5 September 2015: On our way to the Maliseet Trail, Mr. Bear saw an eagle catch a fish in the Wolastoq (Saint John) River and carry it about a hundred feet up into a pine tree between the river and a nearby lake. “Nesting eagles,” he said.
On the right-hand side of the photo, the male eagle, his back to the camera, stands guard. The female eagle is almost entirely hidden in the nest on the left side of the photo. You may be able to see her tail feathers. The two have created the perfect home in the perfect fishing spot.
the birds and the shapes of the tree seem so harmonious
LikeLiked by 1 person
These eagles may be exceptionally elegant, with exceptionally good taste in tree-house location and design — that’s all I can figure.
LikeLike
The one eagle I’ve seen up close in nature in the mountains here was flying low. She or he was an adolescent bald eagle and very graceful. Ravens we see a lot here and they are elegant. Birds may be when in their own vast worlds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, good point. My only counter-example might be crows, who are brilliant, but fly as if they’re transport aircraft built to carry heavy loads (will they achieve lift-off … ). I’m probably missing the finer points of crow elegance because it’s so easy to get besotted with birds that soar.
.
LikeLike
I just wrote a column on nesting eagles on our nearest pond. It is impossible not to feel like you have entered another dimension when these birds soar overhead with eight foot wings. I am wondering if the young eagles have fledged. It’s impossible to tell and it’s improbable so late in the season – what would Mr. Bear have to say about this….? I love the picture.
LikeLike
The photo was taken on September 5th, and Mr. Bear saw the father eagle bring a fish to the nest and then move out onto the branch; then the mother eagle came in from a different direction, bringing another fish, and stayed on the nest. From this, we thought there had to be one or two eaglets still being fed. The summer began late here, so Mr. Bear thinks the eagles may have delayed laying their eggs (like they do sometimes in British Columbia, depending on the weather). If the young eagles are flying by the end of September or mid-October, they should be all right.
LikeLike