Autumn - eagle display
Autumn in Canberra is just getting brighter and better every day at the moment. Crisp clear light with far away views, like this one from Black Mountain across the city and lake to the distant hills.
And the Wedge-tailed Eagles are making the best of the weather for their autumn displays. Like this male over Mount Ainslie on the edge of the city.
He was with his partner, but no youngster from last year as this pair never bred. Although I have seen other pairs still with their last year's offspring, it won't be long til they move on and find their own way in life. For all this recent display activity is part of the eagles' bonding and territorial claim for the upcoming breeding season - they will lay eggs in July here in Canberra.
This pair were soaring over a wooded ridge, but there wasn't much wind so the display was a bit casual. The female was circling quite low while the male rose up, then as he stalled to a stop he would tilt over into a dive.
He tucked his wings in and charged on down, always in perfect control even when so tightly folded.
When he saw fit, he simply and easily turned up out of the dive and opened his wings to catch the wind, then he climbed back up to a high point and repeated several times. As it was quite a still day, the pair eventually dropped to perch in a tree. The best displays are done in breezy conditions.
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