The bald eagle calls–and sounds surprisingly sweet

My first bald eagle sighting!

Yesterday, on my morning walk, I saw a bald eagle perched in a bare tree. It’s the first time I’ve ever been certain that the bird was an eagle. Although you’ll have to take my word for it–I definitely felt the limitations of my iPhone camera!

A woman stopped her car by the tree and got out as I stood and stared in amazement. She pulled out her fancy camera and started snapping. She showed me a beautiful photo she’d taken another day of an eagle (maybe the same one) sitting in pretty much the same spot. Right below him sat a brown squirrel. She said she’d watched the squirrel running up and down the tree, getting pretty close to the eagle, and the eagle just ignored the squirrel.

And then there were two

I continued on my walk and came back a while later. The eagle still sat high in the tree, but now he had his beak open and I could hear him calling. It sounded like this–only not nearly as loud from where I stood on the ground:

I don’t know what I thought an eagle’s call would sound like, but it sounded different than I’d have guessed. I watched for a minute or so. Then, seemingly appearing out of the mist, came his mate. They sat together atop the tree and chatted (my interpretation–I don’t speak eagle). I watched for a while and then went on my way.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a photo, because it was only in the 30s and my camera shuts down in the cold! That was frustrating and disappointing

I found it funny because I often say “it’s not written in stone.”

But if I’d known my camera would shut down and–no photos of the 2 bald eagles!–I’d have skipped it!

The bald eagle poem

At any rate, all of it inspired this poem:

 

Bald eagles are not made of stone,

They’re made of flesh and hollow bone.

This noble bird has a sweet cheep

When calling his mate from out the deep.

I hear his call and watch the sky;

Soon another eagle soars then dives.

Heads bowed together, mates for life,

Eyes cut through distance like a knife.

I know they can see much farther than me,

but I wish I could join them up in the tree,

To hear them whisper eagle secrets to each other

Beak to beak, lover to lover.

Poetry Friday

Today, Irene Latham hosts Poetry Friday. She writes about pausing and reflecting and shares a lovely poem about Mending (the world). Check it out, see what other poets have to say, and join in if you want.

I love Poetry Friday. It helps me to write a poem once a week, at least (almost every week). I often write about things I see on my morning walks that inspire me. I’ve been living in Colorado for almost 9 months, after living in Chicago for over 30 years. I’m constantly amazed and inspired by the beauty of nature and the wonderful people here. I love the birds here! I wrote about the killdeer, who I haven’t seen for a while–I assume they’ve moved somewhere warmer for the winter! And about the hawks who ride the thermals, too.

Anyhow, that’s all for today. Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo