!

And of course, a law breaker, fate tempting shot!

I will have another post very soon, I am working on a collection of Harrier shots, linking them together to show their graceful almost mesmerizing hunting flight patterns.  I can't get over the beauty of them in active hunting.  I often miss really great shots opportunities because I can't stop watching the butterfly like motion.

Thanks for looking and check out my newest link, it's to the Idaho Bird Observatory.  I can not wait to visit them sometime.