Golden Eagle flying over a hill on Antelope Island – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It has been a couple of years since I have found a Golden Eagle on Antelope Island so when I spotted an adult on a grassy hill yesterday I was excited. What drew my eyes to the eagle was a pair of Common Ravens that were harassing it. The ravens flew towards the west leaving the eagle perched alone on top of the hill.
I wish the Golden Eagle had been a little bit closer to the road but when the large, dark eagle with the golden nape lifted off from the grassy slope I didn’t need to worry about clipping its wings. I took a nice series of the eagle in flight then a few more images as it turned and landed back on top of the hill.
Golden Eagles prey on small to medium sized mammals which include jackrabbits and cottontails. Over the years I have seen fewer rabbits at the park and I suspect that may be part of the reason I have seen fewer of these eagles on my trips to the island. The Golden Eagles will move to new hunting grounds if they don’t find sufficient prey.
American Bison portrait in front of the Great Salt Lake – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I also saw several herds of American Bison on the island yesterday. One herd had a few calves, one herd was primarily bulls of varying ages, and some were way out in the distance in grassy slopes. I photographed bison in two of the herds and was very pleased with this portrait of an American Bison with the Great Salt Lake in the background.
I feel that I should note that the Great Salt Lake is drying up and has been for several years. If I had taken this image during the first couple of years I lived in Utah the background in this image would have been all water. Instead the layers in the background of this photo shows water and the exposed lake bottom because the lake level is so low. With our drought, lack of normal snowpack in the mountains this winter, and wasteful water consumption upstream in the rivers that feed this terminal lake the water levels will only drop lower this summer.
It was a beautiful, sunny morning on the island yesterday. I was delighted to have spotted the Golden Eagle and to have had the American Bison in my viewfinder too.
Life is good.
Mia
To view more of my Golden Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species click here. To see more of my American Bison photos plus information about the bison click here.
A buffalo and a Golden Eagle…it doesn’t get much more American than that! The pics, as always, are stunning. To echo your other contributors…I really love the Buffalo portrait. Thanks Mia.
Your note about the GSL drying up is truly a sad story and very troubling. Here in SoCal we have a microcosm of the same problem. The Salton Sea drying up. It used to be a huge wildlife refuge but now once enormous fish populations are nearly extinct and an incredible inventory of migratory birds has virtually disappeared. Unfortunately the politicians in California are more interested in funding the abortive “Bullet Train to Nowhere” than repairing the damage done to our precious waterways and habitats. Hopefully the new Administration will place renewed emphasis on protecting and restoring our environment. We’ll see…
In the 1950s I recall seeing TV ads for investing in development around the Salton Sea. Check out this site: saltonsea.com
Nice images Mia. I am glad you commented on the late Great Salt Lake disappearing before our eyes. From the Bountiful foothills it looks like a bunch of puddles! Drought is only part of the problem since most of the loss takes place up-stream, which is due to development for population growth.
Two great photos and wonderful commentary. Always nice to learn from you. Thank you
You hit the highlights of Antelope Island well. Wonderful composition on the bison shot.
Thank you…for both
What a wonderful morning.
I am so sorry that the Great Salt Lake is disappearing though. Water IS life.
Wonderful find, so nice to see eagles on the island again. I wondered if the reason we are seeing more coyotes on the island is the reason for less rabbits on the island. I bet the two coyotes in Farmington Bay have wondered off the island for food now the rabbit population seems to have dropped. I am hoping the coyotes survive in Farmington Bay, maybe they will keep the ever growing population of raccoons down. As you know there is a balance to any ecosystem and many of ours are out of wack.
Stunning photos Mia