On an outing in Siouxland I visited the Lee G. Simmons Conservation and Wildlife Safari Park near Ashland, NE. It’s a drive through park where one can get up close and personal to some animals. There are areas one can park and step outside the vehicle which makes it a little easier taking photos that trying to do the same in the car.
The bald eagle enclosure keeps the birds in, but a fenced gate/doorway allows visitors inside the enclosure where one is within a football field 30-yard line distance from these incredible birds. I have seen them in the wild flying about and fishing and able to get close enough to photograph them clearly. And heard them call while flying, but I had never seen them calling up close and personal.
There seems to be varying ages of eagles at the safari park. Most times these birds have been found injured and rehabilitation was not able to restore them to the wild to continue their life. One bird in particular seemed much older, with a feather growing out of its beak or some point around it. Making me remember aged aunts and grandmothers who also occasionally sported whiskers as they got older.
When I think about it, I become a little sad knowing these birds once flew hundreds of miles soaring above the earth and making their way in the world until some unfortunate accident that now requires them to live in captivity. Maybe remembering their days of youth and freedom and watching the world pass below from their perch on high.
Jerry Mennenga
Sioux City, Iowa
lostinsiouxland 
Great eagle shots Jerry! I heard an eagle yesterday while kayaking , but it was too far away and did not linger long. The eagle in the second picture looks like he has had a rough day!
I think the one eagle is probably much older. To me it appears it has “chin whiskers”, the feathers appearing around its beak, like I remember some older female relatives having. But it sure could makes its “voice” heard. It was awesome.
Their voices do carry. Many times I hear them before I see them.