No need to identify this bird...

[HappyCynic]

Here's one in flight


Here are two crops of the bald eagle perched. The first is a tight crop that highlights the bird itself.


I'm not completely sure why but I kinda like this crop (which is pretty close to the photo direct from the camera.


Which crop do you prefer and why?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I like the tight crop...

Because the bird is so magnificent!

That's all I really want to see...

In the first picture, what are the things dangling from the legs?

It looks like the eagle belongs to someone...?

Beautiful shots!

[HappyCynic]

2. These were taken at...

These were taken at Grouse Mountain, a local mountain that's a bit of a tourist attraction. There's a bird show several times daily. There a a few red tailed hawks, a peregrine falcon, and this eagle. They were born and raised in captivity. The show is actually pretty short. They first bring out the hawks (individually) and they fly between a few perches, flying very low over the audience (don't have a shot of that unfortunately). The first falcon flew up to a electrical tower (the large metal ones that are used for electrical lines in the countryside) and stayed for a few minutes while they tried to coax it down. After flying for a bit, they reward it with some food, then take out the peregrine falcon. It flies for a bit and tags a moving target, after which it gets rewarded.
Last is the eagle. It has it the easiest. It get to fly for a while, then land on a perch. The trainer then puts in on a central perch and lets people take photos of it (which is where I took the second shot). The things dangling from the legs is the rope you see by the feet in the second shot. It's used to tie up to the glove the trainer wears. The birds apparently are allowed to roam quite often and have transmitters on their feet (15 km range - approximately 9 miles) so if they do fly away (during or outside of a performance), they can find them again.

Incidentally, I heard the eagle's cry for the first time and really understand why movies use the cry of a red tailed hawk. Bald eagles sound more like they're chirping. It's definitely not an intimidating sound.

I'll try to post some additional photos. I don't have much in way of shots of the birds - they're really fast and hard to capture, even in a somewhat controlled situation.

[DrDan]

3. first - I find those proportions a bit more pleasing

[handmade34]

4. no questioning why the eagle

is our national bird (though I do love turkeys). The first crop is my favorite but really the focus is so on the bird, either works.

[HappyCynic]

9. Thanks.

Hope you'll enjoy the close-up posted in another reply.

[Mira]

5. I'm the contrarian today, I like the second crop better

it gives more context and suggests a bit more "freedom". In the second one I can more easily imagine him spreading his wings and flying away.
I like how you presented these.
:)

[HappyCynic]

8. Thanks for the insight

Thanks. Like NV Whino, you've helped give me some insight for why the second shot appeals to me.

Here's a shot of the peregrine falcon, coming in for a landing.

[NV Whino]

10. I love peregrines!

We had one nesting in our pine trees for several years. A red shouldered hawk seems to have taken over that location these days. The Palisades up in Calistoga is one of the premier breeding grounds for peregrines so we see a lot of them around here.

[NV Whino]

6. I like the second crop

It gives a sense of place, and I like the balance with a bit more perch showing. If you want to crop, crop in tight on the head. All the shots are wonderful, though. What a treat to see this magnificent bird up close.

[HappyCynic]

7. Close up crop...

Thanks for helping me understand why the second appeals to me. Here's a close up of the head. It's a tight crop from another photo - for a close-up, I like the tilt of the head better in this one as compared to the photo in the original post.

[NV Whino]

11. What a regal eagle!

[Canuckistanian]

12. That's good

I liked your first crop better, though. A much better use of space and contributing detail.