Eagle and Ice

Thank You for the Icy Flyby

Although it came up empty-taloned on its first pass over the frozen Mississippi River, the next attempt was successful, rewarded with a quick shad snack in the bitter cold. With the sun breaking through and sheets of ice drifting below, it was a striking scene to watch one of the bald eagles circle low over the river—perfectly timed to frame the moment against the textured winter water.

Field Note:

Each winter, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, conducts systematic bald eagle counts near locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. These surveys help monitor eagle populations and seasonal behavior and are conducted at 8:30 a.m. every Wednesday, with results published publicly. (Source: US Army Corps of Engineers)

Many of these moments eventually find their way into the Fine Art Print Store, where a curated selection of images is available for collectors.