Perhaps my best day with Mother Nature occurred when the Senator took my hand during a walk through an Outpost field. “Look, grandpa,” he said, “there’s MY red-tailed hawk.” The bird was soaring, apparently hunting. The Senator and I waved, and it requires only a short leap of fancy to believe that the hawk dipped its wings in recognition. What a place—and what a sense of place—for boy and hawk alike.
My second best day with Mother Nature occurred this morning, while I was jogging around Lake Calhoun in Southwest Minneapolis. The mercury was at 10 above, but the sun was shining, and it was a great day to burn calories by generating body heat.
Along the west shore, a bird flew overhead and I thought, “Wow, what a hawk,” and I remembered my sighting with the Senator. “Wow” was correct, but it wasn’t a hawk, which became quite apparent when the bird pulled a hard right turn and settled into a fishing run along a stretch of open water. No hawk—even the red-tail of memory—could equal the majesty of what was a huge, beautiful bald eagle.
The eagle flew as near as 10 yards away, paying me no attention. The fishing run was a dud, but he spotted several ducks and landed on the ice near them. It must have been a late hatch, because the ducks were small and not taking wing as the Eagle sized them up like a kid at a candy buffet. I couldn’t quit running to watch, because—at my age—stop-and-go jogging is not an option, because knee joints and leg muscles seize tighter than Tin Man’s in a rainstorm. Then there’s a matter of hobbling a mile back to the car in 10-degree weather, sunshine or no, when you’re sweat-chilled.
A woman walking in the opposite direction asked, “Do you think he’ll eat the ducks?” “That would be my guess” I replied in passing. When I got to the north shore—main beach to locals—I saw that my guess had been correct. The eagle was at water’s edge with its talons on top of a deceased duck. However, a gaggle of crows had put the eagle’s lunch on hold (literally and figuratively) as they fluttered around, looking to score their own meal. I don’t know what happened after that, because I had to keep running, but I’d bet the Eagle went back to the buffet at least once more.
In my lifetime, I’ve seen a few eagles but none closer than 200 yards, and certainly never in the middle of a city, so this is another day I’ll not soon forget.
Wonderful post. I saw a bald eagle standing on the edge of the ice on Buffalo Lake a week ago. It's hard to realize just how big they are until you see one up close like that.
Glad you had the encounter. Too bad you didn't have a camera; you know how I am about posting dead animal photos.
Posted by: Cathy at December 17, 2004 07:39 PM