Got an eagle story in return last night of a truck driver crossing the Nullabor desert in Western Australia and had one fly in through the windscreen. It was still alive trying to escape as he was trying to stop his rig to jump out of the cabin!
Horrifying story.

I truly enjoy it when my old Wedge-tail friend 'drops' in for her visits and cadges a free feed.
She'd be about 7 years old now, found her in front garden, exhausted and almost starving to death one late summer's afternoon, she was so weak that I could pick her up with no trouble so I took her inside under the air cooler and gave her a mix of electrolytes and boiled water until the Vet, who has living 2 away, got home.
He examined her and said that her chances of recovery were about 40% at best because she was most likely a late hatching and judging by the lack of muscles on her chests, etc, she didn't have the strength needed to keep up with the rest of brood when they flew off with their parents for the first time.
Over the first week she was fed on mice, bought frozen from a Pet Shop and thawed out by me, every 2 -3 hours while she either nested in a big cardboard box or perched on a stand I'd made for her, she slowly gained strength and I could take her out into backyard and let her walk around on the ground, then she learned that if I whistled like an eagle it was time to come back inside for more food and patting.
It took over 4 weeks to get her up to 'scratch' she had numerous attempts at taking off and short practice flapping flights, her 'meals' had increased in size from mice and the odd pigeon or 3 that I managed to entice into a netting trap plus kangaroo meat to a decent feed, a bloody large in fact, of about 500 grams of fresh 'roo meat 3 ties a day.
Eventually she began to actually fly around my yard in ever increasing circles but she'd always return to me and come when called, then one day, with the help of the Vet, we decided she was ready for release.
After a 50km drive to a creek where I knew there were other 'Wedgies' living regularly we let her free and I expected never to she her again.
I was very wrong because 2 weeks later she returned, cadged a feed and had a few pats, shared picking meat from a bone with my Blue Heeler like they were the best of friends then casually lifted off and whistled as she flew away.
Every year she has returned fairly regularly and has also brought her brood of young ones with her, but this last year, due to the drought, I never saw her until about a month or so ago, I though, sadly, that she may have died, but again I was wrong, she casually flew in one morning while I was sitting in the yard having a coffee, landed by my feet, lowered her head for the usual pat, then looked at me as much to say " I'm here, where's my free feed?"
Nearly 3/4 of a kilo of roo meat later, a couple of drinks of fresh cool water, a couple of pats and an 'inspection' of the yard and off she flew again.
She, Lady E as I call her, has been back a bit more regularly since which I think is mainly due to the lack of food in the bush so I've needed to increase the amount of 'roo meat I keep on hand BUT she worth it.

I do know that cranes aren't raptors. Nonetheless, these "cranes" were imposing and unexpected since in Boston there are no birds like that around.

Beautiful

Appreciate the thought. Maybe some day will get there. I'm in Boston;a long way off. Was in the Ukraine and they have what I would call a huge crane, probably 6 feet or so flying around.

Awesome birds! You were lucky to experience this. I see I need to visit Australia. Mostly have hawks around here.