The gigantic eagles seen in The Lord of the Rings films may have had a real life counterpart in New Zealand. Researchers from Oxford, University College London, and institutions in America in New Zealand have uncovered genetic data that details the evolution of an enormous eagle that dominated the ancient New Zealand skies. The eagle had a nearly 10ft wingspan, weighed 33lbs, and preyed on huge flightless birds. Click the above image for an artist's rendition and here(1) to read more at Times Online.
Graphics:telegraph.co.uk(2)

1. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1425164,00.html
2. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/04/weagle04.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/01/04/ixworld.html