Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Biology:

The Golden Eagle typically lives in mountainous or hilly terrain, and also in valleys and plains during migration in western North America. This eagle is uncommon in the eastern part of the continent. Typical prey is jackrabbits and large rodents, but they are also known to eat carrion.

Photographic notes:

Camera: Leicaflex SL Lens: Leitz 400mm f/6.8 Telyt-R Film: Kodachrome 64 Exposure: 1/125 sec at f/6.8 Support: shoulder stock Date: August 1981 Location: Eielson Bluffs, Denali National Park Alaska

I found this particular bird in the High Valley area of Sunol Regional Wilderness in Alameda County, California. When I heard several California Ground Squirrels give their warning call I knew to look for Golden Eagles since this bird often hunts the rodents. The eagle flew past only a few feet above the ground. A lightweight hand-held camera was the key to making this photograph. The High Valley area is reached only after a strenuous hike, so a heavy camera or one bound to a tripod probably would have been left at home. The eagle appeared quite suddenly and flew past only once so there would have been no opportunity to set up a tripod.

Camera: Leicaflex SL Lens: Leitz 400mm f/6.8 Telyt-R Film: Kodachrome 64 Exposure: 1/125 sec at f/6.8 Support: shoulder stock Date: 1990 Location: Sunol California

Cleopatra is a non-releasable captive who was found near death by a Sacramento-area rancher after contracting West Nile virus (hence the name). Cleopatra was brought back to health and now can fly well, but would not survive in the wild because the virus led to neurological damage which pevents her from seeing clearly at near distances.

Camera: Leica R8 with DMR digital back Lens: Leica 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R Support: shoulder stock & monopod Date: 13 June 2010 Location: California Foundation for Birds of Prey