SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) State Capital Division 5 President Christi Campo welcomed wildlife photographer Susan Maxwell Skinner to the division’s general spring meeting at Sierra 2. Skinner presented a slideshow and spoke about the nesting of bald eagles on the lower American River.

Skinner first discovered the species along the American River Bike Trail near Folsom in 2016 and followed a nesting pair over 10 years documenting the growth of their family. With wingspans reaching up to seven feet, the eagles have become a powerful symbol of wildlife in the area.

“Our bald eagles don’t migrate; they stay in the region all year,” Skinner said.

This was the first time they’d been recorded here.

“You can tell from my accent that I am an immigrant,” Skinner told the audience. Originally from New Zealand, she became a naturalized American on March 29, 2017.

Skinner explained differences between male and female eagles, noting that females are larger and have a different head shape. She also pointed out that, at the time of its discovery, this couple was nesting closest to Sacramento in recorded history for its species.

“They are fantastic parents,” Skinner said. “We could all learn so much from them. Momma and Papa share all domestic duties; they’re very much a family. Their pantry is always full, and the new hatchlings eat every 30 minutes or so.”

Skinner added with a laugh, “The mates build a home, and then they make a baby.” 

Their nesting material includes pine needles, containing the same disinfecting element originally used to make Pine-Sol cleaner. Pine-Sol was originally made with pine oil when it was introduced in 1929, though modern versions no longer contain it. The eagles, however, still line their nests with pine needles, helping to maintain a clean environment.

During the past 10 years, Skinner has spent countless hours observing the birds during breeding season, sometimes standing in one spot for up to 12 uninterrupted hours. Using a Canon camera with a 600mm lens, she captures strikingly detailed images. The lens alone weighs more than six pounds, making handheld photography especially challenging.

Susan Maxwell Skinner shows the audience of California Retired Teachers the An American River Family photo cards.

“The sharpness of her photos is unbelievable,” attendees noted, as Skinner displayed images of a mother eagle feeding a 2025 eaglet and another carrying a branch, demonstrating the bird’s ability to lift up to a third of its body weight.

Smiling, Skinner flexed her arm and joked, “Big lenses; they weigh a ton.”

Lens weight does not include camera body. Shooting without a tripod requires strong stabilization techniques.

Skinner also spoke briefly about her late husband, Sacramento bandleader John Skinner, who died a year after she became a U.S. citizen. A Vietnam War veteran and U.S. Air Force pilot, he later flew for Flying Tigers and Federal Express. While at home, he led the John Skinner Band. Susan was his singer.

Skinner’s image of “Momma” eagle feeding a 2017 eaglet captured a moment that still excites her. In that year, local schoolchildren named the first two eaglets “Poppy” and “Peekaboo.”

“It was wonderful to see these eagles with their first babies,” Skinner said, “and incredible to watch those tiny chicks grow to full size in just 12 weeks, then learn to fly.”

 Each year, she has witnessed a new generation of eaglets make debut flights before establishing lives of their own.

Another slide showed an eagle carrying a branch.

“It’s astonishing what they are able to haul,” said Skinner.

Skinner’s talk included a demonstration of eagle vocalizations.

“Some are harsh,” she said. “Some are sweet. They chat with a big range of sounds.”

Through her photography and dedication, Skinner continues to bring attention to the increasing numbers of this raptor species on the American River, offering both education and inspiration to observers.

The bald eagle is one of the most well-known symbols in United States history, embodying freedom and the American dream. For this local photojournalist, and naturalized American citizen, that dream has been fully realized.