Bald Eagle Family

I had the fantastic opportunity in the summer of 2023 to witness the journey of three downy bald eagle chicks to transform into awkward fledglings before they finally turned into adventurous juveniles. My heart still sings when I think of that extraordinary experience.

A friend of mine keeps sharing exciting news about the bald eagle pair nesting on the clay cliffs nearby. He knows I have been struggling with severe fatigue and low mood for weeks, and though he never voices it, I suspect he wants me to pick up my camera and spend time in nature to start my healing process. Well, here I am, heavily panting and swearing under my breath as I hike up the steep incline towards the trail on top of the clay cliffs. My tired calf muscles quiver, and my heart pounds wildly. Gusty wind strokes nearly let me lose my balance, and I feel relieved when I arrive at the end of the incline.

From here on, the narrow path winds gently through fresh-leaved trees and bushes; slowly, I catch my breath. Showy wild lupines with deep-blue flowers border the trail; this beautiful wildflower is one of my favourites. Suddenly, I hear the screeching call of an eagle; I look up and spot an adult eagle surging through the sky, its strong wings slicing through the air. Now, my heart pounds with joy and excitement. 

The wind has calmed down, and birds chirp when I arrive on top of the clay cliffs. From afar, I spot the female eagle in the nest high up in the tree. Although eagle nests are often impressive, this is a more humble nest of interwoven branches and twigs lined with grass and moss. I detour into the pine trees to ensure I won't alarm the nesting bird. I carefully angle towards the direction of the nest, crawling the last meters towards the edge of the cliff. A small group of evergreen trees offer perfect cover, shade and shelter. I nestle under a pine tree; now, I can observe the nest activities without being seen, as my location is higher than the eagle's nest. My telephoto lens lets me get amazingly close to wildlife without disturbing the nesting eagle, which, with sharp eyes, watches the surroundings. 

Feeling exhausted and sore, I roll out my Thermarest. I add a well-worn windproof jacket to retain body heat and settle against a tall pine tree's solid trunk, taking in my surroundings. A striking-looking Yellow-rumped Warbler lands on a branch nearby, looking at me with shiny eyes;  cloaked by the embrace of nature, I feel a sense of profound peace washing over me.  It doesn’t take long for my eyes to feel heavy, and I doze off. 

A few days have passed, and I am back at the eagle’s nest. To my greatest delight, I find three tiny eaglets in the nest. Mother eagle has caught a fish and feeds her insatiable brood; eaglets grow rapidly, and their parents must bring sufficient food so all three eaglets will survive. These parents have chosen an excellent nesting site close to the Yukon River and benefit from fish stunned by the turbines of the nearby dam. I wonder if the disintegrating nest will survive the nesting season or if one of the summer storms will bring an untimely end to the eaglets' nursery.

I spend the day observing the eagle family, reflecting on life, having snacks and enjoying restful naps in a gentle breeze under the tree. I need not worry about missing anything exciting happening in the nest, as parents delivering food will create a flurry of excitement and noise, interrupting my slumber. Although my fatigue has caused immense frustration by altering my life and restricting many activities, I am grateful for spending time in nature close to the eagle family. On my way home, I see a fox kit well hidden behind plants, staring intently at something I can’t see. 

A month has passed, and the eagle family has been doing well; I feel relief every time I see all three chicks in the nest. I know nature knows best and needs to take its course; however, I can’t help but feel a strong connection to the chicks and hope all three will survive. The eaglets have grown dark juvenile feathers and look like small eagles with oversized feet, and the parents now spend more time near the nest than in the nest. The eagles naturally provoke animosity among the seagulls of a nearby breeding colony by preying on their offspring; the fierce badgering of the gulls is relentless. 

Time passes fast, and we are moving towards the end of July. I visited the eaglets once a week to document their development, but even more so for the well-being of my mind and body. Today, it’s a sweltering summer day, and the heat is trying for the eaglets as sitting in the nest exposes them to the blazing sun. Birds don’t have sweat glands, so they need a different cooling system: panting and holding out their wings when it gets hot. I can tell by the eaglets’ opened beaks that they need to cool off. Suddenly, the three youngsters get excited as they spot one of their parents flying overhead; they crane their necks and start calling, demanding food delivery. However, the adult eagle lands empty-handed, and the eaglets go hungry.

Unlike the eaglets, the colourful swallowtail butterfly enjoys the hot weather. It gracefully flies with delicate wings from flower to flower, feeding on nectar and playing an essential role in pollination. Swallowtails are easily recognizable by their vibrant yellow colour and brilliant blue and orange patches on their hindwings. 

It’s the beginning of August, and I only see two eaglets sitting in the nesting tree. I scan the trees nearby but can’t detect the third eaglet. I wonder if the eaglet has been blown out of the nest while strengthening its wings by flapping; I can’t help but start to worry about the well-being of the young bird when I still haven’t found any signs of it a few hours later. I decide to stop worrying and take a deserved nap under the tree. The loud calls of the two remaining eaglets wake me, and I yawn, sit up and lean against the tree with the camera ready. I see the silhouette of a soaring eagle in the deep blue sky and move to a clear patch to see if it is an adult bringing food. My joy and excitement have no bounds when I realize that the eagle in the sky is the missing eaglet. It is one of the young eagle's first flights, and I am grateful to witness such a wondrous moment. In due time, all three youngsters will conquer the sky.

The whole story of the eagle family will be available as a photo book in e-format in 2025 and, if the gods allow, also in printed form.