Wildlife photographer Doug Gemmell experienced an unexpected moment when his routine photo session became an extraordinary glimpse of urban wildlife behavior. Known for photographing birds of prey, Gemmell aimed to capture a juvenile bald eagle in its natural habitat.
As Gemmell observed the eagle soaring gracefully, expecting it to dive toward a lake to fish, the bird surprised him by heading straight for a parking lot. Intrigued, Gemmell continued taking photos as the eagle swooped among cars and asphalt—an unusual setting for such a majestic raptor.
Reviewing the photos later, Gemmell was stunned to see the eagle perched with its talons gripping a slice of pepperoni pizza.
“It’s not something you see every day, that’s for sure,” Gemmell said with a laugh.
This moment reveals the remarkable adaptability of urban wildlife, showing how even iconic birds of prey adjust their behavior to city environments.
Author’s summary: Doug Gemmell’s unexpected photo of an eagle clutching pizza highlights the surprising ways urban wildlife adapts to human surroundings.