It doesn’t happen every year, but sometimes, at our local lock and dam near Muscatine, you’ll find a particular eagle that dominates the lock chamber. There’s water in there…it’s calm, and it get’s a fish coming through now and then…and this big bird takes advantage of that. Due to it’s size and demeanor I’m pretty sure it’s a female (females are larger than males with most raptors)…and she just doesn’t let any other bird push her around. Get to chummy and she’ll show you the door. Fortunately for me, she’s also extremely tolerant of people…the lock workers, and a photographer now and then. I have many pleasing photographs because of her, and this is one of my favorites…a frame filling, fast pass, as she returned from a river run with a pretty large shad. I hope she enjoys many healthy years ahead, and we can one day cross paths once again. I’ll feel privileged if we do.