Incredible picture of eagle 'staring daggers' at photographer goes viral

Sometimes a picture is so perfectly timed, it's like the fates themselves planned it.

This type of divine interference can perhaps be used to explain Steve Biro's photo.

The amateur photographer recently went viral with an incredible image of a bald eagle named Bruce, with the bird said to be "staring daggers" down the camera at Steve, who had seemingly taken the rock he wanted to perch on.

Credit: Steve Biro

After the photography session at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, the 53-year-old received hundreds of likes, shares and comments on the perfectly symmetrical snap on social media. The photograph eventually made it to the front page of Reddit and has since been picked up by media around the world.

The photographer has described himself as "overwhelmed" by the excitable reaction to his photo. Speaking to the BBC, he admitted the photo was one of several hundred he had taken that day, but said he immediately knew there was something "special" about this one.

"He's squared up perfectly, both wings are touching the water," he told the BBC. "That [photograph] was the one that struck me as little more special than the others. But I still didn't even know how it would resonate with people."

Watch the bald eagle fly towards Steve in an incredible video:

Steve, who began taking pictures about 10 years ago as a hobby, continued: "He was actually trying to brush me away from where I was perched. I could feel the breeze from his wings as he flew over me. The other people who were there were gasping as he came over my head. It was really quite exhilarating."

As mentioned, online reaction to the photo has been astounding. On Facebook, Satish Jacob wrote: "The look in the eagles [sic] eyes in your picture is so intense."
He was joined by Eddie Edna Racicot LaBonté who commented saying: "This is amazing Steve, I am loving this so much. I must share. Your video is outstanding and should be entered in a contest .  Thank you so much for this capture."

Congratulations on your amazing snap, Steve! Let's hope Bruce has forgiven you for nabbing his favourite rock!