Simon Cherriman, An Eye for Eagles (ANIMAL & NATURE 2022)

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest raptor in Australia and a creature that typifies the outback when seen riding thermal air currents in the outback. Usually seen by most people as specks in the sky when spied from below, I have been fortunate to encounter eagles up close during research projects I have carried out in WA for many years. In this entry I wanted to showcase the power and vulnerability of eagles with 4 quite different images: as gracious predators that as monogamous pairs effortlessly drift above this vast continent; as 'tree-dwelling' nesters that must come down close to earth to breed in the canopy of giant Eucalypt trees; and as tiny, dependent nestlings that, at just over a week old, struggle to crane their necks upwards towards their parents for the next feed. The final image shows a regal adult female with her 6-week old eaglet that is fast approaching its mother in size. It will fledge at 12 weeks but won't likely reach her status as a breeding resident for at least 6 years. (Note: all photos have been taken from hides or during brief nest visits carried out with the appropriate Animal Welfare and Wildlife Research Licenses).

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.