Spilling the Wind

American Bald Eagle

Spilling the Wind was cast in silicon bronze in the artist’s personal foundry, which he has operated with his father since 1983. Since Roman times, the eagle in art has been a symbol of power and clear vision. Here the artist has placed the eagle in an almost vertical soaring motion. One wing reaches heavenward and the other points down to earth. Meanwhile, those sharp eyes are looking ahead – perhaps to the future. Notice the color variation, which is due to the application of a special patina that defines the feathers and helps protect the bronze.

By David Turner

The artist, David Turner, has been a professional sculptor for 35 years, during which he has made over 60 large public commission sculptures at zoos, museums, aquariums, universities, and municipalities throughout the United States. David works from his own foundry with his father, Bill Turner, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. They are inspired by the wildlife of the Chesapeake Bay. They have over 100 public sculptures in many famous places and one of their sculptures was owned by former President George H.W. Bush.

View all sculptures by this artist.

Donated By

Betsy and Clifton Robinson

Did You Know?

Bald Eagle nests can weigh up to 2,000 pounds? This is because if a Bald Eagle has a successful nesting season, they will often return to the same nest year after year and add to it each time!
Bald Eagles have a wingspan of over 6 feet long.
They aren’t actually bald! They get the name from an old meaning of the word “bald” due to the white feathers on their heads.
In the wild, they live around 20-30 years old. The oldest on record lived 48 years!
Bald Eagles can fly as high as 10,000 feet.

At The Zoo

You can find bald eagles at the Cameron Zoo in the Aviary near the Meadows.
The Bald Eagle is a magnificent bird and protected by law. They are only kept in captivity if they cannot survive in the wild.