15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Learning to Fly

A pair of eagles nested in this dead tree, visible on my drive to school and work in Fort Myers, FL. The young hatched in early January. My kids and I were able to watch this eagle family almost daily while the two babies grew, learned to fly, and left an empty nest. This photo was captured one eaglet lifting himself several feet in the air and dropping down repeatedly, just trying out his young wings.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2017
Date Uploaded: 07.2017
Photo Location: Fort Myers, Florida, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T6i
Copyright: © Kelly Sawczyn