Gifts of an Eagle

by Kent Durden, Peter Parnall

An extraordinary book about a golden eagle named Lady. Captured as a nestling, Lady was raised by Kent Durden and his father at their home in the coastal mountains of Southern California. Durden tells of Lady's training and intelligence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Birds, Memoir, Nature, Biography

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Kent Durden (1937–2007) was a wildlife photographer, documentarian, and writer best known for his acclaimed book Gifts of an Eagle (1972), an account of his family’s sixteen years caring for a golden eagle named Lady.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A random find in the library. As always, it is interesting to learn about accomodating wildlife in captivity, in this case a golden eagle names Lady. At times it is either touching or amusing, namely Lady's parternership with the author's father and her keen hatred of the author. I was not a fan of the justification for Lady's initial capture: she was a healthy, tended chick taken from her nest to be used for education and research (according to their permit). But from the telling here I don't think they upheld that agreement; I didn't see aspects of "education" and "research" nearly as much as "making movies" and "having a pet eagle is cool." At the end she decides to leave her humans. The tone is bittersweet yet optimistic, but let's be serious. Its likely that her life in captivity did not suitably prepare her for a successful life in the wild. I just hope that these days it's much, much more difficult to get legal permission to rob raptor nests (or disturb native wildlife populations in general).

[Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute read. Found this book going through some old stuff. There was a note in the front to my grandfather when he was a kid from his parents (two eagle lovers to another it read). His birthday was recent; he would have been 77 this year. I didn’t get to know him that well as I was very young when he passed, but I always knew his love of eagles. So this read was very enjoyable knowing that he enjoyed reading it as well.

Good true story about a father and son who raise a golden eagle out in CA. Talks about what they learned and all the antics they got into. The best plot line is that the eagle couldn’t raise her own eggs, so the dad would switch them out with goose eggs and the eagle would raise baby geese.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to share that I almost stopped reading this book after the first few pages because I was so horrified that someone would rob an eaglet from the nest. Times have changed! Back in the 1950s people could get a permit to steal an eaglet from its mother. I did continue reading as uncomfortable as it was, and I continued to be somewhat horrified. Taking a beautiful bird like a Golden Eagle and keeping it in a cage was very sad to me. I had to keep remembering that times were different. This is the true story of Kent Durden and his father during the 1950s & 60s in northern California. They captured and trained a Golden Eagle they named Lady. At one point in her training, she spotted a neighbor's two dachsund puppies. I was so afraid that the author would say they were goners, but thank God, they weren't. (I have a dachshund.) There was so much objectionable material in this book. The first being the capture of the beautiful bird. It made me so sad to think of it being taken from the wild and its mother. The second objectionable aspect of this book was the mysogeny. Having lived during that time, I completely understand as it was the way it was for most people. It showed me how much times have changed! Very little is said about the wife and daughter in the family. Everything in that family's life revolved around Lady. They had to choose specific housing and location to live. Here are a few references to the females in the story "As mom and Patsy started the dishes, Dad...." and "Dad put mom up to making a roast." The references to the women in the story focus on them doing just household duties. There were other aspects of the training that I found hard to read because all I could think of was the cruelty.

I know that author and his father actually loved this bird, and thankfully there was a happy ending for Lady. The bird starred in several films, and the Durdens did not do anything with ill intent. They loved the bird, especially Dick's father. In fact, Dick's father was the bird's surrogate mate. Dick became the foil because the bird never liked him at all. In fact, Lady would attack Dick if he got too close. I remember the show, Lassie, that was on every Sunday night. We watched it every week; I was probably 6 or 7. Lady starred in a couple of those shows. Dick did have to rely on faith when he started letting her go on her own. Only at the end of the book did Dick's father express any remorse or sorrow at having basically "kidnapped" Lady. I did enjoy the read because I learned a lot about Golden Eagles and their behavior. I love birding, and I did find that the account of Lady was fascinating. I am glad that this practice is no longer allowed, however.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely not a bad 2 star review more of 'there was about two stars worth of information in here'. It was a very short, very simple little read. Nothing I read blew me away or made a huge impact but the information and lifestyle Kent Durden's family had was fascinating. I just wish there had been much, much more to it.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have given it 4.5 stars but because That is not possible and I did enjoy reading this, I gave it 5. I was introduced to this book via Amazon’s kindle daily deals. Apparently this is an old best time seller but I had never heard about it until Amazon featured it and I am so glad they did. Now I did misunderstand what the story was going to be about; I thought it was going to be about people who use golden eagles for hunting companions and that relationship has always intrigued me so I bought it thinking it was about that. Instead, it was about this man and his son who got a permit (when such a thing was allowed) to take an egg from a nest and raise the bird for “educational” purposes. I put educational in quotations because I did find it hard at times to see that it was purely for educational purposes and especially because at the end of the book, the author took a dig at zoos which I really found hypocritical thus my wanting to knock it down a star. I hate that towards the end of the book they made those remarks towards zoos. It’s not like they were raising this bird just for education. There are chapters on what they did just for fun. They couldn’t have provided for Lady had they not in a way exploited her in Hollywood. True they took care of her but I could easily apply their reasoning for not liking zoos to them keeping Lady. However I do not, because I understand what it takes to educate and instill a passion for creation stewardship in the public and thus animal’s are needed to become ambassadors to raise awareness for their species. So I really hated the dig at the end after reading how they used Lady. Again, I am not necessarily against what they did, but it seems pretty hypocritical to me. On a different note, the story was educational. I learned a lot. I enjoyed a lot. It was a balance between educating and entertainment. It read easily and well.

Recommend for:
Age 8+
Bird enthusiasts
Raptor enthusiasts
Animal lovers
Animal trainers/keepers

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"This 'extraordinary', 'delightful,' 'magnificent' book is about a golden eagle named Lady. As irresistible as the animals who dominated such best-selling classics as Ring of Bright Water, Born Free, andRascal, Lady -- fierce, unpredictable, untamable, yet in some strange and magic way accepting the friendship and the love of a human being -- draws the reader into her own wild and spacious world.
"Captured as a nestling, Lady was raised by Kent Durden and his father at their home in the coastal mountains of Southern California. She lived with them for sixteen years until the breath-taking moment when she flew back to freedom with a wild mate. Gifts of an Eagle is about Lady's years in captivity and the day-by-day revelations of the complex, baffling, proud and somehow touching personality that lies behind the gleaming eyes of this one very individual eagle.
"Writing with precision and authority, in a way that will 'put the lie to many myths about the golden eagle,' Kent Durden tells of Lady's training and her astounding level of intelligence, of her endearing adoption of a gosling and the unique, often humorous problems she faces as a foster parent, of her defense of her own chosen territory, of her unswerving loyalty and affection for one man alone, Ed Durden, the author's father.
"What emerges from Gifts of an Eagle is a heartfelt, moving insight into the courageous, unconquerable nature of one of the great predators. As a symbol of those animals on the verge of extinction, Lady gives us all a chance to understand how vital they are in the balance of nature and thereby makes a strong plea for a new alliance between man and wildlife, so necessary for survival, so important in undoing the destruction which has already begun."~~front & back flaps

This book was published in 1972, and it's very apparent that it's not more "modern." The language is almost rudimentary, and while descriptive, the level and craftsmanship of the language is definitely not up to 2020 standards. It was an interesting story, but all through the book I kept missing the depth and breadth a really skilled writer could have given the book.

[JT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming account of a family's relationship with a Golden Eagle. One of those books that had me spellbound from beginning to end. I learned so much about this American species: so much was revealed about the emotions and intelligence of this great bird of prey, especially, its ability to form a loving bond with one human (enough so that she was willing to share and trust him with the nesting duties of a parent eagle). When you consider the communication barrier that exists, it's amazing to realize how quickly eagles adapt, especially in problem-solving. The history of Lady, the name of the eagle, will forever be captured not just in print but also on film educating those of us who are curious. I thoroughly enjoyed the story....the writing was easy to read interspersed with an occasional drawing. This is definitely a book I'd recommend to both adult and children to read.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially I was concerned how the ethics in this story would hold up through the lens of endangered wildlife in the current era. However, aside from inherent issues with the initial theft of an eagle egg from it's nest, and the beginning of taming the eaglet, this account proved to be heartwarming.
The eagle had excellent care, exercise, enrichment, habitat, and a better life than zoo eagles at that time.
The author's father did indeed advance the knowledge of Golden Eagles and educate the public, for the betterment of all.
This is an older book that is still well worth a read.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had I known that this young eagle was stolen from his nest in order to train him and to live in a cage, I never would. Have purchased it. It breaks my heart that when the parents came back to the nest, their baby was gone. I have no idea if this book has any value. Just couldn’t tolerate the cruelty.

[Louis Bartalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story

as unbelievable as it seems this isn't made up. Not sure it would even be possible for someone to do today, just too many people. You can watch the Disney show that is mentioned on YouTube

[Kelley Berberich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, this book covers the life of an eagle who lived with a family. Very informative on the behavior of eagles, their intelligence and her instincts. A quick book to read if you hold such an interest. I would now like to see the films that feature this bird.

[Spring Bonilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

O

[Ellen Balanky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a book that I will remember for a long time. The story is so beautifully told and so educational(as intended) as well! I will recommend to many!

[Mark Mehlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!

One of the best books I have read out of probably 10’s of thousands.
Totally real, excellent story line and character development.

[Irene Nowitzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

I envy the experience this man had with Lady. The closeness and the bond they had was amazing. I highly recommend this book.

[Marie Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming!

What a wonderful account of an eagle's personality, power and intelligence. Ed brought out the intricate details of God's amazing bird of prey. Excellent story.

[Beverly B. Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book.

So glad I read this...I have been a bird watcher since childhood. I count birds for researchers in the winter. And it is true that you CAN establish a relationship with these beautiful, glorious creatures!

[Peggy Dekay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I learned a lot about captive eagles that I didn't know. If you love good stories about animals, this is a book you should consider.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. It was written back in 1972. One man and his golden eagle named Lady. He did what no one since would ever be able to do. These birds are federally protected now. In part because of his work with Lady. She was never tamed. She was allowed to still be herself and she allowed one man to get close to her. They did several shorts for Disney and episodes of the TV show Lassie. These were not your typically trained stunts. they were film footage of her just being her interspersed with the series footage. You get to see a Golden Eagle in it's glory of flight, caring for it's adoptive young, from ducklings to owlets and then two eagles. Lady stayed with Ed Dyrden for 16 years until she found a mate. Then she went off to a life of her own with a proper mate of her own species.

This is a great book for anyone that loves learning more about the wonders of nature. This should rank up there with Born Free. But most people know that one because they could make a film about it. This one I don't think you could do that.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raising a golden eagle in captivity teaches the Durdens much. They teach Lady but she teaches them more. They watch as learns and figures things out. They also learn if and how she will parent. Using this knowledge they film Lady and she stars in several Walt Disney productions as well as other Hollywood productions. The Durdens also show that what Lady does is not a Hollywood script.

I loved this book. It teaches but is full of humor especially towards the son. He becomes Lady's enemy in her eyes while his dad is her mate especially during egg laying season. When the family goes house hunting it is funny as the wife explains what they need for the eagle. She'll be happy with two baths. It is a quick read but informative and humorous and shows golden eagles in a way most of us have not seen.

[Fernleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book about the relationship between an Eagle and its 'adopted' family. Lady, captured by Kent Durden and his Father just before fledging from her nest, is a golden eagle. This story captures her raw spirit and her life, from learning to ride on the glove to free flight, starring in the original Lassie show and terrorizing Kent, to raising goslings and finally returning to the wild. This is a tale that will make anyone see eagles in a new light. I read this in high school, it was a secondhand gift from my grandmother, and I fell in love with it. Short but poignant. Having gone on to work with birds of prey myself and one stunning golden eagle in particular, this book is all the more meaningful to me.

[Janet Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like wildlife books so it isn't hard to find much to like about this first person narrative about a family who raise a golden eagle from a eaglet to a full-grown bird of prey. Some of the stories are hilarious and the bird's personality and strength are clearly defined. There are references about the story and film footage being used by Disney and producers of Lassie but I do not remember either. The end of the book is thoroughly gratifying. A light, pleasant read.

[Anthony Ambruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that has it all

This has earned a 5-star rating. I rarely award that these days for it is a rare book which earns that ranking. I stand humbled before an author who has told a necessary tale about a true wild hero. It was easy to love the subject. I thank the Durdens who left us this wonderful story.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eagle Story

This is a good ok from which to will learn a lot. The author teaches about the behavior and intenstincts of an eagle. He talks about the filming they did and the things they were able to teach her. It is good to see that the story has an ending that anyone would appreciate

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This ended up being pretty boring, and the order of events was a bit hard to follow. If I hadn't been stuck on a four-hour flight with nothing else to do, I might not have stuck it out and finished this one.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this is a nice read about a fascinating creature and the decent folks that it lives with. I found the eagle content very interesting, and the human/eagle interactions charming and amazing. The books ending was satisfying.

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book about people living with and learning from animals and nature. It was a well written interesting book with some funny moments. It was great to read. I enjoyed this book thoroughly.

[Yvonne Tumblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this as an audio book on a trip. It engaged me and brought me to tears by the end. I felt as if I owned the eagle and loved it as much as they did! Thank you for writing a book for nature-lovers to enjoy!

[Nancy Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Never thought eagles had such great intelligence. This book shows the range and ability to learn of a Golden eagle. Even though it was written years ago It is still true today. An amazing story.

[JT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about a man and an eagle. The writing is easy and the twists and turns keep you turning pages.....This is one of those books that you hate to put down. Definitely worth the couple of hours to read it. I highly recommend it, if you enjoy the interaction between humans and wildlife.