Amateur photographer Steve Biro never expected to catch such a stunning photo of a bald eagle. Even more unexpected for him was the internet’s response, as the photo went viral. (1)
Close Encounters with a Bald Eagle
Biro was observing a bald eagle named Bruce at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario when he caught the shot. He took several hundred photos of Bruce that day. (1)
There was a group of several photographers with Biro. Generally, the birds aren’t bothered by photographers. But Biro said that Bruce seemed annoyed with where he had set up his camera.
“He was actually trying to brush me away from where I was perched,” he said to the BBC. “I could feel the breeze from his wings as he flew over me. The other people who were there were gasping as he came over my head. It was really quite exhilarating.” (1)
Biro moved from the rock where he was sitting. As soon as he did that, Bruce the bald eagle flew over and perched in the same spot. (1)
The Perfect Shot
The hobby photographer managed to photograph Bruce as he flew over the water with his wings extended perfectly symmetrically. It makes for a stunning picture of a powerful bird. (1)
“He’s squared up perfectly, both wings are touching the water,” Biro told BBC News. “That [photograph] was the one that struck me as a little more special than the others. But I still didn’t even know how it would resonate with people.” (1)
Bald Eagle Goes Viral
Biro posted his photograph of Bruce on some Facebook photography groups. People began sharing the photo, and it went viral. The picture ended up on the front page of Reddit. And media around the world have shared stories about it. (1)
Biro has been taking photos as a hobby for about ten years. He likes how photography gives him a fresh perspective of the world, “like I’m a child again,” he told BBC News.”I try to look at it like I’m in awe of it all the time, and in wonder of it.” (1)
He loves taking photos of anything and everything. But Biro enjoys photographing birds in particular. (1)
“There’s something about birds that to me is captivating,” Biro said to BBC News. “The way they hunt, the way they interact. Sometimes you’ll see them do things. They’ll be playful, just like children. It’s amazing how you’ll see aspects of humanity in birds – and in animals overall.” (1)
Bald Eagles in the Wild
The national bird of the United States, the bald eagle can be found across North America. Their most ample numbers are in Alaska and Canada. Bald eagles prefer to live near water and often choose coastal and lake habitats. They are birds of prey who fish with their talons, but they are not opposed to eating carrion or taking prey caught by other animals. (2)
The bald eagle is an example of successful conservation efforts. At one time, they were considered endangered in the United States. But hunting bans and restrictions of the use of DDT have allowed their numbers to strengthen since the 1970s. (2)