Members Access to Course List
Members Access to Course List
Enrol here

Scene: The Cradle-St.Clair Overland Track, just south of Cradle Mt at the head of "The Cirque". I am reclining on the ground with head resting on my pack, waiting for rest of the party to catch up. As I am lying there, a Wedge Tailed Eagle comes swooping across the valley and then hovers only a few feet directly above where I am lying.

Well, hello big fellow.
Or are you a lady?
Doesn't matter, you look fantastic.
What are you thinking?
Are you checking me out to see if I am lunch?
Check out anything and everything that looks interesting.
That's your motto, I bet.
Bit bigger than your normal meal, ain't I?
Perhaps you are hoping I am dead.
Easy pickings.
Even a great hunter like you wouldn't hesitate to grab an easy meal but road kill is a bit scarce up here, isn't it?
I think I would prefer to end up an eagle's dinner than a crow's breakfast.
Sounds more glamorous.
I don't have anything for you to eat.
There is a tin of bully beef and some freeze-dried stew in my pack, but I doubt you would fancy either.
Probably not supposed to feed the wildlife anyway.
If I keep still, will you drop closer?
I know your vision is superb, but just how good is it?
Do I have to hold my breath?
Can I blink?
I can see your eyes, so you can see mine.
Look how you just hang in the air.
No effort.
Just a slight twitch of one wing or the other as the wind shifts to hold yourself in the one place.
Can you tell when the air currents will change or do you react as they happen?
Marvellous either way.
Air surfing by an expert.
Hanging two!
Oh! You shifted sideways then.
A gust, or did you spot something?
Is some little morsel cowering in the grass nearby?
Dead scared of the both of us?
You probably know how barging bushwalkers scare small animals from cover.
Makes us your ally.
Your wing feathers flutter and your tail twitches left, right, left.
Your head stays still.
Can I get to my camera without searing you oft'.
If I lift my head slowly, will you stay?
One inch. Two.
No turning and flying away.
Another inch and then a slight roll to the side.
Still you hover.
The pocket containing the camera is under the pack.
I will have to slide my arm under to get it.
Big press-studs.
Nor easy to undo one-handed.
Still you hang there.
Perhaps you are wondering what I am doing.
More likely you hope I am in a death throe.
There! There is the camera.
Drag it out carefully. Cock the shutter.
Slip off the lens cover.
Ease it up to my eye.
Focus.
Fill the frame.
Bugger!
Off you go with a quick flap of those wide wings.
Whip off a shot anyway, even if you are just a blur.
A memory of our meeting.

Clarence City Council
We'd like to thank Clarence City Council for their support via a Community Support Grant.