If I Could Talk to the Animals

 

Life on La Belle Farm is generally peaceful and quiet, but yesterday morning Farmer Bill and I were startled out of a sound sleep at about 6 a.m. by a very loud and incessant squawking and screeching. Whattheheck!!!??? What is this?!

We checked the windows to see what sort of crazy kids were out there in the hay field starting up a punk rock band, but we couldn’t find anyone. And then, came a thump-thump-thumping on our roof as if a couple of bobcats were up there duking it out, vying for territory.

Finally, things quieted down and later that day, the farmer (and resident birder) discovered the perpetrator of all this racket soaring into the sky, taking flight. He told me what we’ve got on our hands is a Bald Eagle. He said our bird has a seven foot wing span and does not yet have the white head of an Adult Bald Eagle, but rather a mottled brown head of a Juvenile Bald Eagle. In order words a teenager.

This morning while in the garden picking red raspberries I caught sight of our Juvenile Bald Eagle. He circled over my head, taunting me with his gorgeous wing span. Perhaps he wants to be my friend?

Okay, perhaps not, because shortly after this, I found a strange splattering of white on the walk way to our front door. A message? A warning?

And now, as I write this, Farmer Bill comes in to tell me that our Juvenile Eagle has left a half-eaten rabbit in the middle of our driveway and then flown off. No cleaning up after himself. But perhaps this is a peace offering to make up for the splattered white on the front walk? Then again, perhaps just a suggestion for us to prepare a savory dish of Lapin aux Pruneaux for our young visitor?

Creative Friends--nature is always offering you unexpected lessons. Pay attention and be patient. And who knows, perhaps one day you’ll learn how to talk to the animals. and you can tell your resident eagle not to leave his droppings on the front walkway.

Oh, and if people ask you if you can talk Rhinoceros, you’d say of course-ros, can’t you?

Love,

Jamie