Photographer captures golden eagle at Starved Rock

Robert McMahon of Ottawa caught a rare sight when he stopped at Starved Rock to do some nature photography last week.

Illinois Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire said he has never seen a golden eagle and was amazed last week to see a photo McMahon shot and shared with those at the Starved Rock Visitors Center.

Using his Nikon D810 camera with a 200-500mm lens, McMahon captured a photo of a bald eagle chasing a golden eagle.

“It was so exciting,” McMahon said. “I photograph eagles every chance I can. It was at Starved Rock State Park, the boat launch area, right down from where they are building the new bridge.”

Immature bald eagles tend to look a lot like golden eagles.

Bald eagles generally are larger, but both golden eagles and immature bald eagles can have mostly brown feathers, mottled with white. However, McMahon’s photo shows the golden eagle’s head and a distinctive pattern under the tail.

Some bald eagles have begun staying in the Illinois Valley year-round, and others return at various times as temperatures cool.

In addition to feeding on fish, live and dead, bald eagles also won’t pass up a chance to feed on carrion.

Unfortunately, there have been some probelms with the birds of prey. Earlier this month, a vehicle struck and killed a pair of bald eagles feeding on road kill near the Interstate 180 and Route 29 split west of Bureau and Hennepin.

Audubon Society maps show golden eagles are more common in “wilder” areas in North America, especially the west, but they can be found in the Midwest in winter.