
Who's Back There? -- Bald Eagle at Sitka, Alaska

by Darin Volpe
Title
Who's Back There? -- Bald Eagle at Sitka, Alaska
Artist
Darin Volpe
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A bald eagle perched on a pylon looks over it's shoulder in Sitka, Alaska.
The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782. The largest North American breeding populations are in Alaska and Canada, but there are also significant populations in the Great Lakes states, Florida, the Pacific Northwest, the Yellowstone area, and the Chesapeake Bay region. The name "bald eagle" comes from the old usage of the word "bald," meaning "white headed." Both male and female adults have the same plumage and are visually indistinguishable. Immature birds have mostly dark heads and tails, the remainder of the feathers are mottled brown and white. It takes about five years for eagles to attain the distinctive black and white appearance. Bald eagles live near lakes, rivers, marshes, and the coasts. Their diet consists mainly of fish, but they also eat waterfowl, shorebirds, small mammals, turtles, and carrion. Bald Eagles average lifespan in the wild is about 20 years. The oldest wild bald eagle on record died in 2015 at the age of 38.
The bald eagle is a sacred bird in some Native American cultures, and its feathers are central to many religious and spiritual customs. A few examples are: The Navajo Tradition, where an eagle feather is represented to be a protector; The Pawnee who considered the eagle to be a symbol of fertility; the Choctaw where the bald eagle is a symbol of peace. Current eagle feather law allows only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry who belong to a federally recognized tribe to poses or obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual use.
If you do not purchase framing, note that this print will fit uncropped into a 5"x4", 8"x10", 11"x14", and 16"x20" frame. It should also fit into a 20"x24" frame by cropping 1/2 inch from each long side, and a 5"x7" frame by cropping 1/4 inch from the short side.
Uploaded
August 14th, 2016
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Comments (9)

Tory Wilcox
Congratulations on your recognition! I especially like the meditation pose of the talon.

Brooks Garten Hauschild
Congratulations on placing 3rd in 'Your Best Bald Eagle’ contest with this amazing capture, Darin! My pleasure to host & jury the contest. FL

Gary F Richards
Outstanding composition, lighting, shading, color and artwork! F/L voted for this piece in the contest A ADULT EAGLE