This is the American Bald Eagle. Just look at the huge wing span and the thriller of a LOOK. Eagles are such fascinating birds and clearly the alpha ones in the bird category. Why? Perhaps because they instill some sort of fear which the big cats tend to do. I remember as a kid to be terrified on seeing an eagle soaring in the sky, especially when we friends used to be playing on the terrace. We were told that an eagle has the strength to hold onto a kid in its strong claw like legs and fly off. Scary stuff!!! And we were indeed scared. As soon as we spotted one, we used to run inside the house and call it a day. End of the days play.

As I got older that fear turned to awe. I believe eagles are the most handsome birds - if there ever is such a thing. They have an aura and that's what captured me in this photograph. Hence I had to draw it, to crystallize this magnificent creature in one of my pencil creations.

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Original photo credit : David Yarrow