YESTERDAY WE HAD a memorable event here in the Pine Point Woods
YESTERDAY WE HAD a memorable event here in the Pine Point Woods (sometimes known as the Church O’ The Pines). Two of our congregation members–our resident pair of Bald eagles, whose nest is 60 yards from the cabin–saw the second of their two young ones fledge. They graduated from the high white pine which had been home since late March–and into the freedom of the sky. We saw it, too, and felt so fortunate to witness it.
Eaglet Number One had fledged over a week ago. And was flapping and soaring around the cabin, calling excitedly to its sibling, ‘Come on, it’s fun! You can do this!!”
Nope. Eaglet Two thought it looked far too scary, and called back, “What are you doing? Are you crazy??! Come back!’
And Number One would come back, over and over, day after day, but never giving up the argument. The encouragement. And then yesterday, it happened. Kathy and I were sitting on the deck, watching. First, Eaglet One flew into the yard, landing in the tallest pine near the cabin. Screeching loudly. Then took off and flew around, then back to the nest tree. Another loud argument/conversation ensued.
Then Eaglet One took off again, around and around and around the cabin, soaring beautifully, back and forth from the nest tree. Finally, directly over us, it suddenly and dramatically folded its wings and tumbled into a double-pirouette somersault. Or something amazing like that. Then flew back to the nest tree. More screeching.
But somehow with a different tone. ‘Something’s happening,’ I said to Kathy. Or we said it to each other. Then it was quiet. And then, right then, both eaglets were suddenly overhead. Together. Soaring through the blue and over the green.
Kathy cried. I laughed. That’s generally how we respond to such emotional moments in life. For emotional it was. We felt like godparents somehow, our lovely little forest producing two such healthy, grand and beautiful creatures into the great world, after months of snows and winds and thunderstorms. Of course, the parent eagles may have had a little something to do with it as well. Maybe.
But we feel a definite sense of pride. And wonder. And gratitude. That we get to see and experience such things. Here in the woods by the river. The little place that we call home. Along with the eagles.