I was fortunate to become acquainted with the marvelous people
at the Sutton Avian Research Center. Their project goal was to repopulate the
Southern United States with the endangered
Southern Bald Eagle. They gathered
eagle eggs from the only viable Southern Bald Eagle population left in the US;
those found in Florida. The Florida eagles would then re-lay new eggs, so their
population was not affected. This picture was taken as I followed a team into
the deep woods. During the Florida trip I was a one-man-band, often carrying 60
pounds of video equipment for several miles through nearly impenetrable brush
and woodlands.
The Sutton team's efforts were so successful that in 1999 the Southern Bald Eagle is now found in large numbers of all the southern United States. The Southern Bald Eagle is also now off the endangered species list. Along with the help of my good friend and reporter Rick Peterson, our documentary 'On a Wing and a Prayer' was nominated for two regional Emmys.