Patience

The Bald Eagle.  Beautiful, majestic, soaring in the wind. Our National symbol of freedom. . . .

"Excuse me, have you seen any eagles around here today?"  An innocent enough question yelled out the window of a mini-van full of retired birders.  I had just completed a quiet, lonely, almost existential walk along the Fox River in Batavia viewing the waterfowl that had gathered in the still flowing water of the river.  At one point I noticed a large shadow near the top of a tree on my side of the river.  As I got closer, I confirmed it was an adult Bald Eagle replete with the white feathered head and tail.  He had been sitting there, facing the rising sun, gathering the rays to warm himself.  He had sat there through unaware bikers, joggers and lovers passing by just 100 feet beneath him.  But I was aware.  I stopped a distance away to admire him through my binoculars but the sun was in my eyes so I slowly walked past him as he watched my every move.  I stopped just south of him for another look with the sun behind me.  He looked at me intently, fidgeted a little and took off north up river.

Back to my van full of retired birders.  I told them I had seen one fly north and off they went.  As I approached my car they stopped directly behind my car and pointed out their window.  The Eagle had landed in a tree directly in front of my car!  I got in my car, so as not to scare him away and had a perfect view; except for the fact their van was directly behind my car.  Let me clarify.  The parking lot was big enough to fit over a hundred cars.  We were the only two cars in the lot.  They were directly behind me.

When birding, patience is a virtue.  Not only in waiting for birds, but especially in dealing with other birders.  So I wrote down the birds I'd seen, scanned Facebook, called my friend, did my nails, and finally they pulled away.  The Bald Eagle was still sitting there.  I whispered to him "sorry and thanks" and off I went to bird another day.