Ruffled

Rob Allen

Oil on canvas

$3,450

Framed size: 109.5×109.5 cm

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

Conservation status: least concern

Wedge-tails often soar the thermals above the escarpment. A few years ago, one nested not far away.

This striking female was housed and cared for at Rockhampton Zoo. She could only fly short distances: they said she wouldn’t survive in the wild.

I returned her to her element, if only on canvas. For reference, I used local trees of the same type where I have witnessed other Wedge-tails roosting.