Great Glider

Eagles possess remarkably long and large wings, a notably short neck, and legs that are short enough to tuck neatly into their belly feathers while they soar gracefully through the sky, except when they are engaged in fishing activities. Their impressive wingspan is not only long and wide enough to support their own body weight but also to carry the weight of most fish that they successfully catch. Flapping such substantial wings demands a significant amount of energy, much like the effort involved in running with a large kite until it finally takes flight on the wind! Two dedicated scientists who conducted extensive studies on eagles, Jon M. Gerrard and Gary R. Bortolotti, noted that "Eagles are capable of sustained flapping flight, but they usually spend very little time engaging in it." During a particular month when they intensively observed a female eagle named Cindy, she averaged less than 2 minutes of flapping flight per hour. This finding is not surprising when one considers the considerable expenditure of energy required by the powerful pectoral and supracoracoid muscles that control those massive wings. The energy required to keep a bird aloft in flat soaring or gliding flight is drastically less, perhaps one-twentieth or even less of the power necessary for flapping, which explains why eagles instinctively prefer to soar or glide whenever the opportunity arises.

While sitting in the comfort of my backyard, I caught sight of an eagle soaring off in the distance. It appeared as just a tiny speck in the vast sky, but I quickly noticed its striking bright white head and tail feathers. Eager to capture the moment, I grabbed my camera in case it flew my way. To my delight, the eagle was soaring high in the air but soon began gliding toward me. From what must have been nearly half a mile away, this magnificent raptor effortlessly glided past my house. With its impressive wingspan spread wide and without any need for flapping, I was left in awe of the remarkable distance it covered while using so little energy. Eagles have always held a special place in my heart, and the more I observe and learn about them, the deeper my respect grows for this incredible and majestic creature.

Location: Erie, Colorado