Pic of the Day

     Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus: Homer, Alaska – Bald Eagles are one of my favorite birds to photograph (see March 20, 2010 post). This bird was one of many eagles I photographed over a ten day stay on Homer Spit. I shot more than 5000 images during my stay and most of them were keepers. The great concentration of eagles on the Spit occurred for one reason, and that reason was the late Jean Keene. Jean, an ex rodeo star, fed more than 500 pounds of fish a day to at least 300 eagles during the winter months for over 20 years. Feeding eagles at Homer became a controversial topic and the city of Homer band the feeding of eagles and other scavengers in 2006; but Jean was given special permission to continue feeding the birds until 2010. Jean passed away in 2009, and now all feeding of eagles has ceased. Jeans love for eagles provided many photographers a great opportunity to photograph these magnificent birds up close, and I am fortunate to have been one of the photographers to do so. All my trips to Alaska hold great memories, and the times I have spent on Homer Spit photographing eagles ranks among the best.

Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f/4, Ilford film @100 ISO

Pic of the Day

     Lesser Yellowlegs – Homer, Alaska: Lesser Yellowlegs are commonly seen on mudflats here in North Alabama during migration and have long been a target for my camera. They arrive in March for a few weeks then continue north, some wing all the way to Alaska to nest in wetlands that boarder lakes and ponds, as well as the open tundra. I found this bird and its mate at the north end of Beluga Lake in Homer, Alaska. Yellowlegs are extremely wary, and difficult to approach on foot when they are migrating. But, on their nesting grounds they are fierce, and guard their territory with an aggressive tenacity. As I walked into the wetlands of Beluga Lake I was immediately met with this yellowlegs. It flew directly to me and alighted on top of a small tree less than 20 feet away and began scolding me. I quickly position my self so that I would have spruce trees across the lake as my background and hurriedly shot a couple of rolls of film. After about 5 minutes of shooting I retreated........ surrendering to the threats of the Lesser Yellowlegs.

Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f4 with 1.4 teleconverter - Kodachrome 64

Pic of the Day

     Bald Eagle - Homer, Alaska: Perhaps the best place I have ever been to photograph bald eagles was Homer, Alaska. I traveled to Homer a number of years ago to meet the late Jean Keene and photograph eagles from her Homer Spit, compound. I arrived late in the day in March. Snow was still on the ground as I drove out the spit to find Jean's campground complex, but tempratures were very mild. When I arrived on the spit I saw half a dozen eagles. It was incredible to see so many eagles in one place, but I had no idea what was in store for me.
Early the next morning I arrived at Jean's, and after a brief introduction she showed me where I could set-up my camera. More importantly, I could not believe the number of eagles before me. As I scanned the area around Jean's trailer at least 300 eagles were soaring in the air above, perched on the ground, and on driftwood in front of me. Jean fed eagles daily during the winter and birds came from miles around to feed on the fish parts that she had strewn around her compound. For the first half hour it was difficult shooting, that is, it was hard deciding which eagle to photograph with so many before me. It was also difficult to isolate a single bird to photograph without getting portions of other birds in the frame. However, after ten days of shooting and 4,800 photographs later, I had all the images I could have wished for. As long as I live, photographing eagles in Homer, Alaska will always be one of my favorite photography adventures, and memories. Bobby