Eagle strikes a pose after landing on boat

In the picture, the large eagle’s golden-yellow talons curl on the edge of the boat.

Derril McKenzie, a millwright from Kelowna, smiles into the camera, leaning in to get both the eagle and himself into the shot, seemingly unfazed.

The story of how the amateur fisherman came to pose with an eagle began the morning of Aug. 31 on an annual fishing trip to Gardom Lake just outside of Salmon Arm.

McKenzie and his son started fishing about five years ago as a way to get fresh air. However, on that Friday McKenzie’s son slept in and he was joined instead by his brother-in-law, Dean Wirachousaky.

The two of them went around the lake a few times and decided to try their luck at a spot that has proved lucky for other fishermen.

“All of a sudden the eagle came out of nowhere. I noticed it just out of the corner of my eye and thought it was a crow, and then as it got closer I thought it was a raven. And then I could see as it spread its wings out that it was bigger than that. And it plunked itself on the bow of the boat.”

Time seemed to have stood still, he said, as the bird explored the boat.

It moved closer to McKenzie, who slipped his sandals back on fearing the eagle might take a bite of them.

Wirachousaky revved the engine, thinking the eagle might take off if the boat sped up. The eagle did just that, but decided to land on McKenzie’s head.

“It had one foot on my shoulder and one on my head. It put two holes in my shirt but didn’t leave a mark on my shoulder at all. Or on my head.”

When he put his arms up to protect himself, the bird gave him a little nudge, much like a budgie would do, he said.

“It wasn’t aggressive. If it wanted to hurt us, I’m pretty sure it could have.”

That’s when McKenzie says he felt a tiny bit of fear but all the while he was trying to give his brother-in-law the camera so he could get a picture. His brother-in-law decided to give the bird a tiny nudge with the oar because he didn’t know what the bird might do next.

So, the bird jumped in the water and swam back to shore.

— DERRIL MCKENZIE Derril McKenzie, a millwright from Kelowna, smiles into the camera, tilting to get both the eagle and himself into the shot, while fishing in Gardom Lake just outside of Salmon Arm on Aug. 31.