SCOUTING REPORT | Stunning South Dakota scenes, in search of centenarians, out-of-context cannibalism, open government advocates

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

Sioux Falls photographer Tom Dempster was staking out the nesting area for bald eagles near his place at Lake Poinsett on April 25 when he noticed one of the eagles seemed to be flying oddly. The eagles are raising chicks and are particularly active after sunrise and before sunset.

Fearing that he might be disturbing the birds, Dempster snapped a few pictures and then packed up his gear and went home. When he reviewed the photos, he figured out why the eagle was flying weirdly: It had captured a pheasant hen and was heading home for a feast.

“It’s truly magnificent,” he told The Dakota Scout.

Dempster’s work has graced these pages in the past – most recently in issue 82, a photo of last month’s partial eclipse.