How was Gwaihir so well informed ?

[Tuor in Gondolin]

However, Tolkien recognized the limitations of using the Eagles.
In his critique of a suggested film synopsis by Morton Grady Zimmerman.

Here we meet the first intrusion of the Eagles. I think they
are a major mistake of Z., and without warrant.
The Eagles are a dangerous 'machine'. I have used them
sparingly, and that bis the absolute limit of their credibility or
usefulness. The alighting of a Great Eagle in the Shire is absurd;
it also makes the later capture of G. by Saruman incredible, and
spoils the account of his escape......[when leaving Rivendell] the
Eagles are again introduced. I feel this to be an altogether
unacceptable tampering with the tale. 'Nine Walkers' and they
immediately go into the air! The intrusion achieves nothing but
incredibility, and the staling of the device of the Eagles when at
last they are really needed.

And, of course, it can (and has in this forum) been argued that the
Great Eagles may be descendants of maia, among other possibilities
of their origin, and so have their own agenda and interests. (Think
of Treebeard's observation about being on someone's side).

[Keyan]

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

And, of course, it can (and has in this forum) been argued that the
Great Eagles may be descendants of maia, among other possibilities
of their origin, and so have their own agenda and interests. (Think
of Treebeard's observation about being on someone's side).

I think they were the offspring of a curious Dragon and an unfortunate chicken...

[Mnemosyne]

Originally Posted by Keyan

I think they were the offspring of a curious Dragon and an unfortunate chicken...

Really? I thought those were the Fell Beasts. Observe:

Originally Posted by The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

The great shadow descended like a falling cloud. And behold! it was a winged creature: if bird, then greater than all other birds, and it was naked, and neither quill nor feather did it bear, and its vast pinions were as webs of hide between horned fingers, and it stank.

Giant.

Featherless.

Chicken.

Probably bred in response to the Eagles themselves...

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Mnemosyne

Giant.

Featherless.

Chicken.

Probably bred in response to the Eagles themselves...

Or bred and corrupted from captured Eagles, perhaps, as the Orcs supposedly were from Elves?

[Mnemosyne]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Or bred and corrupted from captured Eagles, perhaps, as the Orcs supposedly were from Elves?

The less facetious part of me was thinking that as well...

But chickens are inherently funnier.

[obloquy]

Originally Posted by Mnemosyne

The less facetious part of me was thinking that as well...

But chickens are inherently funnier.

wakka wakka wakka!!

[The Might]

Chat skwerlz perhaps?