TomKal foto

Shooting such a large bird of prey is always exciting. It is really a beautiful bird, although I was not sure if I was dealing with one or two species. Such large variability prompted me to verify the name of species. The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest Australian bird of prey. Its weight may exceed 5 kilograms and a wingspan 2.5 meters, supposedly even some specimens were measured which wingspan was 2.8 meters. Physically very similar to our white-tailed eagle. The biggest difference, in my view, is the way the pictures were taken. While we were driving through the bush every now and then carrion of  whiptail wallabies and kangaroos could be seen. On roads where a car is a real rarity an accident happens so easily, especially at dawn and dusk. When nearly 50 meters long three-unit lorries gather speed there is no chance for drivers to brake the vehicle seeing an animal on the road. Birds of prey benefit from the effects of such collisions, and this is why it did not take long to find them. It is interesting that the eagle allowed to take photos, even though it had noticed us earlier it did not take its wings off the ground. The desire to finish an easy meal was stronger. Such situation could not take place in Poland, even in harsh winter conditions the sea eagle would fly away making it impossible to take pictures. So in Poland it is hard to take good photos without lookouts, but in Australia - who knows? Of course, the quality of these images differ from those made in the lookouts, in which the birds often are presented with beautiful forest in the background. Here in Australia I was always had the sky in the background. Watching in traditional way with not too much camouflaging would be possible, especially since in the area of tens kilometers it was no problem to find a decoy for eagles. But such shooting brings other questions and concerns. How long could we last when the temperature indicated in the shade was 30, 35 degrees and whether other animals, which could prove to be dangerous for human beings, would like to hide in the same shadows as well? But let us leave these questions for the future, till the next attempts of shooting Australian eagles ;-). And for sure it would be worth trying because they are beautiful, majestic and powerful birds. As I mentioned it with ravens, Wedge-tailed eagles also are harassed by them, as they do not tolerate eagles’ company. Of course they keep  distance and always approach from behind, as it befits "courageous" birds and they are restless in the pestering.  The Wedge-tailed Eagle belongs to the family Accipitridae. During the mating season the birds perform amazing stunts in the air, including playing "chicken". Coupled with their claws they dive down towards the ground making circles. The first to break free and fly away - loses. It is quite surprising, especially when you can see birds that fall into trees risking injury, what for them means only one – the worse. I wish I had seen it and photographed, but it requires a completely different resources and time commitment. So for now I present a few pictures of this beautiful, the largest Australian bird predator.