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14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Bald eagle checking his catch in his talons

During a recent trip to the East Coast, three photographers told me about a place along the Susquehanna River in Maryland that I had to stop at to photograph bald eagles. I figured that if that many people told me about the location it must be worth a stop. Since it was only a couple of hours from where I was staying and it could be on the route back to Colorado I decided to head there on my way home. I wasn't disappointed. I spent the full day along the bank of the river photographing hundreds of bald eagles as they dove for fish coming up from the waters churned by the dam. This bald eagle, after catching its meal, readjusted the fish in its talons and then did one last check to verify his catch was secure before taking off to a nearby perch to eat the meal.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2016
Photo Location: Darlington, Maryland, United States of America
Copyright: © Dawn Wilson
Awards
Photo of the Day: 02.21.17
Editor's Pick