Bald Eagle
I rarely take things for granted. So when I nonchalantly strolled by the bald eagle in the tree, I became a bit disappointed in myself. After all it is a BALD EAGLE sitting in a dead tree on my property! That instance although small and probably insignificant sparked a wondering that led me to this entry.
Like most people in their 40s or older, I was not privileged to grow up in an America with an abundant Bald Eagle population. The mere sight of one is awe-inspiring. They are after all our national symbol. Sadly their history speaks volumes about humankind’s character – the best and the worst of it. But if the Eagle has taught me anything it is that we are capable of righting even a most grievous wrong.
I am a lover of nature. All nature. I love the little wonders as much as the big ones. I love how if left unaltered nature keeps itself in balance. I feel sad when I see nature destroyed. I understand progress but I always hope for a different way. I know I am not alone in my sentiments. And I am grateful for that because this world would be missing out on a lot of wonders if it weren’t for environmentalists, conservationists, naturalists, and all the other “ists” who work so hard to keep nature intact.
The first time I saw a Bald Eagle was when I was working as a zoo keeper in Bergen County NJ. That was 1998 and I landed my first real job out of college. The Eagle exhibit housed 3 Bald Eagles. All were rescued from life-threatening situations. All were injured beyond the point of rehabilitation and release. They went from flying high to flightless; only alive because of quick thinking rehabbers and veterinarians. Bald Eagles can have a life span of up to 30 years. These eagles were sentenced to life in captivity but their loss of freedom would mean years of educating the public on the issues of conservation and species protection. Although that was 20 years ago, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to work up close with them and become familiar with their distinctive calls.
Fast forward 6 years and two jobs, I was working as an environmental scientist in Middletown NY. My boss was an avid hiker and kayaker and he turned me on to the Basha Kill Marsh in Sullivan County NY. In May of 2004 to celebrate our second anniversary my husband bought a canoe from our neighbor and we headed up the winding road to the marsh. The Basha Kill is a favored place of bird watchers of all skill levels. We happened to be lucky enough to have one point out a Bald Eagle nest. Armed with excitement and my Dad’s old Bushnell binoculars we launched our canoe and paddled off into the Marsh.
Now I’ve worked closely with the flightless eagles at the zoo but that did not prepare me for seeing them in the wild. They were magnificent. The pair had an established nest in a pine tree and were rearing their young. I couldn’t believe I was seeing one in the wild much less a family. How lucky was I to not only be able to see one flying high above me but to also see the next generation safe inside the huge nest? Then again luck should not have had anything to do with it.
Bald Eagles should not be a rare sight. They should be a part of any North American’s experience. They were made our National symbol in 1782. At that time our young nation could have had as many as 100,000 nesting eagles. Then as our country’s human population began to grow the Bald Eagle one began to decline. By the mid-1800s the combination of ecological misunderstanding and our need for more resources and land was a recipe for species destruction.
During America’s youth, people felt that the land was at their disposal. There was a bounty. There was a wilderness that needed to be tamed. We forged ahead without considering the lives of all the land’s inhabitants. The natural wonders were merely resources to be harvested or competition to be eliminated. Our majestic symbol of strength and authority was no exception. Their habitat was destroyed. Bounties were put on their heads because farmers feared their young livestock would be hunted by the birds. 100 years of making progress comes at a cost. In 1940 the Bald Eagle was threatened with extinction. Fortunately for the Eagles and new generations the Bald Eagle Protection Act was passed.
Prohibiting habitat destruction and poaching were baby steps in the revival of the species. However, unseen forces were also at work in keeping the population down. After WWII until 1972 the pesticide DDT was commonly used for mosquito control and agricultural applications. The residue washed into waterways where the aquatic life absorbed it. The Bald Eagles consequently consumed contaminated fish. The subsequent DDT poisoning caused the birds to produce eggs with weak shells. Sadly the thin shells often broke during incubation and without progeny, the population could never grow.
Fortunately for the Eagles and other affected birds, Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, was published in 1962. This book sheds light on the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment and explains how these chemicals are damaging to animals and humans alike. This book helped advance the environmental movement and in 1972 the EPA banned the use of DDT.
Sorry for that but I wouldn’t hold to my environmental roots if I didn’t get on my soapbox and give a brief history lesson.
Where was I? Hmmm….wondering…..Ahh…..eagles!
Since 2015 I’ve been blessed with the presence of Bald Eagles on and around my property. There is a pair that perches in the dead ash tree at the edge of the horse pasture. It is prime real estate because it gives them a bird’s eye view of the neighbor’s pond. This pond boasts a wide variety of fish. Fish that have had decades to grow and multiply. There are large catfish and bass that can easily feed the “love” birds and their brood. Often one will perch atop a nesting box or large rock in the water. These two have become local celebrities. The few of us on this road happily stop to chat about our sightings or share our latest photos via text or email. Those of us born 40 or more years ago know these sightings are a gift. But for our children, the Eagles are part of the everyday.
I try to remind them of just how lucky they are to see Bald Eagles out their window. I tell them that when I was their age (6 and 13) I never would have dreamed of this. I tell them that my first encounter with a wild one happened only 15 years earlier when I was 28. But I don’t go into details about the NYS DEC Bald Eagle Restoration Project which ran from 1976-1989. It was a hugely successful program and amazingly released 198 nesting eagles. I don’t go into detail about the Endangered Species Act and how the Bald Eagle was removed from the list on June 28, 2007. For now, I want them to be grateful. I want them to admire the expansive wingspans as they soar overhead. But when they are older I want them to recognize that it was man’s choices that nearly brought about their extinction and it was man’s remorse and dedication that brought them back from the brink. I want my children to know that we have choices and to choose wisely for our choices have the power to both create and destroy.
Many mornings I walk out and see the Eagles warming their backs in the rays of the rising sun. Sometimes I am awakened by their calls. Calls I know well. When these mornings first started happening I would rush to get my camera and telephoto lens. I would steady myself for the best shot. I would stalk the pond to spot one on the nesting box or rock. So when I didn’t react with the same awe, I became upset with myself.
This is my life. The only one I’m given. The only time I’ll have to gaze at eagles or wonder about things great and small. I can go through my days keeping my head low, guided by tunnel vision or I can keep my face towards the sky. I can be influenced by what others are doing or I can be the influencer. I can accept where I’m at in life or I can make changes.
It’s about choice. That’s the beauty of it. If history has taught us anything it’s that we control what happens by choosing our actions. We may make a mistake but we can choose to fix it. It comes down to paying attention and righting a wrong before it’s too late. So I’ll start today with one simple action. I’ll walk outside and I’ll stop and look at the dead tree and with any luck I’ll see the Eagle.
Photo by Belinda Sinnott, Orange County NY
For more great Bald Eagle photos check out www.eaglepassion.com
