Banner image plus all article images courtesy of Charlie Baughman
Fly Like An Eagle (or PeregrinE)—It Helped This Wildlife Photographer at Smith Rock
August 19, 2020
Charlie Baughman has been photographing the Bald Eagle nest at Smith Rock State Park for the last 5 years and the Peregrine Falcon nest for 3 years. We reached out to him last month after we were captivated by his image of the Peregrine Falcon chicks featured in the banner image of this article. The images he sent back were equally mesmerizing. We wanted to know the story behind the pictures. Charlie filled us in.
Charlie Baughman in one of his happy places.
“I fly gliders and I use the same techniques as soaring birds. This background helps me understand what the birds are trying to do in different conditions or situations and the techniques they use. Some of the techniques birds use to do their thing are just amazing to me. ”
I started buying and using serious equipment when I noticed an Eagle nest near my house in 2012. I was very excited about living close to Eagles because I have always loved watching birds, as I too have been flying and soaring most of my life. In the image below I flew up to a meteorological condition called a thermal wave that I had never done before.The rising air had strong lift but was super smooth like a wave. I got above the clouds and took pictures with a camera on my left wingtip. My glider shadow on a cloud forms a circular rainbow called a Glory. It felt like heaven.
Charlie’s Atos VR rigid wing hang glider.
An adult Bald Eagle flying at Smith Rock State Park.
All types of birds have some refined flying skills that enable them to survive in their environment. Even the lowly Rock Pigeon has incredible flying skills.
The Peregrine Falcon is quite impressive. It is so fast you have to see it to believe it. I was fortunate to catch a few images of the local Peregrine Falcon attacking a Red-tailed Hawk. The Falcon made 4 diving passes at the Hawk with one pass right after another. The last pass was very close but no contact was made. The Falcon nest is a long distance from the rim, so I have very few images worth showing. The Hawk nest is very close to the Falcon nest. Both the Hawk and Falcon nest fledged 3 juveniles.
A Peregrine Falcon comes in to make one of 4 diving passes at a Red-tailed Hawk at Smith Rock State Park.
The Peregrine Falcon comes in very close on his diving pass at a Red-tailed Hawk at Smith Rock State Park.
The Bald Eagle nest fledged 2 juveniles. Bald Eagle fledglings fly very well right out of the nest but do not have any idea where or what to land on, so the first landings are trial and error. Some of the landings in the nest tree are very awkward and some feathers can be damaged due to the small branches pushing through the feathers. The big targets on the ground work the best for practice landings.
One of the Bald Eagle parents with grass for the nest during the 2020 nesting season at Smith Rock State Park.
One of the 2020 Bald Eagle juveniles tests his flight skills at Smith Rock State Park.
One of the 2020 Bald Eagle juveniles flies by a cliff at Smith Rock State Park.
One of the 2020 Bald Eagle juveniles comes in for a landing on a boulder at Smith Rock State Park.
One of the 2020 Bald Eagle juveniles comes in for a landing on the nest at Smith Rock State Park.
One of the 2020 Bald Eagle juveniles comes in for a landing on the nest at Smith Rock State Park.
One of the 2020 Bald Eagle juveniles positions over the nest on a trial landing at Smith Rock State Park.
The proud Bald Eagle parents of their two fledged juveniles after a successful 2020 nesting season at Smith Rock State Park.
I feel so lucky to be able to drive to Smith Rock in a half hour and enjoy the beauty and solitude it provides.
—Charlie Baughman
So do we Charlie. Keep on soaring and keep on coming back to capture the flight of the raptors of Smith Rock. We’ll be waiting eagerly for next season!