5 replies to this topic

[goofy166]

Steller's Sea-Eagle

[Liam]

Incredible illustration, Mitch!

[lyceel]

Here's a captive Steller's Sea Eagle I saw at the San Diego Zoo back in 2003...

[ConstanceSidles]

Your gorgeous photo brought back some happy memories. Several years ago, I went on an expedition to Siberia in order to see Steller's Sea Eagles. I was part of a group of birders that included an ABA contingent, one from VENT, and one led by Debbie Shearwater. We were motoring up a river in our Zodiac rafts when someone shouted there was a sea eagle standing on the shore. Everyone's binoculars swiveled over to the shoreline, including mine, and pretty soon, I heard little oh's of wonder all around me. Unfortunately, I was not on the bird. I searched frantically, thinking this might be my one chance in life to see a sea eagle. Nothing. I looked at where everyone's binoculars were pointing and tried to line mine up the same way. No good. All I could see was a Common Raven. Finally, I swallowed my pride and said, "Where are you looking? I can't see anything but a raven." Someone kindly answered, "The eagle is just three meters to the left of the raven." I moved my binoculars accordingly and wham! There was the bird, standing as big as a bronze bank statue. I had passed over it repeatedly because my mind simply could not process a bird as big as that.

[Photgog]

Steller's Sea-Eagle

[JimBob]

The beak in the illustration is huge! Are they really that big?