Eagles and Their Chick

During our 3 weeks away from home, the eagles have been working hard to feed their one remaining chick. Here, the male eagle sits atop one of our birch trees in the backyard, drying his wings after hunting the hay flats in the rain all day.


There were two chicks when we left, but only one remains. The body of the other chick lays on the ground below the nest. Likely, the stronger chick pushed the sibling from the nest, freeing up all the food for himself. Nature sometimes seems harsh, but this remaining chick is fat and and healthy, and will be a fine addition to the many offspring our two resident eagles have produced. One day when our two eagles pass on, maybe this chick will take up residence on our bluff where it was born.


The pose he strikes while drying his wings reminds me of the aquila, which is the eagle emblem we saw everywhere in Rome. It was a symbol of the Roman Legion, and was carried atop a standard bearer anytime a Roman Legion was on the move. Aquila is latin for 'eagle', and in Roman legend this bird carried the thunderbolts of Jupiter.

It's no mistake that the "full bird" rank of Captain in the Navy (equivalent to Colonel in the other Services) also bears a striking resemblance to the Roman Legion symbol.

Except that instead of thunderbolts, it carries arrows in one talon, and an olive branch in the other. Despite what you may have heard about the eagle changing the direction it faces during wartime, the eagle always faces towards the olive branch, and away from the arrows. This same emblem is used in the Presidential Seal.


Don't think I ever posted this on the blog, but here's a shot of my upper potato plot, right after we planted the potatoes last month, with barriers up to keep the moose out. Garden is delayed a little due to our absence, but it is starting to recover and all the potatoes are up now. Onions and lettuce are doing ok. Carrots, beets and pumpkins are struggling, but we'll catch them up before long.


I probably take too many pics of the eagles, but they seem to constantly give us opportunities for great views. Compared to when we first moved here 10 years ago, they have really grown comfortable with us. Heidi the cat, however, we are keeping in the garage for now.....especially after seeing how much food that little eagle chick is demanding. Don't want to see Heidi end up on the eagle chick's menu.