Gandalf asked the Great Eagle that the eagles carry him, the dwarves and Bilbo as far as possible, which would shorten their way through the plain. However, the Lord of the eagles did not agree to place them where people live nearby.
“They’re going to shoot at us from large arches,” he explained, “they’re going to think we’re flying for their sheep. And they have a reason for that. No is! We were happy to take a toy from the Goblins and are happy to thank you personally, but they do not agree to risk their lives for the sake of the dwarves.