Kentucky Photographer Captures Stunning Eagle Photos on the Ohio River
It's bald eagle nesting season, and I have been hooked on watching live cameras from Pittsburgh to California. Being able to see these majestic birds in real-time as they build their nests, bring home "take-out" to snack on, and lay their eggs. I haven't seen any eggs hatch yet, but I check every morning!
Watch Bald Eagle Live Stream Here
My friend Chris Conley is an Owensboro-based photographer who has an incredible eye for anything that flies.
I met him last year during the Owensboro Air Show when he documented the action-packed weekend, including my flight in a Team Aeroshell trick plane! Definitely a bucket list moment I will never forget.
Watch Owensboro Air Show Bucket List Moment
Well, Chris and his lovely wife found a Bald Eagle nest down along the Ohio River which they visit to see what the mama and daddy are up to. Here is a picture of Chris standing by the tree to give you some perspective. The nest is waaaaaay up there! Ain't nobody messing with these eagles.
They kept a very close eye on the Conleys. Chris joked, "Glad these birds ain’t dinosaurs…. I’d be dead right now."
Being a photographer, of course, Chris had to take his camera along and I'm so glad he did.
These are so stunning. Just bald eagles doing what they do, but it's magical to watch
Chris said "Most of these pics are of the female in which she gets after the male after he comes back with no food. She pretty much tells him "You ain't done yet, get out there and get us something to eat!"
"At one point a couple of crows came by to harass and cause trouble. That didn't last long once she had enough. One other funny thing.... There's a squirrel living not 50 feet away with not a care in the world. Up and down the tree he went and she never even gave him a glance. Seems like they have some kind of agreement worked out."
He was also able to capture a really cool sequence of photos as the male eagle is returning to the nest so the mama eagle can go "find vittles" as Chris put it. The eagle has a bit of an "oopsie" while trying to stick his landing on a tree branch. Look!
You can see the "oh no" moment in his eyes here:
What a majestic recovery!! These birds are absolutely beautiful. No wonder they are America's National Bird.
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Gallery Credit: Nicole Caldwell