by Celia Martone
Let’s let our quick, wakeful thought make its way, now, in this instant, to the high mountain cliff that rises up above the Hudson River, farther than our eyes can see, or our legs can run.
Let’s visit the rocky ledge, like a platform, where the storms have made the rock break away. Far below us lies the steady river. Far up above rises the top of the cliff. Here on the ledge, we find that a bird has its dwelling, which looks like a giant robin’s nest. This dwelling is clearly made with intention and has likely taken years to build to its current size.
What you can see in your mind’s eye now is that sitting in this nest are two strange-looking young birds, both already bigger than any robin. Their heads and bodies are so fluffy with what looks to be a grey fuzz, as soft as newly spun wool and as warm as it too. They look much like any other baby bird, with the exception of their sharp, hooked beak that protrudes from their tiny face prominently, like the scale of a dragon. They are not moving much, but are cozy and nestled between woven layers of sticks and moss. From out beyond, we hear the sound of wings beating in the air. As we are only here in thought, we are invisible, and at last the great bird that soars down to the nest doesn’t even see us.
Life goes on in this nest as if we weren’t there at all. The big bird has a body that is about as tall as one of the first graders. Its wings spread out so far that if Mr. Seavey laid down, we could measure him from top to bottom and then still have some room to spare!
Now we know from this very size alone that we are beholding an eagle. In its great, hooked claws, the eagle carries a fat, but lifeless salmon. It places it proudly before the young birds, who both crouch and spread their small wings, and utter squeals of excitement, but they do not approach the fish. The mother bird then stands on the dead animal and with her strong hooked beak, begins to tear it into pieces, swallowing some herself and passing some with her beak over to the beaks of her children. Each one of the eaglets patiently awaits its turn. In this nest, it is not unusual for eagle siblings to quarrel with one another, each hoping to get the most amount of food in that feeding! It isn’t long before the fish has disappeared entirely, though it will not be the only time these young birds will enjoy a meal today.
The grown eagle’s talons are its most important hunting tool. They are specially designed with sharp claws, which help them carry their prey back to their nest. Each talon is backed by a soft padding to make catching slippery fish easier. They are built for this work. Not only do eagles use their talons for catching and transporting their food, they also use them as built-in utensils for eating!
Some time after breakfast is over, the father eagle soars down from the blue sky, carrying in one foot another trout, which he soon disposes of with a few sharp strokes of his beak. In early winter, the water on the river is not frozen yet, making hunting just a bit easier for these birds. This, too, he shares with his young eaglets. Growing takes lots of work, and the young birds each expect to indulge in ½-1 pound of food a day, which is more than they weigh at birth!
After their morning snack, the mother settles down and draws her eaglets under her great wings, while the father perches on the rim of the ledge. He scans the sky as if on the lookout for an enemy that might sail down upon them. The nest is their home base, serving as the nucleus of activity for this family, and it is both the eagle’s job to protect their home from any impending dangers. There is no tolerance for trespassing because they have to protect their territory. If any other bird (even another hungry eagle) approached their nest or interfered with their resources, they’d be chased away.
The father peers downward toward the river yet again, as if to spy out another meal moving among the rushes of water far below. With seemingly little effort, he spreads his wings and begins the speedy plunge down towards lunch. Gaining speed of up to 100 miles an hour (faster than any of you have ever been driven on the highway!), the eagle soars mightily down with his strong eyes on the nourishing prize. As he flies gracefully, his eyes briefly cast out and gaze across the territory… thievery is a habit among birds of prey, and this particular spot is of great envy to other birds. However, if there were to be a threat, the eagle could spot it easily, and from up to several miles away. This bird’s eyesight is among the keenest in the animal kingdom. I am told that if an eagle could read the pages of a book, they could do so from a quarter of a mile! That’s about as far from here as the Fellowship! At last, he swoops down like a bolt of lightning, and the muscles in his eyes continue expanding and contracting to maintain clear, present focus. With one swift grasp, he secures the muskrat in his talons. He does not dawdle and continues his flight back to his nest, where his mate and babies are waiting to be fed.
Build Strong Foundations in Our Lower School
In our lower school, children develop a love for learning through experiential education that engages their hearts and minds. Our curriculum weaves together storytelling, arts, movement, and academics in ways that spark imagination and foster deep understanding. [See Our Lower School in Action →]
