#10466

This juvenile Wedgetailed eagle had just been attacked by two mature birds of the same species.

It had fallen into the river and would probably have stayed there (and drowned when it reached the rougher Pieman River a few hundred yards away) if we hadn't approached in our boat.

Eagles are supposed to be regal birds soaring on the wind, not bedraggled and neck deep in a river. The scene was quite surreal, but to far away to photograph with the lens I had available.

As we neared it swam to the shore with an ungainly breast stroke, hauled itself from the river, and clutched a branch just out of the water.

It obligingly stayed there for several minutes, then, with its composure regained, it strutted off into the undergrowth with a typical eagle-style, hands-behind-the-back swagger.

Donaldson River, Tarkine Wilderness, Tas

Technical: Canon F1N, 85mm
Keywords: wedgetailed eagle juvenile bird river drowned pieman regal wind bedraggled breast stroke branch water undergrowth style donaldson tarkine wilderness tas wedgie eaglehawk wildlife nature rainforest eagles tasmania wedge tailed birds:eagles hawks