Lovell Lake Eagles in February

A tale of trickery and loutish behavior with a twist

I am no Dr. Ruth or Dr. Phil or even Dr. Seuss. I know that passing judgement on another is bad. Even worse is the practice of ascribing human emotions and characteristics to animals – an act so imprudent that there’s a word for it: anthropomorphism. But still, I know what I saw and I have photographic proof. I ask that you follow along with me and then draw your own conclusions.

 The ice fishermen were out over the weekend. I use the masculine “fishermen” not to be misogynistic, but simply because they were all males. One of the men left a fish on the ice for the eagles. It wasn’t long before the gift drew attention. The eagle spied the fish…

Made his approach…

Lined up his prey…

Flared his wings and talons…

Seized his prize…

Then with one fluid athletic move relaunched with the fish clenched in his talons. I used the masculine pronoun “his” not to be misogynistic, but simply because of what happened next.

Off he flew. Such magnificence. Where to? I suspected to a tall tree to perch and eat, but no. He flew directly to a female eagle who was sitting on the ice a couple of hundred yards away. “Oh, look”, I thought, “he is going to share the fish with his friend. Isn’t that wonderful.”

But, rather than land next to his friend, he hovered, and a lengthy exchange of squawks ensued. What could they be discussing? He seemed reluctant to share. I feared subterfuge. I remembered from my zoology studies that some male animal would offer things to some female animal in exchange for “other things”. Because this type of base behavior is unknown in humans, my thoughts were merely speculative. Still, I was hoping for gallantry.

 Furthermore, I needed a story for the February eNewsletter, and two eagles sharing a fish would give my story a warm fuzzy ending as a counterpoint to this cold frosty month. But it was not to be. My heart sank as I heard the male eagle say: “Excuse me, Fancy Feathers, how about a piece of bass?”

“Fish for Favors” – his despicable ruse revealed. At this point, I thought he had hit bottom (excuse the expression). But at least the female would receive her supper, however ill-gotten. I was wrong again. His skullduggery knew no limits.

The cad reneged on his promise, took his catch, flew the coop, and left the poor thing unsatisfied – gastronomically speaking anyway. 

The scoundrel landed near the Big Island and dined in shame. I approached him and quoted a line I remembered from the musical 1776: “Sir, you are without any doubt a rogue, a rascal, a villain, a thief, and a mean dirty, stinking, sniveling, sneaking, pimping, pocket-picking, thrice double damn no good son of a vulture.” (Eagles look down on vultures as ugly and vulgar, so the insult struck its mark.) Then I followed with Aldous Huxley: “You have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time.”

 In the photo, see his retort: “Hey, Mr. Perfect, tend to your own species. Heed the words Marc Bekoff: ‘All animals, including you humans, have a right to lives of dignity and respect, without forced intrusions.’ Besides, ‘Fancy Feathers’ there told me she didn’t like this kind of fish. (I didn’t believe him.) Then she said she might eat it but it was too cold, and could you heat it up, and take out the bones and the yucky parts, and clean your talons before we eat, and could you clean up the mess afterward, and put stuff away where it belongs this time? Oh, and I’m not hungry now but maybe later. Oh, and what are we going to have with it? Could you be a love and fly around and get some arugula…?”

Hmmmmm.  (Hmmmmm is an interjection used to express thoughtfulness, uncertainty, or hesitation when someone is considering what to say or do next. It often indicates that the person is reflecting on something. You know, Carl Jung wrote: “Wisdom accepts that all things have two sides.” Maybe I should not succumb to fantasies of moral superiority. But it is just so difficult for the male human mind to grasp the concept of offering a gift to a female and expecting something in return. Maybe that’s what separates us from the beasts.

 And that, dear reader, is how I saw the incident. Now, I will leave you to examine the photos and decide for yourselves.

 The End