SEQUIM — Following the rescue efforts of two baby eagles, or eaglets, last May, Sequim’s Keith Ross has seen his photos soar in popularity.
His work was featured in TV segments, the popular websites “Bored Panda” and “The Dodo” and in print as far away as Berlin.
“It’s been quite the draw,” Ross said.
‘Scholastic News’
His most recent photo spotlight came courtesy of Scholastic. The children’s book publisher wrote a story in its February “Scholastic News” about the eagle rescue for its second-grade edition that circulated nationwide, including the Olympic Peninsula.
“Scholastic News” licensed Keith Ross’ photos for publication in its publication for second-graders. It’ll be published for fourth-graders in March, Ross said. He is developing a book about the eaglets for children, too. (Keith Ross/Keith’s Frame of Mind)
Ross, who owns Keith’s Frame of Mind with his wife, Kryztyna, said Scholastic contacted him in the late fall to use his photos.
A fourth-grade edition of the story is planned for March, he said.
The children’s newspaper details the rescue story with Ross’ photos throughout.
Ross said he was invited by Jaye Moore, retired director of Sequim’s Northwest Raptor Center, to take photos of the eaglets being placed back in the tree in Dungeness on Marine Drive.
In his words
For those unfamiliar with the rescue, neighbor Kathy Pitts discovered one of the eaglets first under a bush and later the second inside the bush, Ross said.
They had fallen from the nest of their parents, named Ricky and Lucy by area photographers.
From there, neighbors contacted Moore, and staff at Greywolf Veterinary Clinic found the eaglets to be in good health.
Ross was given the opportunity to take photos of volunteers, including Casey Balch, owner of Pacific Northwest Tree Service, putting the eaglets back in the nest.
The eaglets were hydrated, put in a bag and carried up the tree, Ross said.
“[Ricky and Lucy] are circling over the head,” he said. “They were definitely watching the whole process.”
Balch placed the babies back in the nest and the parents began feeding them the next day, Ross said.
As news circulated about the eagles, photographers watched for their safety.
“They’ve survived fine and have gone back to business,” Ross said.
Turning the page
After the photos of the babies hit the internet, Ross said several people told him he should turn it into a book.
During this past winter holiday, Ross wrote the story and got the “meat and potatoes done” with help from local photographer Sally Harris, he said.
He’s been in touch with Scholastic about a possible deal and was told what they might be looking for in a story.
To get his well-known photo of eaglets he named Eddie and Elliott, Keith Ross got down to their level before they were lifted back to their nest to be with their parents in Dungeness. (Kryztyna Ross/Keith’s Frame of Mind)
Ross said the story is told from the perspective of the baby eagles, who he named Eddie and Elliott.
“No one I know has stepped up and named them,” he said.
“The one sitting up tall and alert is Elliott and the one taking a rest is Eddie.”
A publication date isn’t set, but Ross has big plans with the book, including stuffed animals.
He’s begun pre-selling puzzles of his prints, too, on his website.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” he said.
In between photo excursions for birds and serving as the official photographer for the Sequim Irrigation Festival, Ross sells commercial fuel and lubricants across the nation for World Kinect Energy Services, formerly Associated Petroleum Products.
This May and June, he hosts two separate art shows at the Museum and Arts, 544 N. Sequim Ave. The first features 70 framed prints of great blue herons, and the second is about 100 framed pictures of various birds including the eaglets.
He’ll also auction off a large-framed eaglets’ print at the Irrigation Festival Kick-Off Dinner on Saturday, March 21, at 7 Cedars Casino.
For more information about Ross and his work, visit www.keithsframeofmind.com.
For more information about his upcoming art shows, visit www.sequimmuseum.com and his work with the festival at www.irrigationfestival.com.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
