Montana birds: Golden eagle at a sage grouse lek, Montana, USA
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) at a sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) lek, Montana, USA. The eagle attacked the sage grouse from the east so that the sage grouse - blinded by the morning sun - could not see the eagle as it approached. Fortunately for the sage grouse the eagle missed and the sage grouse scattered and flew away. It sat on the ground for a minute before taking off again and flying by my blind.
Click here for images of golden eagles.
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Click here for other images of the blind, our campsite and the bicycles and trailer we used to haul our gear.
Click here for images of fence markers, reflectors or flags for sage grouse on livestock fences.
Click here for useful information on sage grouse and sustainable ranching practices.
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Image below: Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) after a failed attack on sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) at a lek, Montana, USA. This is moments after the attack with one sage grouse in the background still flying up to escape.
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) on ground at a sage grouse (CenGolden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) on ground at a sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) lek with sage grouse flying up in background, Montana, USA. The eagle attacked the sage grouse from the east so that the sage grouse - blinded by the morning sun - could not see the eagle as it approached. Fortunately for the sage grouse the eagle missed. It sat on the ground for a minute before taking off again and flying by my blind.
Image below: Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) flying by at a sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) lek, Montana, USA
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) flying by at a sage grouse (CenGolden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) flying by at a sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) lek, Montana, USA. The eagle attacked the sage grouse from the east so that the sage grouse - blinded by the morning sun - could not see the eagle as it approached. Fortunately for the sage grouse the eagle missed. It sat on the ground for a minute before taking off again and flying by my blind.