At first I thought that it was a child screaming. Then I remembered that I was two miles from anyone. Suddenly a fleeting shadow, soaring towards the tallest old growth white pine, drifted over the ridge top forest . The screaching became more frantic. Finally my eyes caught a scene that struck me. A perfect image of a Bald Eagle; bleach white head, ink black body of feathers on wings as wide as I am tall, a yellow hooked beak. In it's dagger talons was a fish. The frantic screaching halted. Before I knew it another formally unseen adult Eagle appeared and the three birds feasted. The feast took barely a minute to complete. Suddenly both of the adults departed and soared over the to the distant lake leaving the egglet quiet; never to divulge it's location until the next meal appears soaring over the horizon.
I've seen a lot of Bald Eagles. Afterall, Minnesota boasts the largest breeding population outside of Alaska. I've seen an eagle dived in front of my canoe and pluck a trout out of the water. Never, however, have I witnessed an eagle tend it's nest with food. For some reason this scene struck me. I hung out in the shade for a while longer to see if the adults would return. I watched the younger tinker around in it's nest. It was perfectly content to sit there and gaze off at the surrounding lakes of the border country.
The adults didn't return in the time that I was able to remain waiting. The experiance made me think about my new role as the caretaker and provider. It's funny; humans are real good at attempting to disconnect ourselves from the animate roles that ultimately and very simply play. We try real hard to prompt up our role in the order with our SUVS, dish networks, computer, running water and beauracracy. The older I get the more convinced that we are only fooling ourselves. Humans are animals. When it comes down to it all we need are the basics of life.
No comments:
Post a Comment