An avid wildlife photographer has released extremely rare footage of bald eagles bathing in waters across Metro Vancouver.
The seven-minute long compilation video, released July 29, shows large groups of eagles bathing together and stunning close ups of the majestic raptors ruffling and preening their feathers.
An eagle bathing. Photo from Christian Sasse video
It took 麻豆传媒映画photographer and videographer three years of intense patience and dedication to succeed in capturing what he describes as 鈥渙ne-of-a-kind鈥� footage.
鈥淚t is probably the most unique material [of eagles] that anybody has anywhere in the world,鈥� he told 麻豆传媒映画.
鈥淭o film eagles bathing is extremely difficult. Some people have done it but they鈥檝e done it near the nest. But like this, I haven鈥檛 seen any footage like this anywhere 鈥� that鈥檚 why it is going completely viral all around the world. It鈥檚 crazy.鈥�
The video posted to his Facebook page -聽 - has already been viewed more than 100,000 times.
https://www.facebook.com/SassePhoto/videos/488849391872909/
Sasse said the videos were filmed between 2015 and 2019 across several locations in Metro Vancouver, including along the shores of Boundary Bay. He said the footage was typically shot during January and February when there are enormous migrations of eagles in British Columbia.
He said it was rare to capture eagles bathing because of their behaviours.
鈥淓agles don鈥檛 like to be below your line of sight, because they feel threatened,鈥� Sasse explained.
鈥淓agles always want to feel in charge and they want to be higher up. So once they are at a level that is below your eyesight they get really skittish.鈥�
It took days and days of hanging out where the eagles were for Sasse to gain their trust.
鈥淵ou have to have incredibly long lenses and patience,鈥� Sasse said.
鈥淚t took me days to get their trust, so that I could get a little bit closer. After a while they would see I鈥檓 not a threat anymore.
"That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so difficult.鈥�
Sasse鈥檚 interest in photography and especially eagles started in November 2011.
鈥淚 went to the Fraser Valley Eagle Festival and was overwhelmed by the nature and density of eagles,鈥� he wrote on his Facebook profile.
From then onward he was hooked and started focusing on improving his photography and image processing techniques, so he could capture better photos.
Christian Sasse鈥檚 favourite eagle photo: 鈥淚t is a very rare moment where everything is perfect, the direction of the eagle landing, the wind and light as well as timing.鈥� Photo courtesy of Christian Sasse
He told V.I.A his favourite photo he had ever taken was of an eagle directly approaching the water and just touching the surface.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect shot,鈥� Sasse said.
鈥淚t is a very rare moment where everything is perfect, the direction of the eagle landing, the wind and light as well as timing.
鈥淎n image like that takes years 鈥� you get one shot at it.鈥�
Over the years, Sasse has also worked and built a friendship with David Hancock, founder of the , who he credits with teaching him a lot about eagles.
鈥淚鈥檝e known David since 2011. He has taught me a lot about wildlife, how to approach wildlife and how to understand eagles,鈥� he said.
Christian Sasse stops to take a selfie with an eagle while out on a photo shoot. Photo: Sasse Photo Facebook
Sasse said he could watch the 鈥渂eautiful鈥� birds for hours and never tire of them.
鈥淭hey have feathers that look like thunder coming from the sky,鈥� he described.
鈥淭hey have this majestic beauty and an incredibly sharp look like they are almost aware of everything around you.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e just incredible.鈥�
You can follow Sasse鈥檚 eagle encounters on YouTube at and on .
Find more spots to view eagles here.
