We checked in at Eagle Park to see if the young eaglets had ‘fledged’ or flown from the nest. At the beginning of last week, we went on a cool, windy day. The two eaglets were hunkered down in the nest with only their heads showing, and that’s where they stayed the entire time we were there. We didn’t see either of the parents.
So we wandered around the park trail looking at wildflowers, grasses, and rocks. One of my favorite wildflowers is the delicate Daisy fleabane. This common, understated member of the Sunflower family is so named because of its use to repel fleas. I wonder if the eagles use it in their nest.
I love the ‘potential’ in a flower bud. The following photo is the bud of a Turk’s-cap lily. The petals unfold and curve back to showcase the extended stamens and showy anthers. Isn’t it amazing that the bud contains all of that!
The Butterfly weed was still looking spectacular, also.
We returned to the park last evening. The Goldfinches were flying from the bare branches of a crabapple tree to the large sweeps of thistles that were going to seed.
And who was in the nest this time?
We found only one eaglet in the nest. He stayed there for most of the time we hiked around the trail.
I like this pink granite boulder and the tuft of wildflowers and grasses that are growing on the top of it.
We saw a Red-tailed hawk scanning the ground for glimpses of movement that might mean a tasty meal.
The goldenrod was blooming–is it trying to move us out of summer already?!
As we were talking about the flowers, I saw the young eagle jump out of the nest onto a branch.
And then he lifted his wings, and with a leap of faith he flew away! Just like that!
Not only is the goldenrod pointing us towards fall, but the eagles are also. They will all occupy the nest for a number of weeks more as the young eagles learn about hunting. The parents will continue to bring food back to the nest as the fledglings practice their hunting skills. Then they will begin their solitary life of four or five years to mature and change color before picking out a mate.
The Spring egg holding the potential young eagle. The lily bud holding the glorious Turk’s-cap flower. The flowering thistles holding hundreds of the favored seeds for the Goldfinches. Let’s all take our innate potential and fly!
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