I see bald eagles and always think of this written history. As your pictures atest, the eagles are found eating road kill or the remains of fish strewn on the boulders in the streams. I have seen turkeys in the wild, where 30 of them are roosting in a barren oak tree, looking like giant orbs of mistletoe against ashen fall skys. I have seen them running like mad to attempt to fly, something that wild turkeys can do, although with not much grace. Benjamin Franklin did not like the eagle as the national symbol and wroite his daughter about it.
Franklin's Letter to His Daughter (excerpt)
"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .
"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."
4 comments:
Oh my gosh! That is an absolutely beautiful creature!
So beautiful! That's a great inflight shot.
This is just incredible!!! Way to go!
Excellent capture!
I see bald eagles and always think of this written history. As your pictures atest, the eagles are found eating road kill or the remains of fish strewn on the boulders in the streams. I have seen turkeys in the wild, where 30 of them are roosting in a barren oak tree, looking like giant orbs of mistletoe against ashen fall skys. I have seen them running like mad to attempt to fly, something that wild turkeys can do, although with not much grace. Benjamin Franklin did not like the eagle as the national symbol and wroite his daughter about it.
Franklin's Letter to His Daughter (excerpt)
"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .
"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."
Post a Comment