American Bald Eagle with Mountains

Enjoy the Birds Eye View - This photo just about sums up our experience in Haines, Alaska, with the Bald Eagles last year. Beautiful landscape, majestic birds and a feeling of awe. We were not the only species having these feelings.

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Bald Eagle close up with talons

A Bald Eagle's talons and beak are its primary tools. Bald Eagles use their talons for attacking and carrying prey or nest materials. Eagles talons crush it's prey with 500 PSI of compacting strength.

This picture uses zoom photography and close cropping to reveal the minute details and texture of the bald eagle's talons.

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Bald eagle perches with full moon

Perched in front of the newly full moon — A blood orange moon shines behind a perching bald eagle. This eagle was perfectly silhouetted by the early winter moonlight striking this tree. The huge blood orange moon cast enough light to make this night time shot appear to have been taken at a different time of day. The full moon appears huge in the Alaskan sky, looming above the serene snow and barren tundra.

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Bald Eagles Attack with Talons

The Attack - A pair of Bald Eagles battle for a left over salmon with their razor sharp talons on the Chilkat river in Haines, Alaska.

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Cuddling Eagle Couple

Cuddling Couple - A pair of Bald Eagles nestle in a tree together on the Chilkoot River in Haines, Alaska.

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Five Bald eagles in a snowstorm

Winged Sentries— These five eagles weather a snow storm with perfect dignity and grace. The birds of prey often have to endure snow in the northern climates where they thrive. Eagles have no problem flying, nesting, or perching in snow, as the eagles in this picture are doing.

The snow will continue falling for many months— luckily eagles can simply soar above the towering snowbanks. These eagles are taking advantage of some downed logs on the Chilkat River bed to rise out of the snow and have a good vantage point to search for their next Salmon meal.

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Portrait of a bald eagle in flight with full wingspan

Soaring through the sky — A Bald eagle shows its massive full wingspan as it soars through the clear blue sky above the beautiful Alaskan Wilderness. The graceful bird uses its mighty wings to catch pockets of wind as it flies over the land. An average American Bald Eagle has a full wingspan that around is five feet long.

This gorgeous photo of a bald eagle in-flight would be perfect for a motivational poster or as a visual and symbolic representation of freedom. Image available for licensing and stock sales.

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Record number of Bald Eagles in the Trees

An incredible number of bald eagles (68) perched in the trees on the Chilkat River in Haines, Alaska.

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Three Eagles fight over salmon

Tug of War - These three eagles are fighting over the scraps of salmon left on the bank of the Chilkat River in Alaska.

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Wild Bald eagle close up

I was so lucky to have this eagle land about 15 feet from me and let me photograph it. Please take a moment to look at the detail and texture in its eyes.

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Bald Eagle Coming in Fast

Coming in Fast - This Bald Eagle makes an aggressive landing in the Chilkoot river enjoying the late salmon run of silvers. The American Bald Eagle converges on the sleepy town of Haines, Alaska, each fall. Thousands of eagles will flock to the Chilkat River to feed on its late Salmon run.

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Bald Eagle flying in front of amazing orange sunrise

This sunrise provided the perfect backdrop to capture this majestic bird soaring through the air. This photograph has an almost impossible, ethereal quality to it. The hazy orange background was created through a combination of morning fog and the high latitude in Alaska, along with a subtle depth-of-field effect applied by the photographer.

This bald eagle picture gives the illusion of an eagle flying in front of a wildfire. We were very lucky to capture this unique picture of a bald eagle in flight. The background differentiates this shot from all other eagle in-flights that we have taken.

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Bald Eagle in flight with Blue Mountain background

Morning Stroll - Bald Eagles make their way from their night time perch to the river banks each morning in order to feed on the bountiful salmon.

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Bald Eagle perched in evergreen with fog

Bald eagle atop an evergreen tree against a foggy mountain background. This mature bald eagle is perched at the apex of a tree, looking stately as it views the wilderness around.

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Bald Eagle talons locked at Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

Two bald eagles lock talons in the snowy Alaskan wilderness at Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. "Talon clasping" or "cartwheel display" is a unique behavior exhibited by bald eagles. Eagles will clasp talons inflight and spin down to the ground, letting go just before landfall. It is a thrilling sight to behold as eagles can reach speeds of 30 mph during flight and dive at speeds upwards of 100 mph. This act may be part of a courtship ritual, as bald eagles select their partner. Or it may be an act of territorialism, proclaiming who rules the roost. Action shots like this are seen often on our photography workshops to the Chilkat River Valley.

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Eagle Soaring with Salmon in Talons

Soaring with Supper - An American Bald Eagle takes flight with a light salmon snack on the Chilkat river in Haines, Alaska.

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Grizzly Bear Attacks Bald Eagle in Alaska

A large Grizzly Bear attacks a Bald Eagle in Alaska. Grizzly Bears do not regularly hunt bald eagles. This bear may have simply been playing; amusing itself idly rather than actually attempting to hunt.

This is one of the only photos ever of a grizzly bear attacking a bald eagle. This unique image was captured in Alaska, a habitat where both species are found in abundance.

This grizzly bear chasing the bald eagle wears a goofy smile on his face, lending the scene a playful appearance. The bald eagle is much too fast and alert to be captured by a grizzly bear.

Bald eagles are surprisingly large and fierce birds. Eagles are actually observed attacking bears more often than grizzly bears attacking eagles.

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Juvenile Bald Eagle Closeup

A young Bald Eagle poses for the photographer. This eagle sat for hours very close to me allowing close-up images of its beautiful feathers. Juvenile bald eagles are easily identifiable by their completely brown coats. A young bald eagle will keep its brown feathers until it is three to five years old. When it reaches full maturity, the brown feathers will molt and snow white feathers will grow in on the bird's head and tail.

Bird photographed on location and in its natural habitat in Southeast Alaska.

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Leucistic Bald Eagle in Flight

White Tips in Flight - We were so happy to meet "White Tips" again this year. We photographed this beautiful bird in 2010 on the Chilkoot River and were happy to see it on the Chilkat River this year. This unique eagle is very identifiable due to leucism that causes its wing tips and talons to be white instead of dark.

Leucism is another genetic condition which is very closely related to albinism. Leucism causes an absence of all skin pigments, not just melanin. Leucism is caused by a mutation in the c-kit, mitf, or EDNRB genes. Just like albinism, the effect of leucism is to drain all color from a creature. Oddly enough, leucism will not affect yellow hues.

The condition can appear in many sorts of animals, including birds, fish, and reptiles. In birds, leucism can manifest either partially or completely. A completely leucistic bald eagle would have pure white plumage. An eagle with partial leucism can be described as pied or piebald, and has patches of white coloring.

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Screaming Eagle

Screaming eagle face closeup image at Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. This photo of a bald eagle face closeup shows this raptor as it vocalizes. Bald eagles make a high-pitched, shrill sound to communicate with other wildlife. The sounds on the Chilkat River during the Fall Congregation are incredible. That is when bald eagle concentrations are at their peak, and the noisy river valley is like being in the Times Square of Bald Eagles. Here this eagle is calling out to all who will listen about its fresh catch. Image captured on a recent photo tour near Haines, Alaska.

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Bald Eagle Climbing to the Top

Life on the edge - A bald eagle scales a branch before taking flight into the vast blue sky. The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782. It has also been a long time spiritual symbol for Native Americans. These illustrious birds are not really bald. Their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their golden-brown body and wings.

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Bald Eagle flying with mountains in background

The Morning Commute - What better combination of Alaskan mountain tops and a Bald Eagle. Watching the Bald Eagles as they fly from their overnight resting spot to feed on the salmon, its awe inspiring in this beautiful location just North of Haines, Alaska.

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Bald Eagle in flight closeup

A bald eagle banks hard with talons down ready for a fight. Image taken at the Bald Eagle Preserve in Alaska.

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Bald Eagle in flight with Salmon in Talons

Fast Food - A Bald Eagle takes the leftovers of a salmon from a competing eagle on the Chilkat river in Haines, Alaska. The American Bald Eagle converges on the sleepy town of Haines, Alaska, each fall. Thousands of eagles will flock to the Chilkat River to feed on its late Salmon run.

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Bald eagle mated pair perched

A screaming eagle with its mate sits on a conifer branch along the Chilkoot River. With the thick evergreen wilderness as the setting, this mated pair fill the forest with the sounds of eagle calls. Image captured near Haines.

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Bald Eagle on log with patterned trees in background

Brief Reprieve - While Alaska's landscape may be barren in the winter, there is still beauty to be had for those that seek it. This Bald Eagle was sunning itself on a log on a rare sunny day during this harsh November trip.

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Bald eagle perched in mossy tree

Bald eagle sitting on a mossy branch. This adult bald eagle is perched in a mossy tree gazing across the landscape. Image from Haines, Alaska.

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Bald Eagle silhouetted by moonlight

Bald Eagle silhouetted by moonlight — The shadowy silhouette of an American Bald Eagle is illuminated by the light of the full moon. The eagle perches on one of the many branches of a tree in front of the brightly-lit full moon on this bright spring night in Southeast Alaska.

Although it is the middle of the night, the tilt of the Earth's axis ensures that some sunlight leaks into the sky during transitional seasons. During Alaskan summer, there is a period when the sun never sets. During winter in Alaska, there is a period where the sun barely rises above the horizon.

The bald eagles don't much mind— bald eagles have incredible eyesight which works equally well in blinding sunlight or in the dark by moonlight.

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Bald Eagles attack in flight

Two eagles attack each other in flight. Notice the feathers in the shot, and the feathers in the talons of the lower eagle. Eagles will be very aggressive towards another each in order to steal its meal.

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Bald Eagles attack with talons

Two Bald Eagles attack each other with talons over scraps of fish.

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Bald Eagles fight over salmon scraps

On the snow covered bank of the Chilkat river, these eagles pull on the leftovers of a salmon. It almost looks as if it is an organized game with a referee in the middle.

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Bald Eagles Stages of Life

Stages of Life - One thing that always amazes us when we visit the Alaskan town of Haines, is the range of eagles that we see. From the left to the right, we see first an eagle that has fledged this year, second an eagle that has fledged within the past several years, third is an almost mature Bald Eagle and last is a mature Bald Eagle. Notice the coloring that distinguishes this magnificent bird during its life cycle.

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Closeup picture of a Bald Eagle Screaming

Chattering Away— This exceptional shot of a bald eagle screaming allows you to observe the ligature of the noble bird's mouth. Early in the morning you can hear these birds from miles away as the eagles scream back and forth at one another across the empty tundra.

One of our favorite things about watching the Bald Eagles is to hear the chatter and cries of thousands of birds mixing together on a cool clear day. This closeup of a bald eagle screaming is the closest you can get to the experience of listening to these birds without traveling to Alaska, where these American birds often gather en masse.

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Fluffed up Bald Eagle

Fluffed - As the wind blew on a cold Alaskan day, this Bald Eagle fluffed up his feathers on his perch overlooking the Chilkat river.

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Hundreds of Bald Eagles in the Trees

Hundreds of bald eagles perch in a stand of leafless trees. This huge gathering of bald eagles happens every year during the annual "salmon run," when the food supply in the rivers multiplies exponentially while salmon swim upstream to spawn. Every year during the salmon run, the wildlife habitat of the Chilkat Preserve in Haines, Alaska becomes overrun with hundreds of bald eagles, if not thousands.

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Juvenile Bald Eagle Crys in Tree

A Juvenile Bald Eagle cries out to the other eagles in the Bald Eagle preserve outside of Haines, Alaska.

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Juvenile Bald Eagle displaying feathers with outstretched wings

With an adult eagle in the background, this juvenile Bald Eagle fully spreads its outstretched wings.

This unique image perfectly captures the beautiful pattern which can only be found on young bald eagles. The plumage of juvenile birds is one way to tell their age, especially since they quickly grow to a size comparable to mature eagles. The white splotches visible here are generally hidden when the animal keeps its wings folded. The signature white hood and tail will grow in when the juvenile eagle reaches maturity.

Image taken on the Chilkat river outside of Haines, Alaska.

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Juvenile Bald Eagle in Spruce Tree

An immature Bald Eagle sits on the flighty branch of a loaded spruce tree bough. This juvenile eagle preferred to observe other eagles fishing, rarely venturing off its perch. The brown feathers and reluctant behavior are characteristic of a young bald eagle. Once this bald eagle matures, it will molt, shedding this shabby brown coat and growing sleek new white hood and tail feathers.

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Mated pair of eagles screaming

A pair of eagles screaming perched in an evergreen tree. Bald eagle vocalizations are characterized as weak screams or high pitched shrills and even giggles. Seen here along the Chilkoot Trail where the Tlingit tribe carved out a trade route through the rugged Alaskan terrain. The Tlingit people make up two groups in the Haines and Skagway area, the Chilkat and the Chilkoot, not to be confused. The bald eagles pictured here are a mated pair. Mating for life, bald eagles select a mate around the age of 4 or 5. Fairly impressive considering these raptors maintain a monogamous relationship to the ripe old age of 30 plus years.

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Six Bald Eagles on a Log

Eagle Six Pack - We were constantly amazed at the sheer raw numbers of Bald Eagles on the river flats. During one of the first snow storms of the season, we watched as the eagles eyed the freezing river for glimpses of the salmon beneath the ice.

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