Home»Llano River Bald Eagles 2011-2012

Visitors 692

Modified 14-Jul-24

Created 19-Nov-11

296 photos

This is a culmination of more than 3700 photos taken over a 5 month period. Twenty-seven trips to the nest between 3 October 2011 - 1 March 2012, 3439 miles, 54 hours of driving, 181 gallons ($602.73) of 87 octane, and more than 200 man/hours of photo/slide editing.
In this brief (17 minutes) slideshow you will witness nest building, flying, falling, soaring, takeoffs, landings, perching, preening, pooping and mating. See the little gray heads of the young about two weeks after they hatch and are strong enough to move around. See adults delivering a bounty of fish and an occasional water turtle. Witness the growth of the young from several ounces at birth to the size of an adult (10-12 lbs) by the tender age of 11 weeks. Watch them grow week by week, watch them fall, watch them exercise new wings, watch them fledge and soar.
Enjoy the antics of the adults turning topsy-turvy as they attempt to pluck twigs and small limbs from trees while in flight. If their judgment is off, and routinely it is, they hang on with their talons and recover gracefully while returning to normal flight, sometimes with the limb, sometimes without. See almost every conceiveable position an eagle and/or its wings can assume while maneuvering. View them at a distance .. see them close up ... see them eye-to-eye. The viewing area is 92 yards from the nest ... the average shot is between 80-140+ yards, depending on the activity they're engaged in.
These spectacular displays of these magnificent raptors are peppered with a few shots of my favorite local birdwatchers and photographers.

A special "Semper Fi" to retired Marine, and close friend, Don Reese, for sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of Bald Eagles and providing several exceptional shots of "fish deliveries" on days I could not be on the scene. May he rest in peace as he soars with magnificent raptors.

Charles (Don) Reese, 71, of Austin, Texas, formerly of Los Alamos, N.M., passed away suddenly on Nov. 2, 2012. Don was born in Camden, Ark. on Oct. 3, 1941. His family moved to White Rock in 1957. Don graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1959. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps prior to hiring on at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Don retired from LANL after forty-two years as an engineering tech.
Don was preceded in death by his father William Reese and brother Kenneth Reese. Don is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Eric and Stephanie Reese; his daughter and son-in-law Melissa and Travis Ireland; his daughter Tracey Salazar; and his grandchildren Katy Reese, Jake Ireland and Brett Ireland. He is also survived by his mother Margaret Reese; and brothers Larry Reese and wife Lily, and Doug Reese and wife Cheryl.
Don will be remembered for his incredible generosity and infectious sense of humor. The last few years of his life, Don could be found in the Texas hill country photographing bald eagles and other wildlife. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Audubon Society.

Published in Los Alamos Monitor from November 9 to November 11, 2012

"West Texas"
~ Doug Smith ~

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Guestbook for Llano River Bald Eagles 2011-2012

Shyamala Rao(non-registered)

This collection is one of the best collection of pictures of the Bald Eagles at nest building and child rearing. It is an education to go through the entire series. Thank you for taking the pictures and a bigger thanks for sharing them with us. It is generous to allow us to view these pictures.

Marisa Pier(non-registered)

Such a beautiful collection! Great journaling and fantastic shots! Thanks for sharing the joy :)

Pink Floyd(non-registered)

All eagle sites are important and informative. Thank-you for sharing your wonderful pictures.

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