The bald eagle soars at an altitude of 10,000 ft. They can achieve speeds of 65 mph in level flight and 150 mph in a dive. In the wild they may live as long as 30 yrs. Once paired, they remain together for life.
Eagles are renowned for their excellent eyesight. They see forward and to the sides at the same time. An eagle’s eye is almost the same size as ours but its resolution is estimated to be 4 or 5 times better.
Once worshipped, the eagle reached the brink of extinction. On June 2007 the Interior Department took the American Bald Eagle off the endangered species list.
Today, making a comeback, the Tahoe Basin averages about 20 bald eagles during the winter months.
Majestically flying high over the Sierras, wind torn trees are the birthright of the bald eagle.
As we were leaving Lake Tahoe, an imminent snow storm was in the forecast. Even now fog blended the snows into the sky.
Winding our way thru the pass, we came upon this incredible scene. Despite knowing the roads would soon be snowed in, I was so captivated that I pulled to the side and photographed this old weathered tree. I etched the feel of the moment in my mind. Snows closed the roads 20 minutes after we left.
In the luminous painting, the fog lifts. We see headlights from cars hurrying over the pass to escape the coming storm.
The eagle became the National emblem in 1782 when the great seal of the United States was adopted.